2002 Year End Staff Picks

Franny & Zooey, J.D. Salinger
Recommended by Beth

Most people would likely associate the name JD Salinger with his most famous book, The Catcher in the Rye. The Catcher in the Rye has often been praised for its unflinching look at humanity, on a societal scale, as Holden comes to terms with what he sees going on around him, and on a more individual scale, as he struggles to reconcile the disgust he feels for society with his place as part of that same society.

The book I love best of JD Salinger's is Franny and Zooey, because, while it too examines the emotional and mental struggles of being human, it seems to focus more on the similarities of those struggles that exist in everyone. The children of the Glass family are grown now, but as children were in the spotlight as child prodigies, and have grown up feeling isolated and different because of their experiences as children.

The Glass family has grown through difficult things, including the suicide of one of the siblings, Buddy, and the resulting pain and questions that accompany such a loss.

The book focuses mainly on Franny, the youngest Glass, who is suffering something of a mental breakdown as a result of her loneliness, sadness and confusion, and her brother, Zooey, who (slightly reminiscent of Holden Caulfield in Catcher) seems irritated and disappointed by almost everything, but clearly cares about his sister and his family very deeply.

There is a scene near the end of the book that almost feels like an epiphany for Franny. It's a sad realization, but beautiful and comforting, and seems to lift her enough to enable her to move on, and live, and feel some sort of purpose.

Franny and Zooey is beautifully and eloquently written, with dialogue more authentic than is often found in writing. It's a slow, thoughtful, often sad read (but often funny, as well), but well worth it for the thoughts one comes away with after putting it down.

ALSO SEARCH FOR: J.D. Salinger 1st Editions | J.D. Salinger Signed | Catcher in the Rye | All Titles by J.D. Salinger