The Catcher in the Rye
discussion
The Most Overrated Books
Renee wrote: "BWUAHAHAA! I know that kind of sound all too well. I've an American Hairless Terrier who has that in his repertoire. The GSD/Aussie/wolf mix has a large and weird vocabulary too.
The Fila is . ..."
Not sure if this is anywhere near, but it's TN lure coursing :D I haven't been to a weight pull. We have coursing and shepherding and agility trials around here on a pretty regular schedule all summer. Dogs are such amazing, enthusiastic athletes, and good sports! Love to watch them have fun. To see a trio of happy, healthy greyhounds in full stride running for fun (no betting or abusing allowed at sanctioned events - we're there for the dogs), is amazing! The only prize is a happy dog, a ribbon and a doggie biscuit.
Paul Martin wrote: "http://theforeigner.no/pages/news-in-...Maybe of interest to you dog people."
That's very sad, Paul. Poor pooch didn't know better...but the humans should have!
Paul Martin wrote: "http://theforeigner.no/pages/news-in-...Maybe of interest to you dog people."
That happens here much too often.
And then there's Denver. The Dachau for Pitbulls . . . Piles, heaped piles of family pets seized and killed because they were muscular dogs with squarish heads and someone said "that looks like a Pitbull."
And look up Lennox in Northern Ireland. Read that story.
Yeah. If I ever have a book that takes off I will never knowingly do a reading within the jurisdictional limits of Breed Specific Legislation. I might do something just outside the limits, set up a tent . . . and be noisy about why . . . Gods. Don't get me started on this soapbox!
Anne Hawn wrote: "Kallie wrote: "Eskimos are Inuit (and other groups) rather than Athapaskan, a large linguistically connected group believed to have migrated from Asia to Alaska, Canada, and into the Southwest perh..."Thanks to both of you.
Renee wrote: "BTW, today is National Dog Day :D"It is? My dog is in Canada with us, but we can still celebrate, it's not too late! Extra yummies.
Kallie wrote: "Renee wrote: "I love the Basenji yodle! But then, I love the Toller scream too. And the Pittie war-yargle/banshee wail.Yes. I am a dog nerd."
We have four. The Chihuahua emits what I can only d..."
Oh cute- my sheltie just barks and barks and barks. At scary floating bags in the road. I love dogs, they make me happy.
Leslie wrote: "Renee wrote: "BWUAHAHAA! I know that kind of sound all too well. I've an American Hairless Terrier who has that in his repertoire. The GSD/Aussie/wolf mix has a large and weird vocabulary too.
..."
Sounds great to me!
You should see all the various and sundry religious tracts that have been scattered across my front porch and down the steps from time to time :D
So right Monty! Even Disney has changed it's messaging about Prince Charming. In Maleficent, true love's kiss doesn't come from the random prince but from Maleficent herself---didn't see that coming. And in Frozen, the "love-at-first-site" Prince turns out to be evil and the blue-collar ice-cutter is the true hero. And true love was demonstrated between sisters, not the stereotypical Prince and Princess. (Did I ever mention that I have an eight year-old daughter?)
"Have your sophisticated fun"I was referencing animated children's movies---not exactly pedantic sophistry. But I'll concede that Walt Disney Corp is extremely "sophisticated" from a business standpoint. My San Fran CFO brother-in-law calls 'em the Evil Empire and hates them almost as much as he hates McDonalds and the Catholic Church.
And Basenji's are endlessly entertaining. Rooorooo!
S.W. wrote: ""Have your sophisticated fun"I was referencing animated children's movies---not exactly pedantic sophistry. But I'll concede that Walt Disney Corp is extremely "sophisticated" from a business st..."
"Man amuses Basenji - Basenji amuses Man" :)
. . . someone took the brown acid?
Tarzan got a headache.
???Got Edgar Rice mixed up with William S.?
I think Edward is actually the anonymous narrator from Dostoyevsky's Notes from the Underground.
Renee wrote: "???Got Edgar Rice mixed up with William S.?"
Lotta stuff got mixed up.
Why come we have feet and not wheels?
You can learn a lot from pre and adolescent kids if you're willing to listen to them. They come up with some neat shit sometimes, and once they trust that you're really listening, not looking for a way to tell them they're stupid or being condescending, they'll open up and really get rolling.Teenagers can cause some great eureka moments. Way more often than adults will.
So yeah, someone could get pretty damned smart sitting in a room with pre-adolescents.
Edward, my post was meant as a compliment. Unfortunately, I don't get to spend much time with my daughter (or any other "pre-adolescents"). As a urologist, the majority of my time is spent taking care of people like you. "The Idiot"---that was a good one.
Is there a proctologist in the house?
No apologies necessary! There's a thin line between lunacy and brilliance. I enjoy trying to decipher your posts and your motivations. You have a unique perspective, are obviously well read and have an impressive vocabulary (to say the least). But enough back-slapping, witty banter is more fun...
Welcome to the working week...it will be days before I am again capable of witty badinage.Trite toss-offs, dull banality, cruelty, general mean spiritedness...sure, I can do any of that for you. But "badinage"? Not on a Monday morning...I'm not even up for banter or light persiflage. Not today, not in this world...
Fantasy Football hijacked all my brain cells...it's a sickness. I think it's listed as a subcategory of OCD in the new DSM 5.
I hope you didn't pick Jay Cutler as your QB...don't believe the hype. He's going to have another bad year.
I have "Pretty Boy" Brady in one league and "Cry Me A" Rivers in another. I didn't get any shares of da Bears. "The League" on FXX is worth a TIVO for any Fantasy Football junkies out there...it's set in Chicago and the Cutlers make regular appearances.
S.W. wrote: "Fantasy Football hijacked all my brain cells...it's a sickness. I think it's listed as a subcategory of OCD in the new DSM 5."I have Drew Brees and Matt Ryan as QB's. Yesterday's NO vs ATL game was fun.
Kenneth wrote: "Maria wrote: "Which books do you think are overrated? Here's a quick sampling from various internet sites that recommend skipping these:
The Catcher in the Rye
Moby Dick
The Great Gatsby
Waitin..."
I've read most of these and while few of them are among my favorite books, I found something in each of them to enjoy.
I can honestly say that I have never read a book that I just flat out didn't like. I know if a book takes me longer to read than others (length withstanding) that it didn't move me in the ways of others.
I've always found it amazing how someone can take an idea, build on that idea and create a story. I certainly can't do it and always enter a book with this in mind; as a result, I find something about it to like.
If we had wheels we would have to invent feet.
I have either read, or at least tried to read everything on the list except for two of them, and I have to say that even though I love what are usually considered to be classics, none of these swept me off my feet. In fact, put me to sleep may be a better expression. I would add some of James Joyce to the list, but I believe that is purely me. I couldn't conjure any sympathy for his characters, but it has been suggested I missed his point. Very possible. And if so, I'm disappointed.
Man. Tried to stay true to my NY breeding, but Big Blue is killing me right now. Anybody who has Victor Cruz is probably pissed beyond belief right about now.
Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye.I'm a tutor (English) and I've had 2 students in the past year read this for class. I didn't like it when I read it and I didn't like it when they read it. (They didn't either! but I kept my opinion quiet until they had finished the book.)
To me, it's like my two "favorite" overrated authors: Philip Roth and Saul Bellow (I actually met Bellow one evening when he was drunk and leered at me). They deal (and CintheR) with angst that very few people feel - mostly big city, New York, Chicago...The characters seem wooden with no chance for change (not that that is a major complaint - I like books where characters can't change, just not these) and that you can't really connect with. Also, the style seems forced.
'Nuff said.
Linda wrote: "Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye.I'm a tutor (English) and I've had 2 students in the past year read this for class. I didn't like it when I read it and I didn't like i..."
Well, a lot of us loved it. Holden Caulfield was a 16 year old who was dealing with much more than just "angst". 'Nuff said.
I can agree with you. I know many people like it. It just has never sat right with me. Even as a teenager I could never identify with Holden. I'm glad it spoke to you.
Linda wrote: "I can agree with you. I know many people like it. It just has never sat right with me. Even as a teenager I could never identify with Holden. I'm glad it spoke to you."A lot of people can't identify with him, and that's fine. I don't claim that everyone should like it, I just find that many believe it is just about teenage angst, and it deals with much more than that. That's all. :)
Bosselli was was an offensive tackle for the Jags. O-line men get no respect. Only John Madden gives them props. Fantasy Football totally ignores their necessary contributions.
Karen wrote: "Linda wrote: "I can agree with you. I know many people like it. It just has never sat right with me. Even as a teenager I could never identify with Holden. I'm glad it spoke to you."A lot of ..."
No problem. There IS a lot more in it!
Linda wrote: "Karen wrote: "Linda wrote: "I can agree with you. I know many people like it. It just has never sat right with me. Even as a teenager I could never identify with Holden. I'm glad it spoke to yo...""No problem. There IS a lot more in it! "
. . . . and . . . . there will be a message from the cosmos in 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . .
Renee wrote: ". . . . and . . . . there will be a message from the cosmos in 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . LOL
Karen wrote: "Linda wrote: "Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye.I'm a tutor (English) and I've had 2 students in the past year read this for class. I didn't like it when I read it and I..."
Perhaps you work with an administration that dictates which books are assigned in class. I strongly fault such tactics. If a teacher doesn't genuinely enjoy the book, he should not be forced to teach from it. The lack of genuine enthusiasm is quite apparent to students and they likewise are invested with the ennui.
This is the number one problem in school literature courses. Given, some classics need to be taught, but this must be balanced with an enthusiasm for reading. Boring choices, bored students.
Why is it that we see all these wonderful independent flics with teachers who get to assign books more closely to students' liking, students are largely successful and go off on to college having attended a sub rate inner city failing school and yet no one adopts these teaching methodologies. Give the students something at least they are going to enjoy even if it's Marvel material for the special education kids.
Edward wrote: "Karen wrote: "Renee wrote: ". . . . and . . . . there will be a message from the cosmos in 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . LOL"
Hurt believer, now a joking cynic."
A little — okay, rampant — projection?
Geoffrey wrote: "Karen wrote: "Linda wrote: "Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye.I'm a tutor (English) and I've had 2 students in the past year read this for class. I didn't like it when I..."
I would rather teach 'Catcher' than most textbooks. Talk about difficulty keeping one's enthusiasm going; you have to keep opening up the text topics (vague, bland language) with your own interpretations and end up making about $10 an hour. I know teachers are supposed to be idealists, but come on. . .
Kallie wrote: "Geoffrey wrote: "Karen wrote: "Linda wrote: "Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye, Catcher in the Rye.I'm a tutor (English) and I've had 2 students in the past year read this for class. I didn..."
Much more interesting than a text book.
Elyse wrote: "I'm just a drop in fly by from time to time.. On my way to a 5:30am Bikram Yoga class..(and in the camp and having left the book), but I can't help but wonder something else.... Is this the longest..."I don't think it's even close. There are Harry Potter games that are still going strong.
What gets me about this thread is the number of people who pronounce 'Catcher' simply overrated as though the scales are therefore supposed to fall from its admirers' eyes, at which point they will see that their identification with HC's wish to find people he can connect with simply silly and immature.
Kallie wrote: "What gets me about this thread is the number of people who pronounce 'Catcher' simply overrated as though the scales are therefore supposed to fall from its admirers' eyes, at which point they willsee that their identification with HC's wish to find people he can connect with simply silly and immature."The "I Don't Like It, It's Not Good" POV.
Which, although simplistic and self-centric, isn't as condescending as the "This Is What I See and If You Don't You Don't Get It" POV.
Rashi wrote: "I agree with 'The Catcher in the Rye'. A friend recommended that book to me during my teens when I was going through a typical bad teenage phase. It was an easy but pointless read and even in hin..."
Perhaps this will help: http://jdsalinger-heying.blogspot.com...
Or not. The book isn't really for teenagers, despite being marketed that way.
Renee wrote: "Which, although simplistic and self-centric, isn't as condescending as the "This Is What I See and If You Don't You Don't Get It" POV. ..."True and important to remember. (You're a neurotic for liking that. You're a clod if you don't.) Those things can work both ways and I suppose they usually do.
Rashi wrote: "I agree with 'The Catcher in the Rye'. A friend recommended that book to me during my teens when I was going through a typical bad teenage phase. It was an easy but pointless read and even in hin..."
I agree that this was my first impression of the book. But after exploring the book as an allegory with allusions to WW2 and war,money and power, I have discovered a whole different meaning to the book. I kinda think the book was supposed to be pointless so you would get through and ask the question....what was the point?
I have been exploring this on my discussion board:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Check it out and see what I say about some of the symbols or themes. Add a comment if you like!
I should probably read Catcher just to understand what you people are talking about. I am kind of clueless at times.
Karen wrote: Much more interesting than a text book."
I honestly think literature should just be taught from the original books themselves. I think it is far better to even just read 3-4 novels throughout a year than a bunch of random extracts from 100 different texts.
Karen wrote: Much more interesting than a text book."
I honestly think literature should just be taught from the original books themselves. I think it is far better to even just read 3-4 novels throughout a year than a bunch of random extracts from 100 different texts.
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The GSD/Aussie/wolf mix has a large and weird vocabulary too.
The Fila is . . . different. Although she does have a bay that will shake the house windows when she wants, and uses to dramatic effect when she wants, but she'd usually rather just stay quiet, in the shadows, until whatever she's after is in striking distance.
Never found any coursing events here, but have you ever been to a weight pull? Pitties and Sleddies and Terriers, oh my!