The Catcher in the Rye

-

The Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger 

I have been meaning to read this for a long time but I got into the mood only lately after I finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and The Great Gatsby, both American Classics.

Well, I understood why this book was banned at some point in the history. The theme is about the coming-of-age of a boy of 16. The swearing, the colloquials, the immaturity of Holden Caulfield versus his aim to become a responsible respectable adult versus his observation on phony adults and adult world. He is conflicted into rushing to experience the adult world by his entering clubs, trying to hire a prostituted woman, having mature conversations but always failing to do so. 

You will ignore the swearing and admire his thoughts on phony world of adult men and also admire his assessment as he can become a conscientious adult later on. The teenage angst and rants are part of a phase and will  eventually be overcome by teenagers.This is evident when Holden decided to be a catcher in the rye when he grows up. 

In the ending, one can foresee Holden deciding to go home and decide to be a better man but he also wishes to be with the merry-go-round with his younger innocent sister Phoebe whose innocence can just go round and round.

Holden Caulfield, despite his language and demeanor, will eventually come dear to you because he too knows what he does not want to be when he grows up, as much as he knows that he wanted to be a catcher in the rye.

*Photo taken from Wikipedia

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you still remember how Sarali or Sirali taste?

-
Image
This "Sarali" is a childhood fruit for everyone who grew up in the Visayan area of the Philippines. Also known as  Flacourtia jangomas or Indian Plum or coffee plum, Sarali is best enjoyed by pressing one fruit between one's palm, move it in circular motion until tender, and pop the soft flesh quickly in one's mouth save the seeds. Just like apple, this fruit oxidizes quickly and thus, gets dark brown easily. It can give one's teeth a nasty brown shade. Sour with a hint of sweet, this is a must-try fruit. I believe, the fruit has an economic value just like sarguellas and lanzones. *** *** *** ***  Related readings:  Possible Treatment of Diabetes http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959214/ Anti bacterial property:  http://www.ijplsjournal.com/issues%20PDF%20files/july2011/1.pdf
Read more

TIKUM KADLUM (The Enchanted Dog, The First of the Ten Epics of Panay Bukidnon)

-
Image
At the house. One day, Bulawanon engaged the help of Tikum Kadlum, a hunting dog with the gift of sensing the spirits, in cooking rice for his husband Paiburong and his brother Dumaraog who will be going hunting. When the rice was cooked, the brothers ate fast. Then, while Bulawanon packed the betel nut for her husband, Paiburong and Dumaraog dressed themselves, with Dumaraog suggesting they match their sashes and belts, since he is his brother's loyal protector. To complete their hunting preparations, the two brought out their long-bladed sharp knives, shields, spears, and lances from their gold chest and wall hanger. When everything is set, Paiburong bade goodbye to his wife, Bulawanon, who reminded her husband to be careful as he might meet in the forest one named Makabagting, who is accompanied by a man-eating woman called Muwa. Makabagting is a nobleman and a warrior who is widely known as having tasted human flesh. Paiburong went out of his house, and he heard a sound. It
Read more

Linabog nga Bisaya nga Manok

-
Image
When I searched for Linabog in th web, I can see entries on Linabog but using a different souring agent and usually the fish called "pagi" is used. Also, they attribute Linabog to the Cebuanos and there is one video which explained that the word means "throw away" because the parts used in the dish are parts which are usually to be thrown away, like the bony "pagi." Meanwhile, there is also a "kinunot" way of cooking which means "hinimay" or flaked for the Luzon. The name was also coined for leftover parts of fish or chicken. In Hiligaynon, the word "labog" means forcefully thrown away.  This surprised me because when I was small, I heard from my father and his friends about this linabog and they used the leaves of labog plant. So I grew up having some idea of what linabog cooking means and definitely, the Cebuanos' definition of Linabog dish is far from my Ilonggo definition. And yes, Ilonggos
Read more