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trhodg's review against another edition
4.0
Both stories are narrated by Buddy Glass and deal with Seymour Glass, the main character in “A Perfect Day for Bananafish”—my favorite story from “Nine Stories.”
The first one, “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters,” is classic Salinger—a quotidian story with emotionally devastating subtext. Each line and moment, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, keys in on a theme or clues you into a character’s mindset. I really enjoyed it.
The second story, “Seymour: An Introduction,” was a rambling description of its titular character. Though parts of it were somewhat uninteresting, I still found it to by and large be a touching story radiating with love and admiration.
It just makes me sad that I have no more novel-length Salinger works to discover.
“For your own sake, don't make me proud of you. I think that's exactly what I'm trying to say. If only you'd never keep me up again out of pride. Give me a story that just makes me unreasonably vigilant. Keep me up till five only because all your stars are out, and for no other reason.”
The first one, “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters,” is classic Salinger—a quotidian story with emotionally devastating subtext. Each line and moment, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, keys in on a theme or clues you into a character’s mindset. I really enjoyed it.
The second story, “Seymour: An Introduction,” was a rambling description of its titular character. Though parts of it were somewhat uninteresting, I still found it to by and large be a touching story radiating with love and admiration.
It just makes me sad that I have no more novel-length Salinger works to discover.
“For your own sake, don't make me proud of you. I think that's exactly what I'm trying to say. If only you'd never keep me up again out of pride. Give me a story that just makes me unreasonably vigilant. Keep me up till five only because all your stars are out, and for no other reason.”
trin's review against another edition
4.0
And that’s it! I’m done with Salinger. I can’t believe it. Well, there are still a few stories that were published and have been collected in weird, hard to find places, and I am working to find them. And [b: Hapworth 16, 1924|915081|Hapworth 16, 1924|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396325669l/915081._SY75_.jpg|3199125] is supposedly finally coming out next year. But now I’ve hit that inevitable point, moving through such a slim oeuvre—it’s over. I’m sad.
Raise High/Seymour wasn’t my favorite collection or duology—I loved [b: Nine Stories|4009|Nine Stories|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554892563l/4009._SY75_.jpg|1839377] best, definitely. But there are some wonderful things in both these tales. They are both narrated by Buddy Glass, but are incredibly different in tone: Raise High could almost be a madcap comedy, except for the shadow of what everyone knows Seymour will do hanging over it. And An Introduction is a long, meta, confused lament—I’m not sure I fully got every aspect of it, but I was moved nonetheless. Salinger’s prose is so beautiful, and the world he’s created—in sketches and brushstrokes that don’t always fully connect—is one I am desperate to keep exploring. It feels huge and ever-expanding, like real lives, like the history of a real family would be.
I hope that when Salinger dies, much much much more will be released into the world. I will refrain from hoping that this happens soon. I can wait.
Raise High/Seymour wasn’t my favorite collection or duology—I loved [b: Nine Stories|4009|Nine Stories|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554892563l/4009._SY75_.jpg|1839377] best, definitely. But there are some wonderful things in both these tales. They are both narrated by Buddy Glass, but are incredibly different in tone: Raise High could almost be a madcap comedy, except for the shadow of what everyone knows Seymour will do hanging over it. And An Introduction is a long, meta, confused lament—I’m not sure I fully got every aspect of it, but I was moved nonetheless. Salinger’s prose is so beautiful, and the world he’s created—in sketches and brushstrokes that don’t always fully connect—is one I am desperate to keep exploring. It feels huge and ever-expanding, like real lives, like the history of a real family would be.
I hope that when Salinger dies, much much much more will be released into the world. I will refrain from hoping that this happens soon. I can wait.
lunagfns's review against another edition
3.0
2,5 Heb niks onthouden van wat ik gelezen heb, maar ik hou van Salinger’s schrijfstijl
oak_55's review against another edition
4.0
i measure my self worth by how well i would fit into the glass family
katja00's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ynnctz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hololulu's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters"--the second story, "Seymour: An Introduction," had its moments but meandered a bit too much for me.
spregasaur94's review against another edition
4.0
I adore the Glass family and the stories that Salinger offered to tell their tale and I genuinely wish he had given us more. I was dragging a bit through Seymour, an Introduction, which probably has more to do with me being sick while trying to finish it. But all of Salinger’s stories, particularly those that center the Glass family, are so incredible and particularly well woven together. I highly recommend reading them in order (Nine Stories, Franny & Zooey, & Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters/Seymour, an Introduction) for the full circle understanding of this family.