<p>Creeping on this conversation is the only thing keeping me from having a nervous breakdown <3</p>
<p>@LAMuniv Glad you feel this way, although conversations about Holden Caulfield usually tend to steer people TOWARD a nervous breakdown. :)</p>
<p>Hahaha I just enjoy talking/listening to people who don’t hate the book - and I just find Holden so interesting. And, like a lot of characters in literature, I see a lot of myself in him (this is probably a bad thing), so talking about Holden is a kind of an interesting introspective thing for me :)</p>
<p>As a (future) film studies major, what do you think about a film adaptation of Catcher? I desperately want a GOOD one to happen, but I feel like it would be impossible…</p>
<p>@LayraSparks: You may be more of a Jane Gallagher, though Sally Hayes is still in you somewhere. So what’s your real story? Do you keep all of your kings in the back row? . . . Btw, I can skate also.</p>
<p>@LAMuniv: As you stated, how could you not be a part of this conversation? </p>
<p>And in case anyone thinks this thread has become insufficiencly collegiate, I’ll mention Eddie Birdsell. From Princeton. </p>
<p>“Of course you wanted me to say it first. Of course you did. You knew I wouldn’t be able to resist it.”</p>
<p>Do you regret it? Will you ever? Will you ever?</p>
<p>@LAMuniv: “. . . and the fact that the book is sitting next to me on my desk currently . . .” If you had lent your copy to someone nicknamed “Crazy” Jack, as I did, your book would be far away, with no prospect of being returned.</p>
<p>So you’ve got that going for you.</p>
<p>@merc81 I regret falling into your trap. I do. </p>
<p>Also, I prefer chess over checkers. Any resemblance to Jane is thus unlikely.</p>
<p>Also, “your book would be far away” --> this is when I feel grateful for owning five copies. </p>
<p>@LAMuniv Apparently Holden is a literary character you are not supposed to identify with, but I don’t actually believe anybody has the authority to set rules for identification with non-existent people.</p>
<p>As on the film adaptation, it’s a complex issue. Firstly, Salinger didn’t want the film to happen & acquiring the rights is near impossible. Secondly, since this is such a culturally important book & is known for not having a film version, I’m sure many people would try to stop it from happening. Thirdly, since Holden himself hated the movies, many of excessively enthusiastic Catcher fans - who might at the same time be the target audience - would consider a film adaptation a sacrilege.</p>
<p>Even solely from a filmmaker’s perspective it would be tricky to make, because what makes the book so great is Holden’s narration. Adapting that into a screenplay would mean either lots of voice-over, or intercuts of Holden telling the story in the present, and when it comes to filmmaking, neither of those is ideal.</p>
<p>You said you want a GOOD one to happen, but everyone has a different definition of good. Many people probably want to see a glamorous high-budget Hollywood movie, while if it were up to me, I’d just shoot in black and white. </p>
<p>The main reason I registered on College Confidential was to gain insight into whether Mr. Antolini intended to take advantage of Holden. It’s four months later and I’m no closer to the truth than when I started.</p>
<p>@LayraSparks: “. . . this is when I feel grateful for owning five copies.” You’ve taunted me for trapping you. I sincerely didn’t mean to.</p>
<p>“Don’t ever tell anybody anything.”</p>
<p>-- HC</p>
<p>Btw, nice assessment of “Catcher” as a possible film, Ackley, kid.</p>
<p>@merc81 Now it all makes sense. Now I know what happened precisely. This innocent little thread has turned into a part of your overarching scheme, your perpetual quest to uncover the intentions of Mr. Antolini.</p>
<p>And you know what, I’m so close to telling you the truth…so close, but I can’t. Not yet.</p>
<p>@LayraSparks: “I prefer chess over checkers.” You may be the type to capture my pawn en passant. I’ll have to watch out for you . . .</p>
<p>The film ‘Frances Ha’ was directed by a Vassar alum.
This is a great reference to add to your essay, if it isn’t too late.</p>
<p>@ruby95 Yes, I know it was! I’ve actually mentioned that in my essay!</p>
<p>“I’m so close to telling you the truth . . .”</p>
<p>@LayraSparks: My ultimate plan is to write one perfect post on CC, then never post again, and never look back. You will ask me to stay, of course, but by then it will be too late. So tell me soon. While there is still time.</p>
<p>@merc81 You think too much of me. Maybe I find joy in holding back the truth. </p>
<p>“Maybe I find joy in holding back the truth.”</p>
<p>So maybe you keep all of your kings in the back row after all . . .</p>
<p>I think you will breeze into Vassar. That’s what I think, OP, kid.</p>
<p>@merc81 Your words would provide a reassuring way to conclude this thread. They tie it all together - starting from the initial problem of applying to Vassar, and closing with the solution to the great conundrum of who I really am. Maybe I am Jane, after all…
As a matter of fact, I have a slight inclination post this last response and never come back. Only, I’d probably start telling people stories about all that we’ve written here. Then, I’d start missing you. It’s funny. Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.</p>
<p>In a parallel universe:</p>
<p>I think you will breeze into Vassar. That’s what I think, Esmé.</p>
<p>Btw, don’t worry about the missing “to” in your post. I added it for you. </p>
<p>@merc81 Well, this is embarrassing. I always read through everything I post five times, but I guess I’ll have to accept the fact that nobody is perfect. Oh, the melancholy resignation.</p>
<p>So now you want to get Esmé involved? Are you raising the stakes?</p>
<p>I’ve been raising them all along . . . </p>
<p>I read a great book once for plot, another time for meaning, and then again at times when I have changed. I may read “Catcher” again, as well as “Esmé” . . . You don’t have ALL the copies.</p>
<p>Btw, I added the “to” because I thought that’s what you secretly wanted me to do, @LayraSparks.</p>