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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Salinger at His Best,
By Nick (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, and Seymour: An introduction (Hardcover)
(This review is based on the Penguin Edition, paperback.)
Much like "Franny & Zooey", the book that comes right before this one, "Raise" is divided in two stories, and that "Seymour: An Introduction" is not a subtitle to the former, it's the second story of the book. Before you even consider reading this volume, you must have read "Nine Stories" and "Franny & Zooey"; well, it's not that you couldn't enjoy them in the wrong order, but it would pain my little heart if you read them in an anachronological way. You may consider reading "The Catching in the Rye" before as well, but it's not required. Talking of which, "Raise", like the preceding volumes, doesn't use the same tone as "Catcher"; not at all. The narrator of these two stories is Buddy Glass, and he's one wordy fellow. The first story "Raise", is one of the best I ever read by Salinger; it is fantastically written, with that ever-rich style Salinger so well masters, and it honestly is hilarious. But not the obvious hilarious, it's subtle, but so funny, and so profound at the same time. It's a pure joy to read and that definitely makes Salinger one of my favourite writers of all times, and God knows if he has some fierce competition to deal with. The overall story is about the Glass family, as in many of the stories of "Nine Stories" and as in "Franny & Zooey", which is why you should definitely have read those two books before you get to this one. As in the precedent book - "F & Z" - the plots are minimal, but that's not what matters the most. Even though little happens, a lot happens, really. And it's just so good, I can't tell you enough. I'm sure that it won't please every reader out there, but if you have read other books by Salinger and loved his style, wittiness, and heart, this book will be a must-read to you. The second story, "Seymour", challenges the conventions of story-telling and at times is very confusing. It's definitely not the same style as the first story, but it's worth reading. It, too, is a pleasure. And you get to know more about the Glass family, and that alone is worth the effort that the text may sometimes put you through. It's part of the fun, though, and it makes for an original read. So if you feel ready for clumsy wedding partes, Japanese poetry, reclusive teachers living in the woods, women with metal in their voices, soldiers with never-ending coughs, and cryptic quotes written with soap on the mirror of the bathroom, this is the book for you!
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