Reviews

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters & Seymour: An Introduction by J.D. Salinger

parkinglotbirds's review against another edition

5.0

It’s been many years since my high school aged love of Salinger/the Glass family stories. What a pleasure to return and find new and deeper meaning. What I like most about both novellas, as different as they are, is their psychological/emotional truth. The sibling relationships and family dynamics that unfold as you read the stories feel so grounded even if the Glass family itself is so “different”. The conspicuous absence of Seymour in the first is like a painting where all the background and negative space has been filled in, but the figure of the subject is completely blank. It’s Buddy’s grief circling endlessly around the memory and image and love for his brother. The second is experimental, stream of consciousness, and maybe a little more challenging, but I was in the right headspace to read it and found it to be lovely and sad and interesting. 

samanthahamatha's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

I could read about the Glass family’s lives all day long. Raise High the Room Beam, Carpenters is a story told in typical Salinger fashion- fast-paced, full of antics and emotion- about a comically absurd scenario that occurred on Seymour Glass’s wedding day, told by Buddy Glass. What a hoot, even if it is (unfortunately) at the sake of Buddy. 
Seymour: an Introduction is also told by Buddy Glass. What a wonderful recount of his lamented brother and insight on his peculiarities, which when it comes to our own relationships (familial, friendly, or romantic) we tend to presently overlook until there’s nothing to do but look back and reminisce. 

chiara_stanic's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

moonsh's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

4.0

is_book_loring's review against another edition

4.0

"I worry about big jumps that I can measure off with my eyes. I think I dream of your daring to jump right out of my sight."

I have the urge to keep this book in my backpack just so whenever I feel like reading someone beautiful, I could take it out and feed my heart little morsels of Seymour's diary or his letter to Buddy.

fishingbooksproceed's review against another edition

funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

tintinintibet's review against another edition

4.0

Halfway through I thought we were trending down towards a 3. The start of the extremely self-aware second story was horrifying, but I slowly got over my own solipsistic cringe and by the end was sure I’d give it 5 stars. And not just because of the thing about carrying three library cards.

But I’ve taken a star because I’m cruel and petty. I just read the book and now I want to reread it? How dare you.

skippy_skippington's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

harrietjwood's review against another edition

funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

chloekg's review against another edition

5.0

Imagining all the emotions of literature spread out in a linear representation would require a huge line. What Salinger does in these short stories is to examine a very narrow range on that scale. Even in such smallness, he finds vastness. The subtle extraordinary of every day life is distilled in these pages. I fear I can do no justice in describing it.