Jan 25, 2010

It's Poetry.....



I read this book when I was 12.. I was and still is one of my personal favorites. This is one of the best paragraphs I have ever read.


Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them - if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry.
The Catcher in the Rye

5 comments:

the walking man said...

It is an odd little book Salinger wrote...too many people forget that it is a novel not some holy writ.

Lori said...

WM- I think the reason I that book is so special to me, is that it was my first "grown-up" book. Even though the main character is male, I could relate to him. There are many people who I have seen latch on to a book and like you commented, forget it is a novel. They use the novel as almost a life manual. Another book I liked when I was young was The Dharma Bums. That book inspired many to take to the road and just go. I agree with your comment. A novel is what it is...

Sarcastic Bastard said...

Great book!

KMKZ said...

How ironic! He died today.

Lori said...

avoid and distract- Your kidding.. I haven't watched the news yet.. sigh..at least my late husband has some good company in the afterworld...