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Anyone else ever been so appalled by the fact that this novel has undeservedly wormed its way into school curriculums, to the point where they want to erase Salinger's existence and start again?

I mean come on. The single biggest literary yawn of the 20th century. 1984 and Animal Farm aren't much better, but at least they discuss something beyond the ramblings of a grumpy teen.

Now it would appear, if you've been following me closely, that I've ignored it's major 'achievements'. Well ok, it invented the archetype of a 'grumpy teenager' which I so flippantly used just now. It's a good example of in-depth character study. It challenges the way society accepts or chooses to treat the 'youth' of America, and western culture. Fine. I concede some of this.

But does it have to be told in such a bland, unsavoury and tedious way? Do we have to be yelling at Salinger to get the point? Is the failure to write properly something more important than just dodgy authorship?

The answer - as any sane person would agree - is a firm no.

^ I wonder do you share my view on "To Kill a Mocking bird"?, another classic tale that simply went right over my head and i didnt see what the fuss is about

Artdude wrote:Anyone else ever been so appalled by the fact that this novel has undeservedly wormed its way into school curriculums, to the point where they want to erase Salinger's existence and start again?

I mean come on. The single biggest literary yawn of the 20th century. 1984 and Animal Farm aren't much better, but at least they discuss something beyond the ramblings of a grumpy teen.

Now it would appear, if you've been following me closely, that I've ignored it's major 'achievements'. Well ok, it invented the archetype of a 'grumpy teenager' which I so flippantly used just now. It's a good example of in-depth character study. It challenges the way society accepts or chooses to treat the 'youth' of America, and western culture. Fine. I concede some of this.

But does it have to be told in such a bland, unsavoury and tedious way? Do we have to be yelling at Salinger to get the point? Is the failure to write properly something more important than just dodgy authorship?

The answer - as any sane person would agree - is a firm no.

Bold 1: Thought that was the whole point. I mean, until Irvine Welsh, who else actually used a - let's call it "voice" - for their characters. I'd say that the use of language in the book (english is not my native lang. so i don't know how to translate it correctly, sry) is one of the best literature. + I think that it shouldn't be so closely related to Orwell, although they are similar, in a sense. Orwell was more of a representative of a current roughly translated as a "novel of human destiny". Something like that (don't know if i translated it correctly). Typical thing for that type of novels is, that a character is put in a limit situation (in most cases life or death, that's why they're mostly written about war) and they have to get out of it. It's a slow transition form enthusiasm, than passivness and (usually) reaction.
Holden is completely different, and he is (for me) an archetype of how a teen should be. Doubting, questioning authority, and making a slow transition from a collective thought to interpreting himself and "personalizing" himself. I just don't like the usual teacher interpretation how Holden became numb and ergo an adult.

Bold 2: Pretencious


I'd say this is more a matter of taste, than anything else. If you're a type that puts aesthetics of the work in the limelight, you won't like it, definitely. I on the other hand enjoyed it very very much.

+ There's a wave of so called rebellious authors, writing in almost punk aesthetics, and most of the critics give credit to Bukowski + Orwell, while i would say it's more Salinger's heritage than anyone else's.


As i said, i'm struggling with english in most of the cases, so i apologise for not being eloquent enough and maybe not expressing what i mean in a very clear manner.


Greetings and enjoy the rest of the day. I hope you have better weather than we over here

I enjoyed your reply

Our weather at the moment is the usual mixture of mocking-greyness and nagging drizzle, relieved only by the occasional gust of wind.

Must agree with you on this one, I only got round to finally reading it about a couple of years ago and was very dissappointed in it. I think I fell into the over hyped trap and was expecting far too much.