<p>Because I’m tired of hearing “Catcher in the Rye is the best book I’ve ever read!” just because every high school in America teaches it at the exact time when every high schooler in America is in the “my life is so tough, everyone’s a phony, but not me” mode, so they think it’s amazing. Read it again, see what you think. It’s horrible.</p>
<p>haha
- I know its a messed up view of life, and he makes poor decisions.
- I already said it was part of the comedy that Holden thinks everyones a phoney when he is.
- We aren’t reading it for school and never have.
- Its partially true that most people aren’t genuine all the time.
- I in no way would make those decisions, and thats what adds to it, the fact you wouldn’t rebel like that. Your merely rebelling by the character.
- I know its not literary gold, I said it was entertaining. Much like watching a movie about a criminal or a person so detestable its enjoyable. I’m reading for fun not to analyze it and draw idea’s and philosophies on life from it.</p>
<p>So just stop picking fights on CC. Your allowed your view, but don’t tell me I like it only because I think the whole world is phony and I’m right all the time. </p>
<p>I know I’m not, and I know Holden certainly isn’t in the story. No one is right all the time. Holden’s view on life is shallow, bias and arrogant.
I’m not praising it as a work on a great philosophy of life. It’s entertaining. And I personally enjoy the literary style. It jumps around, thinks and moves much like a nervous, cynical teen trying to find something to hold onto but can’t due to his own poor personality would.</p>
<p>Now that that’s over.
I kept busy today with this annoying 32 question packet… from work.
What kind of job gives you homework? It was stupid.</p>
<p>You misread my post. I wasn’t claiming that you specifically like it for that reason. Pardon my use of hyperbole, I was referring to the majority of the readers, and in the same vein I don’t think Holden ever actually jumped around in a corner yelling “Angst!” Sorry if it sounded like I was attacking you, I apologize. It’s just a sticking point that I have to deal with on a fairly regular basis, as it comes up pretty frequently with me being an English major. Either it’s discussed in class or it’s brought up when people hear I’m an English major and immediately start discussing their favorite literature.</p>
<p>Hmm I wasn’t a fan of Catcher in the Rye either, but I do believe it was better than anything written by Vonnegut. He is absolutely detestable. Lately I have been kept busy writing a paper about his book ‘Cat’s Cradle’. Maybe it’s just me but I find him horribly offensive and boring.</p>
<p>I loved Slaughterhouse Five, but that’s all I’ve read by Vonnegut.</p>
<p>Anyways, back to Catcher in the Rye: Isn’t the point of Holden being ridiculously phony parody the phoniness in the reader’s life?</p>
<p>So ND sent me for a scare today. (I know its too early)
I went to go get the mail, and theres a small ND envelope on top.
But on second look it was addressed to my parents. It was just more bills lol.</p>
<p>And kevdude, no hard feelings, and I understand you were talking about the masses not just me. I just felt the need to clairfy because i though you were including me in that group. I just finished it last night, and it definitely wasn’t the best book I’d ever written, but in the words of Holden, “I got a kick out of it.”<br>
I agree with you, andy, Holden Is so over the top in his judgments, when he is truly the one most at fault. I think Salinger did this to show that even in situations where we think the other person is being completely irrational and phony we should step back and make sure we aren’t the phony ones.</p>
<p>I just finished reading “Tuesdays with Morrie” again … in a day. Amazing book. It really took my mind off getting into ND and what is really important in life, along with making me cry!</p>
<p>I’m sitting here trying to parody Steve Miller’s “The Joker” for theology class…</p>
<p>I think I might read Catch 22 finally. I swear I’ve started and stopped after a chapter or 2 at least 4 times.</p>
<p>We are reading The Fountain Head for Political Theory. It’s a really long book but truly a great work of literature. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read over Christmas Holidays.</p>
<p>Catch 22 is one of my favorite books. The dark comedy is hilarious. </p>
<p>I’ve never read the Fountainhead, but I think I might take on Atlas Shrugged as a project next summer or something before I read The Fountainhead.</p>
<p>I must say though, from being an English major, reading tons of dense literature does weigh on you a bit. That’s why my project for Christmas Break is reading the His Dark Materials trilogy, for some lightweight, but still quality, reading.</p>
<p>Thats in my stack of books as well. I only have the first two however.
I made a stack of good books I found around the house, in my room, sisters room, basement, etc. Theres a lot of good ones, but some intense thinking ones, too.
What year are you kev?</p>
<p>Sophomore.</p>