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Guess I'm in the whole world's minority here, but the passing of J.D. Salinger at 91 means little to me. I never liked "Catcher in the Rye." Thought it was stupid and boring. Somehow, I don't feel I've lost part of my adolescence today.
I'm just sayin'. Glad the guy lived a long life, though.
EP
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FORGET "Catcher in the Rye"....go pick up "Franny and Zoey"! Fantastic work! Good quick read.
ReplyDeleteThe whole isolating himself from society thing kinda had me thinking he's BEEN DEAD for years. Refused to do interviews, etc. Still a bummer, but Vonnegut's passing was more upsetting to me.
He drank his own urine and lived til 91....just sayin.
ReplyDeleteAnd most people take time out of their blogs to say something nice about the recently deceased. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteHoward Zinn, author of A People's History of the United State, died yesterday. Now that was a great book. I kinda agree with Ern on Catcher in the Rye, never a big fan. I thought a better book with a similar premise was The Stranger by Albert Camus.
ReplyDeleteSee? And who says this blog don't got no cultcha!
ReplyDeleteLOLZ
ReplyDeletehave to say that it is one of my favourite books as a teenager. so whilst you may be in the minority in the world Ernie, i'm in the minority on this blog (in more ways than one, mind you).
ReplyDeleteHow can't you love J.D. Salinger? He writes one of the greatest books of all-time but all he wants is a quiet life in New Hampshire.
ReplyDeleteIn our culture when everyone "sells out" this guy stayed true. The guys could have made a killing on selling the rights to everything "Holden Caulfield" but the integrity of his works was more important. I have a lot of respect for that.
Chris B.
To Dan
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, I had no idea Howard Zinn died. I've been working on A Peoples History... for months now. Kinda pick it up in between other reading and PS3 time. GREAT book though.
I think part of the appeal was it was one of the only books geared specifically at adolescents at the time. Now, fortunately, the libraries are filled with books written for kids and teens. I'm blown away by the variety of choices when I bring my kids to the library. I have to admit, I'm a bit envious. I was a bit of a bookworm as a kid and while reading Jack London, the Greek myths, Dickens, etc., certainly didn't hurt me, it would have been nice to read something geared towards kids that actually took place in the 20th Century. Salinger gets props for being first and starting a nice trend of writing for teens. Now, if only the kids would read books anymore, they would set.
ReplyDeleteI must say I'm impressed with the responses. I would have thought the extent of reading for this crew would be "Eli Manning The Making of a Quarterback".
ReplyDelete...just a little plug for Ralph V. there.
In keeping of the spirit of the love we share for the NY Giants, I will not start a politcal screaming match about Howard Zinn, who is a liberal revisionist who loves to blame every world problem on America.
ReplyDeleteGo Giants and God Bless America.
Wow, Ern....look what you started.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you need to get another blog going. "Ernie P's Literary Musings" perhaps.
Chris B.
Or Ern could start a Jets fan literary blog and analyze Dr. Suess for those morons. It might be tough to get Rex to even pick up a book unless u could trick him with Green Eggs and Ham and Fireman Ed the imbicile can at least spell one word.
ReplyDeleteLOL at Wayno2424...
ReplyDeleteOne question though: How can the only fans in the NFL who start fires in the stadium have a guy named "fireman Ed" as their most famous fan?
Now, now, let's be nice to the Jets fans. After all, someone has to mow the lawns, pick up the trash, and clean the bathrooms. We need to appreciate that they doing all they can with what little God or nature (depending on your views) gave them. Despite the challenges they face, they are still a better class of people than Philly or Dallas fans.
ReplyDeleteI also do not want to debate the legitimacy or impact of Zinn, but the book is mainly about people fighting American oppression -- at times it's American people fighting American oppression. I would also never say the book is unamerican. It's just an alternative view of US history.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is still widely used as an alternative history textbook in high school and college classes.
Now, if I could change topics for a second: Ern, how's the new stadium coming along? Is it completely finished? Do you get to check it out before the season starts? And what's it going to be called?
Wow Ernie, you can now start a book club, like the ones my wife and mom belong to. This, clearly, shows the difference between Giants and Jets fans-Giants fans can read! (only kidding, great season guys). As for J.D. Salinger, I'm with Ernie, I never liked Catcher in the Rye. I thought it terribly sad. However, I read it when I was 49. not 16. My son, on the other hand, loved it. As to Howard Zinn, he won't be missed. He did more to ruin the study of American History than anyone in the past 50 years. Now, when are we going to get a new special teams coordinator, and can we draft Rolano McLain
ReplyDelete