So, I like reading. And I love sharing what I’ve read. And one of my most recent reads left me very undecided as to whether I actually liked it or not, but I think that it has somehow influenced me. At least the way I read, think, write and talk after reading it.
The book is said to be the most bought and least read american novel in the past half-century, and I can say I understand why. It’s a typical “Oh, I’m so smart, and I totally got it, and if you don’t get it you’re so stupid”-book for all the besserwisser-douchebags of the world, so everyone buys it, starts reading it, and puts it away. (Maybe I’m only saying this because I don’t think I got it? Or because I wanted to put it down and not open it throughout the whole thing?)
The only reason why I bought the book was because I was at a bookstore, and I was buying two books, and there was a 3 for 2 sale on books written in english. And my Language Arts teacher from when I went to American High School always told me that this was a book I would like. And she was always right with me: Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, Romeo and Juliet and Antigone. All books she told me to read, all books I loved. And she always mentioned this one. So i bought it, and figured I’d read it.
I kind of liked the book, but kind of hated it. It’s hard to follow (stream-of-conciousness stuff) and I never managed to feel sympathy for the main-character (stream of conciousness in the mind of a snobby, stuck up, rich teen-age boy in New York. What’s not to like?) but if the goal of the book is to make me feel something then it did succeed. I felt hatred, pity and general dislike throughout the whole thing. And the book kind of made me think, some, and the way it’s written is a bit captivating. Especially the part where you keep wondering “Who the hell is this asshole talking to, anyways?”
Because the book is like a monologue, about the passing of the recent days in this jackasses life, about stuff that happened before, and about how he feels sorry for everyone for being poorer, stupider or in any way inferior to him. And it’s a good analysis of some peoples personalities, I guess.
I don’t regret reading the book (I rarely do…) and I would advice people to read it, I guess. Mostly because it’s such an “important” piece of litterature, but I hate it when people tell you to read books because they are important. Who decides that anyways? But maybe you should read it just to feel the same confusion that I’m feeling towards the book. ‘Cause a part of me really didn’t like it, but I want to read it again to understand it better. And I think it did shed some light on some things.
Maybe you should read it just to explain to me what it’s really about?
So just to end this with a couple of questions (I’m still not sure if I’m writing on this blog to get answers and comments, or just to vent. I think mainly just to vent, but that becomes easier when you get comments, to process things more… Maybe, shit what do I know, right?):
Did you ever read The Catcher in the Rye?
Do you think you will read it?
Did you “get it”? And if so: Can you please explain it to me?
For the readers – With Love and Squalor
-Frida
