Love Salinger. I always felt he perfectly captured dialogue. I really enjoyed this book and Nine Stories (especially) too. I still need to read his other novels. I read it recreationally a few years after High School. So that might have helped. Required reading has turned off so many young readers. This book especially since, as you so efficiently pointed out, its often misunderstood. If I hadn’t been so fortunate to have an amazing high school English teacher I might never have tried poetry or literature or even have any skills at all in interpretation. We spent, I want to say, three days on John Updike’s “Ex-basketball player”. I went from practically rolling my eyes at something I had so little interest in to fascination at all the ideas and discussions that came from that short poem. But if it had been shoveled in front of me, the way Salinger so often is, then I doubt I would have ever looked twice again at a poem like that. Anyway, can’t you see what I’m trying to say is I love this! 😆 You have a great talent for condescending the discussion down to a perfect level 👏👏👏
Salinger seems interesting for sure! The stuff I read about his WW2 trauma and reclusiveness after Catcher in the Rye came out made me curious to know him better. I should say, the main reason I don't think I would've liked Catcher while in high school wasn't because it would've been assigned, but because people like Holden were all over high school and I wouldn't have known the book was being satirical. I used to not be able to watch Seinfeld because I couldn't see past the characters being self-absorbed assholes and didn't accept that this was the whole point, lol. I did love classics at that age, but less ironic ones, like To Kill a Mockingbird, and that sorta thing. :D So glad you liked the video! Thanks for commenting, as always! ^^
Thanks a lot for letting me know! When I started this channel I intended to just use the stuff I already had on hand to record, but I'm thinking I should grab a cheap lav mike if it's bothering you. Thanks for the tip, hope you liked the video in spite of the low quality :)
People who complain about Holden seem to be reading a book than I am. His dismissal of most things usually comes with a second wave of complimenting another facet of that thing. So we learn that he thinks about things pretty intensely. But it seems like a lot of people don’t understand. His criticism is a coping mechanism, and his critiques also have validity to them, so why do people hate him so much. I think because they feel attacked. These are assumptions but I feel like a lot of people who hate this book simplify the narrative (which will falsify any book) in order to fulfill their own projections. I may be the same but in the opposite direction. I think people who hate this probably grew up with good support systems in terms of friends and family and therefore can’t relate to the loneliness and disillusionment with life. It’s not that hard to understand but readers turn a blind eye to how relatable this is.
Some of his criticisms have validity to them, but a lot are extremely shallow. There are even points where he says that he wouldn't wanna be around people like himself, either. I think people don't like the book because they're used to seeing likable characters with more defined goals, and don't know what to do about a book with a character who's disillusioned about everything, including himself. If I'd read it when I was younger, I would've assumed Salinger was depicting Caulfield because he was endorsing his behavior. I didn't really understand ironic books like this until I got older and could look back at being an angsty teenager with hindsight. Anyway, thanks for the comment! ^^
I’m happy that you’re still uploading. I enjoy your videos.
Thanks so much! I'm happy you're still watching despite how infrequently I post, haha
Love Salinger. I always felt he perfectly captured dialogue. I really enjoyed this book and Nine Stories (especially) too. I still need to read his other novels.
I read it recreationally a few years after High School. So that might have helped. Required reading has turned off so many young readers. This book especially since, as you so efficiently pointed out, its often misunderstood.
If I hadn’t been so fortunate to have an amazing high school English teacher I might never have tried poetry or literature or even have any skills at all in interpretation. We spent, I want to say, three days on John Updike’s “Ex-basketball player”. I went from practically rolling my eyes at something I had so little interest in to fascination at all the ideas and discussions that came from that short poem. But if it had been shoveled in front of me, the way Salinger so often is, then I doubt I would have ever looked twice again at a poem like that.
Anyway, can’t you see what I’m trying to say is I love this! 😆
You have a great talent for condescending the discussion down to a perfect level 👏👏👏
Salinger seems interesting for sure! The stuff I read about his WW2 trauma and reclusiveness after Catcher in the Rye came out made me curious to know him better. I should say, the main reason I don't think I would've liked Catcher while in high school wasn't because it would've been assigned, but because people like Holden were all over high school and I wouldn't have known the book was being satirical. I used to not be able to watch Seinfeld because I couldn't see past the characters being self-absorbed assholes and didn't accept that this was the whole point, lol. I did love classics at that age, but less ironic ones, like To Kill a Mockingbird, and that sorta thing. :D
So glad you liked the video! Thanks for commenting, as always! ^^
My favorite book I ever read. It is the first book I willingly decided to read more than once.
Great to hear! Always exciting to find books that speaks to you that much. I hope you think I was able to do it justice in this review :)
I appreciate this video. Great book. I would suggest maybe doing reviews in a different room. The audio isn't great.
Thanks a lot for letting me know! When I started this channel I intended to just use the stuff I already had on hand to record, but I'm thinking I should grab a cheap lav mike if it's bothering you. Thanks for the tip, hope you liked the video in spite of the low quality :)
People who complain about Holden seem to be reading a book than I am. His dismissal of most things usually comes with a second wave of complimenting another facet of that thing. So we learn that he thinks about things pretty intensely. But it seems like a lot of people don’t understand. His criticism is a coping mechanism, and his critiques also have validity to them, so why do people hate him so much. I think because they feel attacked. These are assumptions but I feel like a lot of people who hate this book simplify the narrative (which will falsify any book) in order to fulfill their own projections. I may be the same but in the opposite direction. I think people who hate this probably grew up with good support systems in terms of friends and family and therefore can’t relate to the loneliness and disillusionment with life. It’s not that hard to understand but readers turn a blind eye to how relatable this is.
Some of his criticisms have validity to them, but a lot are extremely shallow. There are even points where he says that he wouldn't wanna be around people like himself, either. I think people don't like the book because they're used to seeing likable characters with more defined goals, and don't know what to do about a book with a character who's disillusioned about everything, including himself. If I'd read it when I was younger, I would've assumed Salinger was depicting Caulfield because he was endorsing his behavior. I didn't really understand ironic books like this until I got older and could look back at being an angsty teenager with hindsight. Anyway, thanks for the comment! ^^
I dont have much to add, but I'm here to show your channel some support. 🫶🏻