I’ve just finished a book which is brought from China as a souvenir: The Catcher in the Rye. Everything in this book is so real and so close to our life. Before I found out when the book was written, I always had a thought that it was a newly published one. Maybe I’m a little bit exaggerative, but it has really been a classic since it was born in 1951.
The leading character in this story is called Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old young man, who has just been expelled from the high school Pencey, which was his fourth high school already. Holden is some kind of the Beat Generation in American history. Namely, he has the typical negative attitude towards society, speaking dirty slangs, talking about sex unashamedly, and satirizing everthing he doesn’t like. However, in contrast with those Beat Generation, Holden refuses drugs and looks down upon phonys, most importantly, he loves children and still holds a very pure dream and large goals.
The story developed as Holden left for New York, his hometown, without telling any of his families--elder brother D.B, a writer in Hollywood; rich parents and 10-year-old beloved sister Phoebe-- the fact of his dissmissal, and tells everything happened in his several days’ wandering in NYC, the strange or false people he has met, and all his mental changes.
My feelings ask me to tell you the truth that I began to read this book because I happened to have it with me; I continued reading after seeing those cynical words because this book is one which my very good friend gave to me, however, I finished it, because I loved it half way! It's nothing but a spirital match.
And here are some quotes I would like to share with you.
1.A feeling for leaving, which provides me with another idea:
"What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by. I mean I've left schools and places I didn't even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don't care if it's a sad good-by or a bad good-by, but when I leave a place I like to know I'm leaving it. If you don't, you feel even worse. "( J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 1)
2.It's the end of this story, and I am just loving it:
"Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody. "(J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 26)
After reading other reading notes posted here, I find mine is more like a brief introduction, which makes me very embarraced and ashamed. Sometimes I read a book, I feel I like it but I can't tell why, instead, I say it just fits me. I can merely describe this novel using the words REAL, SARCASTIC or I felt it really happened before, which is so “natrual style" somehow. To improve the situation, I still need to read more and practise more...
ReplyDeleteVery happy to see this book again! One female classmate in my high school recommended me to read this book, but I never read it just because...many reasons. I think it must be a very nice book, and now I really can go and read it. And what I want to comment on is your comments, though I can't express that feeling now. Support you, reader!
ReplyDeleteHi Josie I am pleasantly surprised you enjoyed the book. Read 'TENDER IS THE NIGHT' "THE GREAT GATSBY' both by Scot Fritzgerald from the class library collection. They have similar themes - rich famous people who do not know the meaning of their existence and want to find out.
ReplyDeleteGood for you that you enjoy reading.
Thanks Josie,I have finished the book you lent me. It's really a good book.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the book,I felt it very funny at first because the leading character criticises other people in interesting ways and what is more important,he says what I want to say. I really felt empathy with him because I also feel happy and fulfilled making fun with fools or affected people. But after further reading,I realized that something is wrong. How can he loses intererting on nearly everything and how can he has negative attitude towards nearly everybody! I can not understand him,as well as myself. It is good to have love towards others,isn't it? Why do we always take other people as ridiculous ones? I don't know and I really feel sorry about myself.It's no good to expect others too more.