JD Salinger

[BigJ]

With inspiration from the other thread, I reread the Catcher in the Rye, and while I think it was a good book, I wasn't blown away by it. Why is he such a famous author in literature? Is his other stuff that good?

Are there any other novels by him would you guys recommend so maybe I could get a better appreciation for his work?

 

[Platypus]

While art is completely subjective, I think salinger has a way with words and creates visual dreamscapes for the reader to submerge into. It's very rare that an author can make you 'see' what isn't seen.

 

[Anubis]

nope

 

[Mo0o]

i thought the book was ok, but i dont think hes as good as some other authors. But then again ive never really been blow away by anybody.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

aparently not

 

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
While art is completely subjective, I think salinger has a way with words and creates visual dreamscapes for the reader to submerge into. It's very rare that an author can make you 'see' what isn't seen.

Couldn't have put it better myself. The Catcher in the Rye is still an inspiration to me, six years after I read it.

 

[Capone]

I had to read 9 stories in Lit class last year...it wasn't so bad. If I remember that Teddy story right it was kinda odd. And I mean that in a good way, probably one of the better short stories I've ever read. Then again, I don't really read that much.

 

[grrl]

I've never been able to finish Catcher in the Rye. I just find it annoying.

You might find this review interesting.

 

[LtPage1]

its because its marginal literature, and a lot of kids like it. so teachers keep assigning it. ive read better.

 

[etalns]

Originally posted by: Anubis
nope

Haha, you don't read!

 

[Wallydraigle]

No, he really wasn't.

 

[nakedfrog]

He's famous because the book was so controversial on account of the naughty language and prostitute and all.

 

[KnickNut3]

While many books are deep on many levels, CITR I think is just some guy writing a book and hoping people read more into it than it deserves, which they did.

 

[TheWart]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
aparently not

any website that has Herman Hesse, Vladimir Nabokov, and Italo Calvino rated above the Bard should be closed down, period.

 

[Fausto]

Honestly, his other books are better than Catcher, IMHO. Still one of my favorite authors tho.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: TheWart

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
aparently not

any website that has Herman Hesse, Vladimir Nabokov, and Italo Calvino rated above the Bard should be closed down, period.

oh, ouch, that almost hurts

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Charles Dickens had a way with words and could immerse you in a world with them. Catcher in the Rye was more important than good. Yeah, he's overrated.

/English major

By the way, Catcher in the Rye is almost old enough to be made into a movie without the author's permission. I can't wait to watch Leo DiCaprio or Paul Walker play Holden. Yipppeee. :roll:

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Charles Dickens had a way with words and could immerse you in a world with them. Catcher in the Rye was more important than good. Yeah, he's overrated.

/English major

By the way, Catcher in the Rye is almost old enough to be made into a movie without the author's permission. I can't wait to watch Leo DiCaprio or Paul Walker play Holden. Yipppeee. :roll:

Actually, pre-I'm-Really-Famous Leo would have been a good Holden. He's actually quite a good actor, but his fame seems to have outpaced his ability to choose roles that challenge him.

 

[TheWart]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: TheWart

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
aparently not

any website that has Herman Hesse, Vladimir Nabokov, and Italo Calvino rated above the Bard should be closed down, period.

oh, ouch, that almost hurts

just noticed from your sig that you might be affiliated with the site. of course i do not mean it personally, just an English student getting crusty about Shakespeare.

 

[toekramp]

catcher is one of my all time favs i couldn't tell you how many times i've read it

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: TheWart

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: TheWart

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
aparently not

any website that has Herman Hesse, Vladimir Nabokov, and Italo Calvino rated above the Bard should be closed down, period.

oh, ouch, that almost hurts

just noticed from your sig that you might be affiliated with the site. of course i do not mean it personally, just an English student getting crusty about Shakespeare.

I own it.
*throws Stephen King's "It" at your head*


Edit: I take no responsability for user's poor taste in literature.

 

[amoeba]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: TheWart

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
aparently not

any website that has Herman Hesse, Vladimir Nabokov, and Italo Calvino rated above the Bard should be closed down, period.

oh, ouch, that almost hurts

considering the same site has Return of the King as the highest rated book, I'm not surprised.

its a user rated site so of course its about what appeals to the masses.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: amoeba

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: TheWart

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
aparently not

any website that has Herman Hesse, Vladimir Nabokov, and Italo Calvino rated above the Bard should be closed down, period.

oh, ouch, that almost hurts

considering the same site has Return of the King as the highest rated book, I'm not surprised.

its a user rated site so of course its about what appeals to the masses.

We do use a weighted rating system, but once it gets over a few dozen votes, it has little effect. There's also the problem with the average rating being >7, but that is another issue.

Edit: RoTK was only average, there are so many better

 

[Dubb]

franny & zooey was his best book. I think he was a good author, deserves to be famous, but the status applied to CITR by highschoolers is waay off target.

authors that can blow you away are rare, I think that today's genius lit culture rests on the shoulders of orhan pamuk & william vollman

 

[y2kc]

Originally posted by: grrl
I've never been able to finish Catcher in the Rye. I just find it annoying.

You might find this review interesting.

That's the same way I felt, about the book and the protagonist. My ex used to tell me I "just didn't get it". The review was accurate (IMHO).