— huge difference from the Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway
— was this the 1950 version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Glossary:
Chiffonier, p. 15: tall chest of drawers, often with a mirror on top
Hound’s tooth jacket, p. 33: two-tone, checkered jacket; think Sherlock Holmes’ deerstalker hat; 1930’s, adopted by the wealthy; back in style in the 1950’s;
Pinball machine, p. 48:
Gladstones, p. 67: small, portmanteau suitcases
Skates, hockey vs speed skates, p. 67:
“lousy with rocks”, 72: son goes to Pencey, so she must be rich; taking off her gloves, “lousy with rocks,” so these would have been rings with large gems (diamonds, others).
“drink up the minimum too fast”, p. 111: many of these clubs required one to buy at least one drink (“the minimum”) if they were going to be allowed to stay in the club; those with little money seldom could afford more than “the minimum.”
Tatersall vests: a check or plaid pattern woven into cloth.
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Catcher In The Rye, J. D. Salinger, c. 1945, 1946, 1951, 1970
Chapter 1
We learn his name is Holden.
He came up (?) from New York City to say “good-bye” to his prep school, specifically to say good-bye to his history teacher, Mr Spencer, who recently had the flu.
He was overlooking the football game between his previous prep school, Pencey Prep, Agerstown, PA, and Saxon Hall. (He was just down to NYC with the fencing team, and now they came back to Pencey Prep — was his new school also in/near Agerstown? Was his new school Saxon Hall?)
He had recently been kicked out of Pencey Prep for failing, not applying himself.
He had been a smoker, but quit.
We also learn he has an older brother writing scripts in Hollywood.
The chapter ends with Holden arriving at the Spencer house and Mrs Spencer invites him in; she knows him well, apparently.
Chapter 2: — extremely humorous chapter.
We learn his last name is Caulden. Mr Spencer had written Holden a note asking him to visit him before vacation began. But Holden said he would have come anyway.
Apparently these are boarding schools; apparently he was just expelled since his parents do not know yet. Holden will tell his parents in a couple of days when he sees them.
He says he was 16 when this occurred; he says he is now 17.
Continues discussion with Mr Spencer, easily 70 years old.
His fourth school was Pencey Prep. A previous school was Whooton School. Another Elkton Hills.
Chapter ends with him leaving Mr Spencer.
Chapter 3: — another humorous chapter
We learn that while at Pencey, he was a junior living in the dorms. Roommate was a senior.
Answer to question in Chapter 1: he was not yet in a new school. He was returning to his old dorm room at Pencey after taking the fencing team to NYC. He wouldn’t know about a new school until he saw his parents who still did not know that he had been expelled.
Reading Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen, which he checked out by mistake; turns out he liked it.
He says his favorite author is D. B., his brother; then Ring Lardner.
We meet Holden’s roommate at the end of the chapter; most of the chapter is dialogue with a senior who lives in room next door.
His roommate wants him (Holden) to write an English essay due Monday.
Chapter 4: — another humorous chapter — especially about checkers
His roommate is getting ready for a date with Jane Gallagher, a girl Holden used to play checkers with. He still liked her.
Chapter 5: — turns serious — with story of the death of his brother
We learn this was a Saturday (although that might have been mentioned earlier; or it could have been figured out by the fact they were playing football on an afternoon).
Holden and two friends plan to go to the movies; but don’t; they had already seen that movie.
Back in the room, Holden begins writing the English essay for his roommate.
We learn that Holden has a brother, Allie; he had died in 1946, of leukemia.
The chapter is a sad, sad chapter — the way Holden (Salinger) describes his older brother who had died of leukemia.
Chapter 6: — the fight.
Roommate gets home late with his date, Jane Gallagher; worries Holden.
Roommate and Holden get in a fight. Holden bloodied.
Holden goes to next room to see what Ackley is up to.
Chapter 7: — leaves Pencey to go to NYC
Holden decides to leave Pencey; go to NYC and stay in a hotel until after his parents get the letter that he’s been expelled.
We learn that the hat he bought in one of the earlier chapters is red.
Chapter 8: — train to NYC; meets mother of a Pencey student
On the train to NYC. Says a lady gets on at Trenton; could be Trenton, PA, or Trenton, NJ, but the latter is better known. An internet source says Salinger went to military prep school in Wayne, PA, southwest of NYC. Interestingly, Trenton, NJ, is midway between Wayne, PA, and NYC. By train, maybe two hours from Wayne, PA (Pencey, PA) to NYC.
“lousy with rocks”, 72: son goes to Pencey, so she must be rich; taking off her gloves, “lousy with rocks,” so these would have been rings with large gems (diamonds, others). She also had orchids, very expensive flowers.
Holden offers her a cigarette and they both smoke, in a non-smoking car.
We learn that the reason Holden would have been going home Wednesday: that was when Christmas vacation started.
The lady got off at Newark, so yes, it was Trenton, NJ.
Mentions summer home in Gloucester, MA.
Chapter 9: Saturday night, late; at hotel; calls girl up — too late to go out.
Gets off at Penn Station.
We learn that Holden has a “kid sister” called Phoebe, who is younger than he is, possibly middle school.
So: Allie (died of leukemia); D.B. (older brother in Hollywood); Holden; Phoebe (younger sister in NYC)
Mentions hotels: Taft, New Yorker, Edmont. From internet: .. The Taft Hotel is on Seventh Avenue between West 50th and 51th streets. The New Yorker Hotel is close to Penn Station, at Eighth Avenue and 34th Street. the Edmont“‘
Faith Cavendish, Stanford Arms Hotel, 65th and Broadway.
Chapter 10: nightclub at the hotel he’s staying at; meets three dumb girls from Seattle
We learn that Phoebe is 10 years old. Fourth grade.
Three girls. He danced with Bernice Krebs; the other two Marty, Laverne.
Chapter 11: while in hotel nightclub, reminisces about Jane Gallagher.
Remembers Jane (Gallagher) again; he and she had played golf; Holden taught her golf.
Mentions that Jane never met Allie. The opportunity to meet Allie passed because that was the first summery she went to Maine. Usually they went to Cape Cod — a reminder that these were all rich kids.
Holden mentions that everyone saw each other often in “the village.”
Mentions that Jane started crying one day when a male friend of her mother’s was visiting; never find out what made Jane cry. Maybe it reminded her of her dad who was no longer there for some reason.
Takes cab to Ernie’s in Greenwich Village.
Chapter 12: — at Ernie’s.
At Ernies. Served a drink; too dark for anyone to see; no one cared.
Lillian Simmons comes up to him, while sitting alone; used to date Holden’s brother, D. B.
Told Lillian he was going to leave, which he regretted, because he now had to leave.
Chapter 13: — nothing but small conversation with a prostitute
Walked all the way back to the hotel; 41 blocks. Late, late Saturday night, probably early Sunday morning now.
In short time at Ernie’s, had had 3 drinks. Hard to believe, in such a short time. Didn’t finish the last one.
Ten minutes talking to a prostitute. Too depressed to do anything, he said. Probably scared, nervous. A virgin.
Chapter 14: The pimp and the girl return for another $5.
We learn that years earlier when Allie was alive, they lived in Maine.
It’s early Sunday morning (middle of the night).
The pimp and the girl come back asking for another $5. The pimp punches Holden; falls to the ground.
Chapter 15: breakfast with two nuns at Grand Central Station.
Early Sunday morning; wakes at 10:00 a.m. Gives old girlfriend, Sally Hayes, a call.
Planned to meet at the Biltmore at 2:00 p.m.
Cab to Grand Central Station.
Has breakfast with two nuns who happen to stop at cafe in Grand Central Station.
Chapter 16: If a body catch body coming through the rye.
“If a body catch a body coming through the rye.” — p. 150
Buys a record for his sister Phoebe.
Goes to Central Park and then the Museum of Natural History, looking for her.
Doesn’t find her; gets depressed.
Heads back to the Biltmore for his date with Sally. Not interested now.
Chapter 17: date with Sally.
Begins okay; then goes very, very badly. Obviously a “coming-of-age” story.
Chapter 18: spends Sunday at Radio City Hall after terrible date; waits to see male friend later that evening.
An incredibly funny book, another example: his address book had only three names in it, including a teacher’s name, and his father’s office number.
Calls up an old friend, three years his senior, who is now at Columbia.
Agree to meet at Wicker Bar at 10:00 p.m. He spends the day at Radio City Hall, live show / movies.
For first time, mentions war movies. First part of book was written before he was in the US Army. Took book with him to Europe and worked on it during the war.
Says his brother D. B. landed on D-Day.
Says Farewell to Arms is a phony. Says D.B. loves The Great Gatsby.
Holden says he is crazy about The Great Gatsby.
Old Gatsby. Old sport.
Chapter 19: lots of sex talk with “Old Luce” at the Wicker Bar
Meets up with “Old Luce” at the Wicker bar; lots of sex talk. Interesting juxtaposition of “old sport” and “Old Luce.” It’s late at night; 10:00 p.m. Sunday night; Old Luce is down from Connecticut; Yale.
Flits and lesbians, p. 186.
Chapter 20: decides to head home to see his younger sister.
Old Luce leaves the Wicker. Holden sticks around til 1:00 a.m. (early Monday morning). Gets drunk. Calls Sally. Wanders around Central Park. Sobers up. Decides to go home. Surprise his sister Phoebe.
Chapter 21: first of three chapters with his sister Phoebe
Chapter 22: second of three chapters with his sister Phoebe
p. 224 — “if a body meet a body coming through the rye” — again, p. 224.
It seems Salinger made Phoebe sound a bit older than she really was; but perhaps it’s possible; some fourth graders — going on fifth grade — I suppose, especially in NYC, can be quite street-smart.
Chapter 23: third of three chapters with his sister Phoebe
Makes phone call to Mr Antolini, his history teacher — at 2:00 a.m.!
Then back to Phoebe’s room to dance with her.
He gets out of the house. Describe’s their mother coming into Phoebe’s room. The book seems to have been written from 1st person perspective but with dialogue between Phoebe and their mother suggests omniscient narrator — is there a problem here?
Chapter 24: visits Mr Antolini; homosexual advance?
At the Antolini’s house; he is married to a much older woman. Antolini is a heavy drinker.
Notes that Holden has grown “another 20 inches.” Salinger was noted for his height.
The Antolinis were still up because they had just thrown a huge party (on a Sunday night?).
p. 224, Mr Antolini writes this down for Holden (Antolini feels Holden will soon destroy himself): “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”
Good paragraph on Antolini’s philosophy/advice on page 246.
Asks about Holden’s two girlfriends: Sally Hayes, and Jane Gallagher.
Again mentions his height; the couch that he will sleep on overnight at Antolini’s was too short for him.
Holden falls asleep, exhausted. Abruptly awokened by Mr Antolini sitting at couchside, stroking Holden’s head. Holden couldn’t get out of their fast enough.
May explain why Antolini married such an older woman.
Chapter 25: perhaps the climax of the book when he meets up with Phoebe;
says he’s going to leave; she won’t leave him; wants to go with him; he decides to go home with Phoebe; he is very, very happy
Early Monday morning; light just coming up.
Aimless.
Hallucinating? Thinking of his dead brother Allie, talking to him.
Walks to Phoebe’s school (where he also attended elementary school) to give her a note, telling her to meet him at the museum at noon (it was near the school); he was going to leave town; head West.
In the elementary school that someone had written “fuck you” on the wall, and he knew the kids would see it and some pervert would explain to kids what it meant. Recurring concern about innocence of kids.
Saw another “fuck you” on the wall while leaving the school. Tried to scratch it out with his pen knife.
In the museum; sees another “fuck you.”
Phoebe shows up at the museum; late. She had gone home to pack her clothes; big suitcase; dragging it with her to meet Holden at the museum.
Phoebe refused to leave Holden; refused to go back to school. They went to the zoo.
Then to the carousel.
Grabs his red hunting hat and puts it on her head. Extremely, extremely emotional scene for me. Is this the climax of the book?
He had told he wasn’t going to leave her and he would go home with her and she was so very happy. Perhaps the climax of the book.
Chapter 26: very, very short epilogue
Page and a half epilogue. Going to a new school next September. Already misses his old “friends” at Pencey.
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