Catcher in the Rye, what a great book :D i didn't think i'd ever hear of it again until now. good job guys!

I liked the book too -- nice discussion, you two!

Holden is cool. Everyone is a chronic liar. Everyone is a phoney. Everyone is an idiot. Everyone writes and says "F...ish You" whenever we can. We should all be like Holden and we should all not be like Holden... because then we'd be phoney.

Cynicism with life... digust with the world. Hahaha. That's me. I should win a "most like Holden but most unlike Holden" award.

He doesn't find himself at the end, he still struggles with all of the problems that plague him throughout the book. He's still alone and lost, unwanted. But he realizes that it's alright to let go, as far as Phoebe is concerned anyways. But the unfinished ending is the most noble type of ending because it gives one the feeling that the character's fate is not sealed by the author and that he does have free will and hope after all (which is an illusion because he doesn't).

By the way, Noveed Safipour needs to talk more and act less like a yes-man (a phoney). You seem to be pulling all the weight here, Jasmine.

Twilight. Hahaha. Sure, I can't wait. Safipour already has trouble talking about a book he read in 8th grade, let's try his hand at something he's never read at all!

--- The only thing I hate more than a dumb person who thinks he is smart is a smart person who thinks he is dumb.

oh yes taishaku, i'm sure you'd tear it up in a videocast, eh? :) it's very un-intimidating, almost like singing in the shower.

and i am relatively sure (but not positive) that the point of this was to critique the book, not noveed. noveed is a cool cat, but why don't we talk about Catcher in the Rye? perhaps?

Thanks for the support Tarah, and also thank you Taishaku for your thoughts. While I have no issue with constructive criticism or even critical response in general, I too think discussion of the book is more appropriate for this setting than a discussion of Noveed--though such a discussion does sound kind of fun!

 Taishaku -- I do think you have hit the spot on what Salinger was trying to do with the ending. It leaves one wondering if Holden would have found his way should the book have continued on, and therefore lets the reader really experience what he felt at that moment--confusion and little hope. However, this also causes some readers to not be fully satisfied with the conclusion, as we have little idea what the direction of his life is going to be.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually agree with Taishaku. While some readers aren't satisfied with the conclusion of the book, I think that they should have more faith in Holden, that he will do something worthwhile with his life. If anything, I think Holden would make a great writer, what do you think?

Holden, a writer? Well, a consistent character flaw with Holden is that he seems to never follow through anything, even his obsession with Jane Gallagher; once he decides to call her on a whim, but when her mother picks up, he hangs up. So no, I think his capriciousness and his internal confusion will prevent him from becoming a writer... but if he resolves these issues... well, anything is possible.

Besides, D.B. is the writer character here. He's the character most like Salinger and unlike Salinger. He does what Salinger hates: writing for movies; Holden likens it to prostitution. Salinger had an obsession with keeping control of his own work, even as far as making sure Catcher never gets made into a screenplay (to be fair, it would make a bad movie).

--- The only thing I hate more than a dumb person who thinks he is smart is a smart person who thinks he is dumb.