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alavenderfield's review
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.75
Coming of age bildungsroman in the late 90s. A raw exploration of transitioning into womanhood and the ardous journey of making your mark in the world for the first time. Rakoff's thoughtful yet precise writing lets us step into 90s New York from an authentic perspective, alongside a young woman's slow and careful discovery of her wider literary passions.
teklagyorgy's review against another edition
4.0
Az Egy évem Salingerrel másik fontos pontja a levelek. Kedvesek, és kevésbé kedvesek, no és a fájdalmasan őszinték. Amiben a szerzők leírják az élményeiket, az életüket, a háborús emlékeiket. Amikben Jerrynek mondanak köszönetet, hogy a legnehezebb pillanatokon segítette át őket. Sokszor ezek is elgondolkodtatóak voltak számomra, mert itt ez a Salinger nevű író, aki leírta a mondandóját (oké, sarkosítva), több millióan elolvasták, és példakép lett belőle. Ezzel nyilván nemigen tud az ember mit kezdeni, Salinger pedig nem is igazán akar. Először fellengzősnek és bunkónak érződik, de pont Joanna élményein keresztül fut ki oda a történet, hogy érzelmileg egyszerűen sok lenne.
Első blikkre ez a regény a meg nem értett zseni, és a gazdag fruska története is lehetne, de mostanában valahogy sokkal jobban szeretek eltöprengeni a mögöttes jelentéseken. Vagy a háttérben meghúzódó okokon. Szerintem öregszem. Mert a könyv végén Rakoff főnökét is meg tudtam érteni valamennyire, noha egyébként talán ő volt a legantipatikusabb karakter az egész sztoriban.
Bővebben: https://www.gyorgytekla.hu/2021/12/joanna-rakoff-egy-evem-salingerrel/
Első blikkre ez a regény a meg nem értett zseni, és a gazdag fruska története is lehetne, de mostanában valahogy sokkal jobban szeretek eltöprengeni a mögöttes jelentéseken. Vagy a háttérben meghúzódó okokon. Szerintem öregszem. Mert a könyv végén Rakoff főnökét is meg tudtam érteni valamennyire, noha egyébként talán ő volt a legantipatikusabb karakter az egész sztoriban.
Bővebben: https://www.gyorgytekla.hu/2021/12/joanna-rakoff-egy-evem-salingerrel/
ageorge1877's review against another edition
5.0
You know what lads I absolutely shagged this. Blitzed through it.
Memoir in which gal graduates and works for JD Salinger's literary agency.
A fascinating insight into the twilight of Salinger's writing career plays accompaniment to the grand wrestle match of being 23 and creative.
Joanna is out here just tryna make it work. Tryna figure out who she is and what she wants, while everyone she knows is drifting in different directions. There's this one bit where she meets up with an old friend and she wants to find a cool restaurant in Brooklyn but her friend just wants to eat pasta nearby and I cant explain it but... It Hits Different. I was welling up.
This book made me realise that New York as a setting is just The Boi. It's where the 'creative class' mingle to throw danishes at ducks. It's where everything is crisp and brown or grey. But above all it's where everybody comes to be cringe. And Adult Rakoff's retrospective on this cringe is so well toned and charming. Everyone feels so vulnerable with their silly little dreams, even Salinger, even Don (her red flag bf who is somehow the most horrid man alive but also kinda likeable).
Objectively it's not a Perfect book and yes there were times where it felt like it was slightly forcing the engagement with Salinger's actual work. BUT,,, tbh lads this was just pure Resonation. I'm 23 and about to move to a new city to do creative bullshit, and quite frankly this book made me really excited to be cringe again.
Memoir in which gal graduates and works for JD Salinger's literary agency.
A fascinating insight into the twilight of Salinger's writing career plays accompaniment to the grand wrestle match of being 23 and creative.
Joanna is out here just tryna make it work. Tryna figure out who she is and what she wants, while everyone she knows is drifting in different directions. There's this one bit where she meets up with an old friend and she wants to find a cool restaurant in Brooklyn but her friend just wants to eat pasta nearby and I cant explain it but... It Hits Different. I was welling up.
This book made me realise that New York as a setting is just The Boi. It's where the 'creative class' mingle to throw danishes at ducks. It's where everything is crisp and brown or grey. But above all it's where everybody comes to be cringe. And Adult Rakoff's retrospective on this cringe is so well toned and charming. Everyone feels so vulnerable with their silly little dreams, even Salinger, even Don (her red flag bf who is somehow the most horrid man alive but also kinda likeable).
Objectively it's not a Perfect book and yes there were times where it felt like it was slightly forcing the engagement with Salinger's actual work. BUT,,, tbh lads this was just pure Resonation. I'm 23 and about to move to a new city to do creative bullshit, and quite frankly this book made me really excited to be cringe again.
faithl's review against another edition
4.0
This book was my dreams come true. EVERYTHING from living to New York to meeting legendary authors and reading manuscripts. EVERYTHING except the boyfriend bit. The writing was insightful, the story was humorous and Rakoff herself was wonderful.
I absolutely loved the fact that Joanna was full of dreams, hopes and pre-conceived, romanticised expectations. It was the wonderful combination of naivety and determination and I just found this inspiring.
I loved reading about J.D Salinger. Their conversations over the phone were exciting and eccentric. I have no idea how Rakoff was able to keep her cool over the phone. I think I'd be hopelessly flailing. Reading about the amount of fan mail and the huge influence Salinger has was incredible. Throughout the novel, we read about people pouring out their hearts about loved one's deaths, their own confused emotions and even mimicking Holden from the Catcher in the Rye. It was amazing to read all of this and how many lives Salinger's novels have touched.
Rakoff's own experiences in New York surrounding money, working in an Agency and meeting new people was brilliant. There's always this wonder when you read the exciting experiences of people who make it. It's almost like they're like Dumbledore, full of wise words. Joanna Rakoff is now my Dumbledore. She talked about staying with boy who wasn't healthy for her, finding her own independence and having the bravery to step out of your comfort zone. All of this in NEW YORK. THE YORK OF NEW!!!!
My Salinger Year was undoubtedly an insightful, humorous and wise memoir. I 100% recommend this to anyone who just has a huge love for books!
