For over a year I've been trying to find my copy of J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. I had started reading it and only gotten into the first few pages when I lost track of the book. In all my years of reading I had never read this iconic novel. Salinger's death last year reminded me to dig my paperback version out of the garage and finally read it. I did. Then it disappeared.
Buying a new copy was not something I wanted to do. I knew it was in the house somewhere. Sometimes I would remember it and look around to see if I could find it. I rearranged all of the books in my garage in hopes that Catcher had somehow made it back there. I spent considerable time and energy over the past year trying to find the book again.
Then the other day I found it right here in my home office on one of my bookshelves. I wasn't even looking for it--I was looking for another book. There it was right before my very eyes where I had probably looked at it a multitude of times without realizing what it was I was seeing.
Now that I have found it again I am going to place it in my stack of to-read books that I had posted about before the Christmas holidays. After I have read Catcher I will post my thoughts about it. But first I'm going to finish those books from my holiday reading list.
One of those books is Perilous by fellow blogger Tamara Hart Heiner. I was part of Tamara's book tour back in December, but I had not yet read the book due to my preoccupation with NaNo. Now I'm almost finished reading Perilous and will offer my review here next Tuesday. After that I will try to get through the rest of my list.
Have you read Perilous? Have you read Catcher in the Rye? Did you ever look for something to eventually find that it was right there in front of you the entire time? Why do you think this sometimes happens?----
Funny how often the things we seek (but don't see) are right in front of us. Maybe we're just looking too hard. It's sort of like writing. When I try to force the story along, nothing happens; but when I'm out doing nothing, it just pops into my head.
ReplyDeleteCatcher in the Rye is one of my favorite books. I hope you love it!
Half my English class my junior year of high school read Catcher in the Rye. I was in the half that read William Faulkner. It was years out of high school before I picked up Catcher in the Rye. It was a pretty great read. Hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteCatcher In the Rye was also prescribed reading in High School which meant that as a precocious young teen I didn't appreciate it at all. Its now on my TBR waiting the time and appreciation of a mature brain.
ReplyDeletehere is my TT
Isn't that like life though? When we least expect it...
ReplyDeleteMany years have passed since I’ve read Catcher in the Rye, so I would have to reread it to enter into any sort of discussion about it. I haven’t heard of “Perilous” but I look forward to your review.
ReplyDeleteIt happens to me all the time that things suddenly appear even though I looked in the same location at least a dozen times. I have no explanation except for the possibility of playful invisible imps that enjoy messing with our minds.
No I haven't read it I better put on my to 'read before I die' list. I tried reading 'Catch 22' and found that very hard going then I picked it up as a book on tape and listened to it. It was a great book and I got it, I understood it totally. It made me wonder if it was because I was too young when I tried reading it as a teenager and maybe you need to have lived a little before you fully understand them.
ReplyDeleteWow this is deep! I shall post this on my blog.
I have not read Catcher in the Rye. Not sure why it's never made any list of required reading. Like someone else said, at some point it was probably either/or and I chose the other book. I don't know that I would seek it out to read. Maybe a review and synopsis :)
ReplyDeleteRead "Cather" in HS. The very moment I forget what I was looking for, there it is. I have ghosts though :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
I also never read CATCHER IN THE RYE, which might or might not sound strange, since I'm a professor of English literature, but I have a tendency of not reading trendy books, and Salinger's book has always been extremely trendy among the teens. I have a notion I wouldn't like it. While my friends, back when I was teen, were reading Salinger, I was reading Russian classics, and now I just don't have time ... :(
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfied's character definitely has a unique voice.
ReplyDeleteI read Catcher in the Rye in high school (required reading) then I stumbled across that old copy a couple years ago and read it again. For those who only read it school, do yourself a favor and read it again. The change in perspective does remarkable things.
ReplyDeleteAlison -- Writing is much like life isn't it. Maybe it's because we are writing about life and sometimes the answers aren't always obvious.
ReplyDeleteMJ -- I do like Faulkner, but he can really be challenging. Salinger's style doesn't seem especially challenging, but I'll see how the story is.
Livemorenow-- I don't think "Catcher" was on my high school reading list but that was in the 60s in Tennessee.
Alex -- Life is full of surprises.
Jane -- I wonder if any research study has ever been done on the phenomena of looking at things and not seeing them.
Jamara -- There are some other things that I read when younger and didn't care for them but liked them much better later. Sometimes at the time I guess we just don't get it.
Carol-- It's such a must read according to many that I felt like I should read it as well--especially after reading about how weird Salinger seemed to be.
Jules -- I don't think I have any ghosts here--I think sometimes my mind is just off in left-field or something.
Dezmond -- It may be that Catcher.. is primarily part of the "American" experience and is of lesser interest to others in the rest of the world. I don't know what the wider reputation of the book is.
Jess -- Holden must have something because so many people have been influenced by the character.
Karen -- Maybe it's a man thing, but I don't think so. My wife seems to "lose" things more than I do and she's more organized than I am. I left a note for you on your blog about the thank you thing.
Linda -- I think you're right about the change of perspective. This works for many things.
Oh I wish that I could find my bracelet that has seemed to disappear! I once lost a 3/4 carat diamond ring of mine and found it a year later on a high shelf.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Catcher in the Rye, although I did at one time own a copy. It was in the eighth grade and I had no interest in reading what so ever, just boys! Love Di ♥
I haven't read Perilous or Catcher in the Rye yet. I swear if that TBR list gets any higher, it'll topple over and crush me. ;)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about looking for someone and not being able to find it, even though it's right in view. It seems like you always have to be looking for something else to find the other thing. Maybe it's karma, or fate, or aliens. I don't know, but it's definitely annoying.
Catcher in the Rye was an easy read, although I don't quite understand why it's become so well regarded....
ReplyDeleteI've never read Catcher in the Rye.
ReplyDeleteBut I have had those experiences before, where something is lost in plain sight.
BOID ~
ReplyDeleteYes, I've read 'Catcher In The Rye'. It's alright, but way overrated.
However, mostly what I want to tell you here is that there are these buildings called "libraries" and in any one of them you would have found 'Catcher In The Rye' and been allowed to take it home with you and keep it long enough to read.
Just something to remember the next time you lose your copy and before you "spend considerable time and energy over the" course of a "year trying to find the book again."
You know I HAD TO WRITE THAT, don't you? I wouldn't have been true to myself if I'd let that opportunity pass me by.
:o)
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
It sounds like you need to put a tracking device on that book. It seems to wander.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it in ages. I am a new follower of your site. I also just signed up for the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I can't wait for it to start.
Wakela's World
Lee-
ReplyDeleteMy copy has the same red cover....I wonder if it's still sold in the same packaging...I could not imagine it any other way.
I did try to reread it a few years ago and found it did not hold up for me.
Your copy looks exactly like mine. I found it a used bookstore a few years ago. Except I had to tape mine back together. Having an old copy just feels so much cooler.
ReplyDeleteI did read Catcher in the Rye, but do't remember it. Not sure if I still have it or not. I'd have to go check.
ReplyDeleteDiana -- Sometimes things just come and go in our lives don't they.
ReplyDeleteCherie -- My actual TBR list is huge, but I'm trying to break it down into smaller chunks.
Andrew -- I think I may end up with the same opinion, but we'll see.
Karen -- It's weird how it happens.
StMc -- I guess I really didn't want to read it that badly. Besides, the library is about 5 blocks from my house. Do you really think I'd go that far to get a book?
Wakela -- Welcome to A to Z! Maybe I was psychologically blocking myself from reading the book. Who knows?
Larry -- I'm sure it comes in several designs. Mine has a print date of April 1972 when it cost $1.25. It's probably the version that was commonly used in high school and college. Never read it back then so this will be my first go around.
Christopher -- Looking at the list of print runs millions of copies were undoubted ran with the same cover for many years.
ReplyDeleteMPax --Hope it doesn't take you a year to find it.
I haven't read Catcher In the Rye, although I've certainly heard of it before.
ReplyDeleteMaybe people overlook things because we expect the object to stand out against whatever's around it, and when it doesn't something in the brain decides it's not the right thing? I don't know . . . but it certainly is surprising (and, sometimes, frustrating) when it happens.
I haven't read either. I feel I should read Catcher because it's a classic, but I have no real desire to.
ReplyDeleteAll the time my friend! My TBR pile is huge too.
ReplyDeleteIt is like those glasses, on the top of your head... I can't find'em...lol! I think we have all had this or something similar happen.
ReplyDeleteI have a huge To Read list...slowly working my way through it. I haven't read this one, either...
I wanted to, thought it would be required, but not in my Honors English...odd! Enjoy~
Man, I am always looking for things that are right in front of me. Sometimes that thing I'm looking for will be already in my hand. It's pretty sad.
ReplyDeleteI read Catcher In The Rye years ago, in high school. I think I was too immature to fully appreciate it. I'll give it another try soon.
I don't think I've read either one.
ReplyDeleteI've got Periolous on my Kindle, but I haven't read it yet. Looking forward to your review! :)
ReplyDeleteCatcher in the Rye is one of my favorite books. You could've borrowed it from me, but it's probably something you would like to own.
ReplyDeleteGolden Eagle -- That's a possible theory that might be true in some cases. In this case I know what the book spine looked like so I would have thought it would have caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteLynda -- I want to read it since it is such a talked about classic that so many cite as an influence to them.
Holly -- I didn't think I was alone in this.
Ella -- Yes the old proverbial glasses on the top of the head. At least I haven't done that yet.
Shelley -- Yes, looking for something that's in your hand is pretty bad, but I think I've done that before now that you mention it.
Yvonne -- Stay tuned to this blog for reviews of both.
Jemi -- So far I'm enjoying it.
Emilee -- I never knew you liked that book. It was here anyway and now I've found it.
I've never read Catcher in the Rye, not sure why.
ReplyDeleteI lose things all the time and then they're right in front of my face, especially my keys and cell phone.
THANK you for posting about my book! I'm hoping if people see my cover enough, they'll have to buy it!
ReplyDeleteCarol -- I try to always keep things in the same place so I know where to look. For the common things I always use this works well.
ReplyDeleteTamara -- Product exposure helps to at least plant a subliminal recognition that might pop up later. Hope this helps.
Never read Perilous so I'm interested about it now. Haven't read CITR either, but some of the homeschool sites I frequent have "warnings" about it for HS students. Maybe you can tell me just what those warnings are for later!
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