J.D. Salinger - Catcher in the Rye

Well it's clear to me, after the first read of this novel, that Kerri's read the book. :)

This book has enormous cultural significance. It's cited in other novels, songs, films, television, and the news. It was found with Chapman the night he shot John Lennon. In fact, Chapman wanted to change his name to Holden Caulfield. The novel has been found on other killers and in the hands of would-be assassins. It's because of this that the novel also has a role in the movie Conspiracy Theory.

As for me, I thought the book was ok. I feel badly for Caulfield. I have no idea what diagnosis his psychoanalyst will give him. It seems to me like he partially suffers from a large fear of growing up. If he never finishes school, does that mean he won't have to be an adult? If he doesn't face his problems, is he still considered a kid? It's like the death of his brother has caused him to want to freeze time. I wonder if, for him, having time frozen will make the loss of his brother bearable. Does he mean it to freeze before his brother died? He speaks about the glass boxes in the museum and wishes aspects of his life were like those boxes - frozen and unchangeable.

I do admire his want to be a "Catcher in the rye." To me, it seemed like he wanted it to be a service to society, more specifically to children. In this way he'd always be tied to youth. I read some criticism and it's widely thought that Holden wants to do this to save youth from falling into adulthood. (Which if this is really the case, one can see how much he dislikes the thought of being an adult by comparing it to falling of a cliff.) It makes perfect sense, and my idea of it was only surface and because of that shallow. However it's more pleasant to think he wants to help children than to think he wants to help children avoid adulthood.

I loved his love for his family. Holden is always remembering his brothers and sisters throughout the novel. That was endearing to read and I found myself loving his siblings as well. It practically broke my heart when he dropped the record he'd bought for Phoebe. My heart broke because I figured his would. Holden actually seemed to take it better than I did.

I loved most of Salinger's characters. My tastes ran along the lines of Caulfield's tastes. (For example: He didn't care for his roommate, neither did I.)

Maybe I'll change my opinion from ok to good. I did enjoy the novel, I think I just expected something momentously, amazingly huge. It is well-known after all.

Thoughts? Ideas? Criticisms?

Kate Chopin - The Awakening

I'd heard of The Awakening before, and when I saw it somewhere for $.50, I went ahead and got it. It was a rather quick read for me, compared to what I had read before it - Heart of Darkness, but engrossing.

The novel seems depressing because it ends with what most argue is suicide. I was not, however, left with a feeling of depression. Though I wholeheartedly disagree with suicide, I found that I can sympathize with her decision. The reason I say this is because of how the novel unfolds. Edna continually feels hopeless.

I recently read Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman. He talks of learned helplessness. It leads to depression that is pervasive and permanent. It cripples an individual. Edna is in a state of learned helplessness. Though in her case she was a product of her society and time. Her husband essentially owned her.

Throughout the novel Edna tries to lift herself out of this situation. She makes many decisions that I wouldn't myself, but I can see how she reasons she is in control of her life. I think that the major conflict for her is finding a balance within herself where she feels like she is in control of her life. She moves out, she has an affair, and she is turned down by the man, Robert, who she wants more than any other. All these actions are made with an attempt to gain control of her life, but she actually is losing control. I believe that it's this conflict that drives her to swim out too far. In this ultimate last choice, she is still trying to gain control. She decides that she take control in that small way.

The CDC lists some reasons a person might choose suicide. Edna has, arguably, five of the things on the list. She feels hopeless (has no control), impulsiveness (gained and displayed by her moving out) feels isolated, depression, and she loses her relationship with Robert.

Though Edna's journey throughout the novel seems to be a downward spiral, it seemed to me that she felt liberated and at peace at the end.

I recommend the novel and any thoughts you might have about it.

(Am I doing this the way you imagined Kerri?)

Welcome!

Hi! This is a brand new blog about one of my favorite pastimes--reading! This site is mainly about books. Think of it as a book club, but without the assigned reading. Write about whatever book you are currently reading, and find out what other people are reading. I hope this works.