[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Alternative Goose, on 04 February 2019 - 03:47 PM, said:

I'm reading Catcher in the Rye. About a third into it. If it wasn't because I feel I need to finish it, it's a classic after all, I would quit this book.

The protagonist Holden Caulfield is an insufferable idiot who embodies the worst traits of a teenager. I imagine this is interesting to read about when you're coming of age but as a thirty something Caulfield just makes me angry.

Edit: Actually I suspect the kid is mentally ill which might explain some of his behavior but still.

I haven't read it, but my dad read it recently and that's almost word for word his take on it after finishing. I did however read The Perks of Being a Wallflower a couple of years ago which is constantly sold as "this generation's Catcher in the Rye" and thought that was a load of irritating twaddle, so it didn't endear me to trying CitR.

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 04 February 2019 - 04:21 PM

[QuickTidal]

Alternative Goose, on 04 February 2019 - 03:47 PM, said:

The protagonist Holden Caulfield is an insufferable idiot who embodies the worst traits of a teenager. I imagine this is interesting to read about when you're coming of age but as a thirty something Caulfield just makes me angry

Yep. It's reason #1 why I've not read it. It seems like the type of book you need to be a youth to enjoy.

-------

When I was much younger (probably late teens), I watched FERRIS BEULLER'S DAY OFF with my dad...and back then I thought that movie was amazing...so I was non-plussed when this exchange occurred:

Ferris: (after convincing Cameorn to let him take the Ferrari out to get Sloane from school, and Cameron wants him to being it back home) "If you had access to a car like this, would you take it back right away?....Neither would I"

My father loudly says (before Ferris answers his own question), "Yes, yes I would!"

I recall at the time I was annoyed. Like dad, why are you such a party pooper!

Now as a 40-something adult with kids...I watch that same scene and I am now in full agreement with my dad. Ferris is an asshole. Take that car back to your buddies garbage you truant lunatic!

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 04 February 2019 - 04:41 PM

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 04 February 2019 - 04:39 PM, said:

Alternative Goose, on 04 February 2019 - 03:47 PM, said:

The protagonist Holden Caulfield is an insufferable idiot who embodies the worst traits of a teenager. I imagine this is interesting to read about when you're coming of age but as a thirty something Caulfield just makes me angry

Yep. It's reason #1 why I've not read it. It seems like the type of book you need to be a youth to enjoy.

-------

When I was much younger (probably late teens), I watched FERRIS BEULLER'S DAY OFF with my dad...and back then I thought that movie was amazing...so I was non-plussed when this exchange occurred:

Ferris: (after convincing Cameorn to let him take the Ferrari out to get Sloane from school, and Cameron wants him to being it back home) "If you had access to a car like this, would you take it back right away?....Neither would I"

My father loudly says (before Ferris answers his own question), "Yes, yes I would!"

I recall at the time I was annoyed. Like dad, why are you such a party pooper!

Now as a 40-something adult with kids...I watch that same scene and I am now in full agreement with my dad. Ferris is an asshole. Take that car back to your buddies garbage you truant lunatic!

The only flaw in their glorious plan was trying to reset the odometer by driving backwards.

[Gabriele]

QuickTidal, on 04 February 2019 - 04:39 PM, said:

Alternative Goose, on 04 February 2019 - 03:47 PM, said:

The protagonist Holden Caulfield is an insufferable idiot who embodies the worst traits of a teenager. I imagine this is interesting to read about when you're coming of age but as a thirty something Caulfield just makes me angry

Yep. It's reason #1 why I've not read it. It seems like the type of book you need to be a youth to enjoy.

I didn't even enjoy it back then. I met that sort of characters at school every day, that was bad enough. Went back to the much more interesting array of characters like Thomas Buddenbrook, Nikolaj Stavrogin, Daniel Deronda, Lucien de Rubempré, Ivanhoe, Aragorn and Athos.

[Abyss]

Gabriele, on 04 February 2019 - 05:11 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 04 February 2019 - 04:39 PM, said:

Alternative Goose, on 04 February 2019 - 03:47 PM, said:

The protagonist Holden Caulfield is an insufferable idiot who embodies the worst traits of a teenager. I imagine this is interesting to read about when you're coming of age but as a thirty something Caulfield just makes me angry

Yep. It's reason #1 why I've not read it. It seems like the type of book you need to be a youth to enjoy.

I didn't even enjoy it back then. I met that sort of characters at school every day, that was bad enough. Went back to the much more interesting array of characters like Thomas Buddenbrook, Nikolaj Stavrogin, Daniel Deronda, Lucien de Rubempré, Ivanhoe, Aragorn and Athos.

I preferred Jack Ryan and Silk.

[worry]

I like Catcher in the Rye, but I mean, yah, Holden isn't supposed to 'age well' as you grow older. That's one of the points. It's the accuracy of the depiction -- the teenage overcompensating for insecurity, the (unearned) ego and judgment, the focusing on others to avoid any honest self analysis (even if some of your insights on artifice are accurate), etc. -- that's so good. It's not my favorite book in the world or anything, but it's definitely honest even when it's uncomfortable or off-putting.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Sloan's Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.

[worry]

That's the one right next to Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium right?

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

8 pages in and I'm hooked! In two short paragraphs, Sloan has already created the perfect bookstore setting. Great metaphor and description.

worry, on 05 February 2019 - 02:51 AM, said:

That's the one right next to Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium right?

Down the block, actually. Nearest neighbors are Dr. Weigl's Fantastic Laboratory and Dr. Parnassus' Imaginarium.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 05 February 2019 - 03:18 AM

[worry]

Dang, busy neighborhood!

[QuickTidal]

Finished DUNE MESSIAH. Solid, solid volume. I get a BIT bogged down under the weight of some of Paul's exceptionally weird navel-gazing, but everything else was pretty stellar. Alia and Not-Duncan stood out well.

[Abyss]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 05 February 2019 - 03:16 AM, said:

8 pages in and I'm hooked! In two short paragraphs, Sloan has already created the perfect bookstore setting. Great metaphor and description.

worry, on 05 February 2019 - 02:51 AM, said:

That's the one right next to Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium right?

Down the block, actually. Nearest neighbors are Dr. Weigl's Fantastic Laboratory and Dr. Parnassus' Imaginarium.

worry, on 05 February 2019 - 03:56 AM, said:

Dang, busy neighborhood!

Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem are playing the block party next weekend.

[QuickTidal]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 05 February 2019 - 02:45 AM, said:

Sloan's Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 05 February 2019 - 03:16 AM, said:

8 pages in and I'm hooked! In two short paragraphs, Sloan has already created the perfect bookstore setting. Great metaphor and description.

worry, on 05 February 2019 - 02:51 AM, said:

That's the one right next to Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium right?

Down the block, actually. Nearest neighbors are Dr. Weigl's Fantastic Laboratory and Dr. Parnassus' Imaginarium.

It's a STUNNINGLY realized book. Wonderful from start to finish, and the denouement is in the very, very, very, end...and was beyond impressive to me. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did when you're finished.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2019 - 06:30 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 05 February 2019 - 02:45 AM, said:

Sloan's Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 05 February 2019 - 03:16 AM, said:

8 pages in and I'm hooked! In two short paragraphs, Sloan has already created the perfect bookstore setting. Great metaphor and description.

worry, on 05 February 2019 - 02:51 AM, said:

That's the one right next to Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium right?

Down the block, actually. Nearest neighbors are Dr. Weigl's Fantastic Laboratory and Dr. Parnassus' Imaginarium.

It's a STUNNINGLY realized book. Wonderful from start to finish, and the denouement is in the very, very, very, end...and was beyond impressive to me. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did when you're finished.

Incredibly moving and impressive book. I could not put it down, which is rare for me these days, and devoured it in under a day.

Absolutely adore it, though it is a bit heavy with book-nerd wish fulfillment.

[Maark Abbott]

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2019 - 02:52 PM, said:

Finished DUNE MESSIAH. Solid, solid volume. I get a BIT bogged down under the weight of some of Paul's exceptionally weird navel-gazing, but everything else was pretty stellar. Alia and Not-Duncan stood out well.

Do yourself a favour and stop at Book 6, with a proviso that the House prequels are ok. The Butlerian Jihad is bad, everything after that is SO FUCKING BAD.

[Maark Abbott]

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2019 - 02:52 PM, said:

Finished DUNE MESSIAH. Solid, solid volume. I get a BIT bogged down under the weight of some of Paul's exceptionally weird navel-gazing, but everything else was pretty stellar. Alia and Not-Duncan stood out well.

Do yourself a favour and stop at Book 6, with a proviso that the House prequels are ok. The Butlerian Jihad is bad, everything after that is SO FUCKING BAD.

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished the audiobook of THE OBELISK GATE today oh man that was so freaking cool you can definitely count me in with the lovers of this series.

Going to start STONE SKY on the way home.

[QuickTidal]

Maark Abbott, on 06 February 2019 - 08:42 AM, said:

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2019 - 02:52 PM, said:

Finished DUNE MESSIAH. Solid, solid volume. I get a BIT bogged down under the weight of some of Paul's exceptionally weird navel-gazing, but everything else was pretty stellar. Alia and Not-Duncan stood out well.

Do yourself a favour and stop at Book 6, with a proviso that the House prequels are ok. The Butlerian Jihad is bad, everything after that is SO FUCKING BAD.

Noted. Will definitely take that into account.


-----------

I'm now back into the Horus Heresy with Graham Macneil's FULGRIM.

[Macros]

That reminds me I need to get back to the heresy.

I've read as far as Deliverance lost

[Cyphon]

Finished the Arm of the Sphinx. Excellent book and I'm looking forward to reading the Hod King when I get around to it.

Reading The Ringed Castle, 5th one of Dorothy Dunnetts Lymomd Chronicles. So far as intriguing as the previous books and there are sections where I get completely lost on what is going on.