#445

While I am still reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being, I was simultaneously enjoyingFranny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger over the past few days via internet. I chose it for its brevity, which I assumed would be more readily available for online viewing (especially since I am technologically inept and have a hard time finding anything for free. sad face).

I had been interested in the book for about a year because a favorite professor of mine had recommended it, but could not bring myself to buy it due to its thinness in comparison to many of th

e other books on the list. Therefore I am happy to have been able to find it online, especially as I did enjoy it and am glad to have been afforded a free fulfillment of entertainment in my time of dire need (I am at the poorest I have ever been in my entire life. The times are not lending themselves very well to the youth in terms of being able to claim these years as the best of our lives).

I think penning a boy named Zachary as Zooey to be quite charming and fitting of his East-Coastian academically high-brow nature. I did, however, have an erroneous pre-conception that the stories were about two girls, and therefore had to keep reminding myself that Zooey was the brother.

"Franny"-the first story-reminded me of Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants in its style and tone, which I have a certain fondness for that I have no idea wherefore (perhaps for its ability to unsettle me? Anyway, I do love me a short story without a visible plot. I used to yearn to write in such a way as that story while I had short story classes in college, in the face of a teacher who adamantly preached otherwise). This first story actually had me missing university (mind you, not college, as I attended art school and not a real university), but in the sort of way that I was missing experiences that I never actually had. Strange, really, because I was feeling like I actually did have those memories. I do find it interesting though how vividly the story leaves an impression of pregnancy. I read a few criticisms of the work after I was through and they all shared that feeling with me, which I find queer.

I like both parts, but emotionally, "Zooey" was a bit more captivating. Stronger dialogue and deeper revelations. I think Salinger successfully illustrates familial love and personal uncertainties here, in the way of young people. Franny goes from being a sort of annoyingly juvenile young person, to a snotty well-to-do student, to a relatable young person contemplating her values. I encourage this read wholeheartedly.