schoolyard subversion

Chapters 17-19 (pages 123-149)

I'm starting to think that Salinger is beginning to be a bit sarcastic. Holden keeps rambling about how he hates phonies and all, and how he's sick of the actors, when he's really an actor and a phony himself. Especially when the book tries to be "appealing to kids" and "down to earth" and all, it's just real phony. Hmm, that's probably too much to ask for, though.

I'd ask questions, but it all seems so silly. The whole thing makes me sort of sick. Here's one: Why doesn't Holden get a hobby? I'm especially sick of him saying something "kills" him. If he says that again I think I might just kill him. But seriously, it's still just as dreadfully boring as always. The book's a real bore. Again, the book might be a tad meta here, as Holden talks about how he hates bores, but you never really know for sure.

Chapters 20-23 (pages 149-180)

Holden finally begins to confront himself and the meaninglessness of his boring life. He sees himself as the "catcher in the rye" (pretty awful title, if you ask me) trying to catch people who fall off cliffs. Hmm. What does it all mean? Does anyone really care?

I'm just as mystified as ever.

Chapter 24

This is a rather interesting chapter, so I think I'll comment on it by itself. First, there was another meta discussion: digressions. Holden obviously doesn't like being called on his digressions; he can't stop digressing for even a second! Sing it with me now: It's getting meta all the time... Ok, enough Beatles.

Then, things start to pick up a bit (perhaps there's some hope in this book after all). Holden is lectured on how aimless and boring his life is (like the book is) and told that he needs to get a life. Good! Now the question is, will he do some of it. It's said rather elegantly, but would do better if the Salinger just came out and said it, rather than using this strange speech.

Then, it turns dark again. The book is used as an excuse for all sorts of "school is good" and "stay in school" propaganda. Holden is told he needs to get a grip and go to school. Whoa, bad advice if you ask me. Of course, the issue is not really Holden, the issue is the reader. And of course, who are the important readers? The teachers. Salinger's got them under his thumb -- no wonder they always assign this book.

If you ask me, Holden should take a trip around the world to see things in a new light. Live for himself, learn to make decisions and choices, etc. It'll be more valuable than anything he could learn in a classroom (especially the classrooms he goes to). Hopefully, it'll spark an interest and Holden will find a hobby.

Then Holden blows it all and leaves the joint. An interesting choice by the author. I wonder why it happened. I can't really comment more on it until I see what happens next.

Chapters 25-26 (End)

So that's it, huh? The story of the "madman stuff" that happened to Holden Caulfield. So that's supposed to be so interesting? Maybe I'm jaded, but when something happens to a kid that gets written up in a book, it's supposed to be interesting. It didn't even have such a good ending. Sometimes, when you read a book, it'll have an ending that'll make you just shiver all over with emotion. Like some Isaac Asimov books do that -- they're really good endings. Nope, not this one though, even the ending is a let down. He could have at least died or something. (That was a joke.)

So now we have to totally psychoanalyze the whole thing to look for patterns and metaphors, dreadfully boring stuff if you ask me. I mean seriously, it's a story and it wasn't a very good one. What more do I need to know?

I guess a lot.