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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
"Poets...they're always sticking their emotions in things that have no emotions."
This was the first time I read anything from Salinger besides Catcher in the Rye, and I was unimpressed. Two stories made an emotional connection with me, while the others left me cold. Salinger's prose is not impressive, but I do love his skill with dialogue and that is mostly because of his use of the parlance form 40s and 50s. Well, anyway, my reaction: meh.
This was the first time I read anything from Salinger besides Catcher in the Rye, and I was unimpressed. Two stories made an emotional connection with me, while the others left me cold. Salinger's prose is not impressive, but I do love his skill with dialogue and that is mostly because of his use of the parlance form 40s and 50s. Well, anyway, my reaction: meh.
The stories I didn't like as much I'd rate 2 stars. But the ones I really liked, I give 4 stars. Those reminded me of why I first enjoyed reading Salinger when I was younger. I read this book because it was mentioned in Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon.
Re-reading.
Each story feels like a peculiar little play — more than any other author (perhaps), i can picture every detail, feel every motion, hear every inflection. The stories consistently take a weird left turn at the end, but that too is part of their charm.
TW: Unexpectedly racist at times, something i didn’t remember about this collection from my prior readings.
Each story feels like a peculiar little play — more than any other author (perhaps), i can picture every detail, feel every motion, hear every inflection. The stories consistently take a weird left turn at the end, but that too is part of their charm.
TW: Unexpectedly racist at times, something i didn’t remember about this collection from my prior readings.
Favourite stories: A perfect Day for Bananafish, For Esme-with Love and Squalor, Teddy
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
For Esmé - with Love and Squalor: And Other Stories... Otherwise referred to as Salinger's "Nine Stories".
I will not say much about the stories themselves as they were mostly short and I wish to avoid accidentally spoiling anything for those who have not read this book yet. Alas, there shall be no large and detailed review here. Instead, I will keep things simple and sweet.
I delcare that I have enjoyed these stories overall. Admittedly, I enjoyed some more than others, but each story has its own individual merits.
Below, I have rated these stories individually.
1. A Perfect Day for Bananafish (1948) - 4/5
2. Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut (1948) - 3.5/5
3. Just Before the War with the Eskimos (1948) - 4.5/5
4. The Laughing Man (1949) - 4.5/5
5. Down at the Dinghy (1949) - 3.5/5
6. For Esmé – with Love and Squalor (1950) - 5/5
7. Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes (1951) - 3/5
8. De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period (1952) - 2.5/5
9. Teddy (1953) - 4/5
I will not say much about the stories themselves as they were mostly short and I wish to avoid accidentally spoiling anything for those who have not read this book yet. Alas, there shall be no large and detailed review here. Instead, I will keep things simple and sweet.
I delcare that I have enjoyed these stories overall. Admittedly, I enjoyed some more than others, but each story has its own individual merits.
Below, I have rated these stories individually.
1. A Perfect Day for Bananafish (1948) - 4/5
2. Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut (1948) - 3.5/5
3. Just Before the War with the Eskimos (1948) - 4.5/5
4. The Laughing Man (1949) - 4.5/5
5. Down at the Dinghy (1949) - 3.5/5
6. For Esmé – with Love and Squalor (1950) - 5/5
7. Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes (1951) - 3/5
8. De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period (1952) - 2.5/5
9. Teddy (1953) - 4/5
A slightly unexpected delight when a book you loved in college is just as good two decades later.
For my first experience with Salinger, I was actually surprised that I liked his short stories so much! Usually it’s hard to connect with characters within short stories, but Salinger writes the characters in these nine stories so well! I gave this 3 stars because most of the stories evoked some kind of emotion, (feeling troubled, happiness from childhood reminiscing, anticipation, etc) but some left me feeling bored or were lacking creativity. Overall, I enjoyed this and recommend if you want to read more short stories or Salinger!
dark
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes