If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. (Published 1951)Monday, June 8, 2015
The Classics - Opening Lines: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. (Published 1951)
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About Me
- Sharon Himsl
- You could call me an eternal optimist, but I'm really just a dreamer. l believe in dream fulfillment, because 'sometimes' dreams come true. This is a blog about my journey as a writer and things that inspire and motivate me.
I was not a reader during my school days, which probably was the last time I read a classic, you know the stuff you "had" to read,can't say I enjoyed them. The only I even remember a little was Wuthering Heights
ReplyDeleteI found the classics more enjoyable outside of school, when you could read for pleasure without all those assignments etc.
DeleteThe opening is pretty good, but I actually didn't like The Catcher in the Rye. To be honest, I hated Holden Caulfield.
ReplyDeleteI admit I wasn't a fan either, but everyone sure was talking about it at the time.
DeleteHmmm-This sounds like he is talking to a psychiatrist. I have never read this although I know about it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, something like that. He was a mental patient if I remember correctly.
DeleteThis sounds like a nifty series. I'm in! As to Catcherr in the Rye, I didn't care for it, myself, but then it was inflicted on me when I was ... let me see ...14. They fed us a lot of terrilble things then. But I grew up somewhat, went to college, and read more J. D. Salinger. And they were not my favorites, but they were fine. Someone said, about C. I. T. R. "I thought I was the only messed up kid in the world until I read that. It made me feel better about myself."
ReplyDeleteOh that is so interesting Diana. It certainly gave a different point of view, unlike anything written before. It was so raw with emotion and hard to read, and yet so honest.
DeleteOddly, I never had to read it in school or college. I read it several years ago just to see what it was. In the end I put the pieces together and really felt for that family and for Holden; essentially crippled and destablized by grief, unable to help each other. That's what I read. I was really surprised.
ReplyDeleteInteresting you went back to read later in life and the compassion you felt. I wonder if I would appreciate it more second time through.
DeleteI had to read it twice for school. I actually liked it. You know, it has been called the first YA novel. At one time it was the dirt of thing kids read under the covers with a torch. And then it was on the curriculum and suddenly everyone hated it! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh I had no idea at all it was the first YA. I remember everyone wanted to read it.
DeleteSorry, that was "sort of thing", not "dirt".
ReplyDeleteNo problem :) Happens to me all the time.
DeleteI saw a lot of similarities between Jesse Pinkman ("Breaking Bad") and Holden Caulfield.
ReplyDeleteHmm....have yet to see Breaking Bad. Interesting the comparison.
DeleteThe conversational type literature is great. (I like Wendy's comment about Jesse Pinkman, ha ha.)
ReplyDeleteConversational lit....great way to describe :)
DeleteNothing like an opening line with a run-on sentence with an abundance of the conjunction word "and" and I believe that such a notable opening line is also an excellent way of learning how to hold your breath as you wait and wait and wait for the opening sentence to end and just like that, it ends, abruptly;
ReplyDeleteGary :)
Ha-ha ha. Good point Gary!
DeleteRight. This post made me decide to go and buy it in ebook. So I did. It's not expensive in ebook, either. I'm enjoying it all over again. Thank you, Sharon!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are enjoying. I really do wonder if I'd like it better this many years later.
DeleteThat was one that wasn't a required read when I was in high school. I'm probably the only writer in the universe that hasn't read it.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem lots have read this. Lit teachers loved it. Thanks for stopping by :)
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting opening. But you know what I wonder? Would a today writer get away with it? ;-)
ReplyDeleteDoes make you wonder if we could do the same today. Salinger's opening was pretty unique at the time and it was the Beatnik era after all, so go figure. Publishers and professors thought he was brilliant. Thanks Sarah!
DeleteThanks for stopping by. Hope the weekend's been good to you.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Sandra!
ReplyDelete