The first 26 chapters ....
Decided to pick up J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" again because of it's connection to "Chapter 27". I read it way back in high school, and walked away with the vague impression of liking a few passages in it. Well, I just finished my reread. Not sure what to think.
Yeah, I know it's a classic and I could probably use google and find all the scholarly things that people say about the book, but I'd rather mull it over in my own head.
It isn't about much. I mean there is no great problem that is resolved, no relationship that makes a turn. It's myopic. Didn't they say as much about "Chapter 27"?
It's this highly internalized stream of consciousness tale of Holden's last day at some prep school and what he does running around New York city to keep from coming home for Christmas break too early and letting on that he got kicked out of yet another school.
Holden calls himself a madman. Is that just an expression, or is it true? It was almost like he was disconnecting from everyone around him. Except kids. He still got a kick out of kids. I think his little sister was the last hand that reached out for him, stopped him from continuing. From finding some cabin in the woods and fully disconnection from society. From suicide. From simple madness.
So is the connection to "Chapter 27", did Chapman not have that last hand? Not have that last person reaching out to save him?
Two basic cowards who disliked phonies and found everyone (every adult at least) to some how be phony. Disingenuous. Both disconnected and falling further away from society. Both, in a way, very intelligent, but somehow not grounded. Drifting.
Myopic. Dark. Drifting. Internalized. A sense of waiting. Alone in the big city. Anonymous.
I don't know. Need to watch the movie again now. I even bought the book that "Chapter 27" is based on. Haven't picked it up yet. We'll see what mood I'm in next time I look for something to read. Sometimes you're not in the mood for heavy books and big ideas.
But, for those big Beatles fans, the movie has nothing at all to do with Lennon. He's an afterthought. And it's nothing to do with giving fame to Chapman. It's like Jared says, it's looking at the darker side of humanity. It's looking at human frailty and misery. And I wonder if it isn't just a little bit about having no one to offer that last outstretched hand.
Tonight was the thing in NY, wasn't it? Jared speaking at the premiere. Last night and tonight, I believe. Hope someone gives us the details.
I'd love to talk to Jared about the movie, about the book. Push beyond his practiced statements about looking at the dark side of humanity. You know, really talk. And what about the flip side. Being the last thing from anonymous. Being looked at but not seen. Does it feed the same feeling of being disconnected? Not with the fans, who somewhat get it, but with the public at large. From the people who just know him from the tabloids, or the silver screen.
I wonder if he ever found out about those ducks. .....................