on to the next
I just finished reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I had a professor tell me that I wasn't a true English major until I read it- so in honor of Salinger's passing earlier this year I finally took the plunge. And I have to be honest- I wasn't that impressed- at least not for what a big deal it's supposed to be. It was good- it just wasn't great. Partly I think because I couldn't I couldn't really relate to Holden. I liked the stream-of-consciousness-esq writing style, but Holden is just so cynical. It was kind of depressing. But at least now I can say I've read it and be a true English major.
The next book on my list is Night by Elie Wiesel. I attempted to start it once but I got depressed and sad and couldn't make it past the introduction without crying so I went on to something happier. It's not a big book at all- 120 pages, and typically I could plow through a book that thin, but I have a feeling I might end up dragging this out. I can only take so much.
I just finished reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I had a professor tell me that I wasn't a true English major until I read it- so in honor of Salinger's passing earlier this year I finally took the plunge. And I have to be honest- I wasn't that impressed- at least not for what a big deal it's supposed to be. It was good- it just wasn't great. Partly I think because I couldn't I couldn't really relate to Holden. I liked the stream-of-consciousness-esq writing style, but Holden is just so cynical. It was kind of depressing. But at least now I can say I've read it and be a true English major.
The next book on my list is Night by Elie Wiesel. I attempted to start it once but I got depressed and sad and couldn't make it past the introduction without crying so I went on to something happier. It's not a big book at all- 120 pages, and typically I could plow through a book that thin, but I have a feeling I might end up dragging this out. I can only take so much.
1 comment:
I kind of feel the same way about Salinger that I do about Thackeray. The cynicism gets too big and keeps me from investing the the characters the way I personally need to to remain engaged in the text. (Which is why Gaskell is so brilliant - she mastered compassionate satire) I find salinger's short stories are more effective for that reason. There's no time to decide how I feel about the characters before the plot's all unfolded. His writing always leaves me feeling a bit tinny and hollow though. But I suppose there is a potential usefulness in that.
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