Last week, we talked about revisiting The Catcher in the Rye and asked about what’s happened when you’ve returned to formative texts. Here’s what some of you said:
Donna P. wrote: “I read Wallace Stegner's book Crossing to Safety many years ago, when I was probably in my 40s. I recently reread it when I was in my 60s. It was a completely different book to me, given the different perspective of age. It's one thing to read about someone in their 60s, it's another thing to read someone talk about the life you are experiencing in your 60s.”
Frank P. wrote: “I reread To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee due to the 60th anniversary a few years back. I always remembered it from middle school and later in life upon seeing the movie. So … would it hold up decades later? Yes! It was like seeing an old friend and not missing a beat conversing. [The voice of] Scout immediately brought back fond memories just from page one. Upon rereading, I now have a much better appreciation of the character Boo [Radley], [Scout's] father [Atticus Finch] and his advice. Quite a summer that young girl experienced.”
Andrea F. wrote: “I read Catcher in the Rye in high school in the early ‘70s, and remember loving it. When I was traveling throughout Europe in 1979 there was so little to read in English, and someone gave me a copy of the book. I read it then and decided that it was such an important book I needed to reread it every decade of my life. While I’ve not done that, I read it for a third time in the ‘80s and still loved it. However, I am guessing if I read it now I would have the same reaction as [Colin] did. With age comes perspective, growth, and understanding of how the world has changed for the better. As a female, would I be disgusted with Holden’s behavior? Would I notice his white privilege? I’m in my 70s now and it’s time to read it again.”
That’s all for now. See you next week!
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