Franny and Zooey

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Book
Review: I loved this book. What a collection of interesting and sad characters all from the same family, the Glass family. This mainly focuses on the youngest siblings of seven children, Franny and Zooey.

Both are actors, but Franny has come home from college, and is having a sort of breakdown. The book is divided into two segments, called "Franny" and "Zooey," both focusing on Franny's breakdown, which is of a spiritual nature, and is caused by her aversion to all things being ruled by ego, and false collegiate attitudes, and involves her intonation of a Jesus prayer, over and over.

Both Franny and Zooey have had a precocious upbringing in the Glass family, and were former panelists on a children's whiz kid like radio program. All the Glass children were former contestants. Zooey believes this upbringing, particularly the religious teachings of their older brothers Buddy and Seymour that has made them "freaks."

The dialogue in this book is very clever, and is divided into segments that almost have the quality of theater, beginning with the restaurant scene between Franny and boyfriend Lane, to Zooey's bathroom conversation with Bessie, the matriarch of the Glass family, and I've never heard a son talk to his mother the way Zooey talks to Bessie, and the final confrontations between Franny and Zooey. Salinger also provides biting criticisms of his own characters.

The final religious revelations are interesting, and sweet, and presented in a way that is completely unique. I would say this is a must read for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: The unclassical classic
Review: Okay, let's talk about the whole Franny being pregnant issue and why it is completely wrong. Seymour, the guy that died, was having the same problems as Franny and I'm pretty sure he wasn't pregnant. In his other book, Holden was pretty near a breakdown too, and for some unexplained reason, I don't think he was pregnant either. The whole too long a time between sips or drinks or whatever doesn't prove anything because she is far away from him. All it shows is that she really doesn't like him which is pretty obvious anyway. She doesn't need to be having a baby not to want to be with him.
I don't think the book loses meaning either. I think it loses its real meaning when you think she's pregnant. Putting the issue aside for a minute, I think it really is a good book, and I think that if you like salinger it's very good.

Rating:
Summary: A great beginning to the Glass family saga
Review: Franny and Zooey is yet another controversial writing of J.D. Salinger that I personally love. The book is divided into two sections "Franny" and "Zooey". The first section, Franny, gives the background and basis for what is going on in the novel. It gives the reader insight into Franny's ideas and the problems she is dealing with. The second part of the book, Zooey, give the reader more background information on both Franny and Zooey's lives and offers some explanation as to where Franny's problems originated. The meat of the story is in this section as well. This is where Zooey and Franny actually interact with each other and Zooey helps Franny to find the internal, spiritual peace she is searching for. There are many important themes in the book as well. Love is a major theme in this novel. There is a certain deep rooted love between all of the children in the story. Salinger, through Zooey's insight, shows the reader the importance of having love and/or respect for everyone, even if you do not like them. Finding yourself is also a major theme in the novel. Franny finds herself lost in college. She is struggling to determine what she believes in and wants to find some sort of spiritual awakening, which her brother helps her to do.
I really enjoyed reading this novel and I believe others will too. Whether it is not having privacy (like Zooey in the bathroom with his mother Bessie), or being in a relationship
that is just not fulfilling (Franny and her boyfriend Lane), or searching for your own spirituality (Franny), everyone can find someone or something in the novel to relate to. It raises many of societies controversial questions and gives the reader a certain sense of enlightenment.