Rating: 
Summary: Running back and forth between grief and delight
Review: A warm calm, akin to the same feeling I had while reading Herman Hesse's "Siddhartha", swathed me while reading "Franny and Zooey". Both books are slight in length but not in content, and deal with restless youths caught in contemplation. "Siddhartha", set in India, is a far cry from Salinger's Manhattan, but both locales appear to be appropriate settings for a search past life's phoniness, to the truths the world holds.As regular readers of this space will know, among my favourite literary themes are genius, loneliness, and obsession. "Franny & Zooey" has all three in spades. The seven Glass children, all of whom inform the main characters in some way or another, were all tormented by their genius. Franny, stuck in a spiritual crisis, is only just realizing that she's alone in the world. And Zooey appears obsessed by the idea that his family, most notably his smothering mother and his oldest two brothers, has shaped him in such a way that he can't escape himself. Like Salinger's archetype angst-maestro, Holden Caulfield, Franny and Zooey both appear to be caught up in teen obsessions: questioning authority, judging those around them through a particularly narrow prism, and intent on wiling away their time caught up in self-discovery. The startling thing, though, is that Franny and Zooey are no longer in teen angst's main demographic. Franny, aged 20, and Zooey, 25, are adults, now. It's comforting to know of two peers (I'm 26 at this writing) still caught up in their same youthful questions, as I am myself. It makes me wonder if that old axiom -- "If you're not a rebel by age 20, you have no heart; if you haven't sold out by age 30, you have no brain" -- doesn't have to be true. Sure, it may not lead to a productive life, and, like Franny, there may be some psychological bumps along the way. But won't the end be much better? Assuming the answers are forthcoming. The above paragraph, although filled with self-satisfaction, can *too* be true while also being pretentious. 'Franny', the shorter story that begins this collection, is a startling feat. It dances around the issue of Franny's mental breakdown, providing a multitude of clues as to why it must occur, but never knocking the reader over the head with cheap psychology. Although not explicitly written in his voice, the story is told through the eyes of Franny's boyfriend, Lane Coutell, a shallow and pompous college student, obsessed with having a perfect night on the town with a respectable girl. We see the signs of Franny's breakdown through Lane's narrow worldview. Just as he doesn't understand what is happening to her, we don't either. It's a neat little trick. Upon reflection, 'Franny' can be read as a prologue to 'Zooey', which takes place once Franny has returned to her family home in New York. Its introduction represents a neat bit of meta-fiction. Is it or isn't Buddy Glass commenting on the events surrounding his youngest brother and sister, and their domineering mother? Through Buddy's introduction, Salinger is able to make excuses for the rambling nature of the story to follow. For some, it's an excuse he needs to make. For me, I appreciate the little bit of self-reflexivity (which only really became trendy after 1955-57, the years the stories were published), but didn't need the author to warn me of his impending self-indulgence. What immediately follows is a miraculous and hilarious (and quite long) sequence where Zooey is trying to take a contemplative bath, but is constantly interrupted by his mother. Zooey is a fine creation: he has little or no ego control, spouting hateful and sarcastic rants at his mother, who may or may not deserve them. "[Buddy] does everything else Seymour ever did -- or tries to. Why the hell doesn't he kill himself and be done with it?" he asks at one point, in a furious attempt to cut to the chase, while cutting to the bone. It's family dysfunction at it's most brutal and, frankly, most honest. Zooey could have become a terribly loathsome character if he continued down this path, but he doesn't. His scenes with Franny are touching and familiar, showing a sibling relationship at its most poignant as they try to dialogue Socratically through her problems. There's an obvious affection between the two, and a true sense of playfulness, even in the face of trauma. When Zooey wakes Franny from a depression induced nap, she is disoriented enough to ask why it is so sunny in the middle of the afternoon. Zooey replies: "I bring the sun wherever I go, buddy." I just love that little line, because it manages to say so much with so little. Which is, I guess, the essence of Salinger. When one can write as economically and yet as profound as he can, I'll follow him down any path he chooses, for as long as he chooses. In fact, I could have spent a lot more time with Franny and Zooey than he deigned to give me.
Rating: 
Summary: Franny and Zooey Reviewed
Review: J.D. Salinger will always be remembered for "A Catcher in the Rye," just as Bing Crosby will always be known for "White Christmas"; while Crosby starred in many movies, Salinger produced scant few other works. Fans of Salinger will want to
read this book, non-fans will not.
"Franny and Zooey" is a book about three conversations. The first is between Franny and her boyfriend. They are in college and dating seriously. She has made some self-discovery that involves the 'Jesus prayer'. This prayer is something someone would say over and over and over until they eventually reach a state of enlightenment. Franny realizes she is not living an enlightened life and wonders the time honored question, "What's it all about?" The 'Jesus prayer' disrupts her relationship (I won't go into further detail). I will mention that Salinger takes some excellent 'shots' at academia within this first third of the book.
The second conversation is between Zooey and their mother. (Franny and Zooey are brother/sister) He is a college grad who now works as a TV actor. For fans of Holden Caufield (The Catcher and the Rye) you will enjoy this part greatly. Zooey will seem to you much like a slightly older, worldlier, and equally sarcastic version of Holden. Zooey and his mother discuss many things, the most important of which is "It's a Wise Child". "It's a Wise Child" was a radio quiz show where Franny, Zooey, and their siblings became stars because of their tremendous intellect. We learn a great deal about the family and their raising in this, the middle third of the book.
The ultimate conversation is between Franny and Zooey themselves. By this point Franny is back at home, depressed, ailing, and with other complications I should not spoil. Now the topic of conversation is about both their upbringing and the Jesus prayer. Zooey is full of himself and of advice. Franny thinks she wants to give herself to the Jesus prayer, but she does not truly understand it. The twists at the end of this conversation make the book worth reading.
If you are a reader looking for action, this book is not for you. If you enjoy Salinger and need more, then I do recommend it. It is interesting, but, well, it's no "White Christmas"
Rating: 
Summary: And that's how the story ends?
Review: I am a big fan of Salinger's work, Catcher in the Rye in particular. Based on the recommendations of others, I chose to read this selection. Based on the high standards I have for Salinger, I am somewhat dissappointed. Franny and Zooey are similar to Our freind Holden in "Catcher..." in many ways. They are all very good at finding the flaws in others. Where this book differs from "Catcher..." is that Salinger gives a solution to how the characters can get past these issues. Whereas the ending was somewhat predictable in hindsight, I never saw it coming. Nevertheless, I believe this book is well worth your trouble to read.
Rating:
Summary: Great message, lousy fiction
Review: With these two stories, and especially "Zooey" (the longer one), Salinger ultimately presents an extremely rewarding message about the goodness in all people. However, he sure takes his sweet time to get there. I found it slow going getting through his manneristic writing (especially the endless scene where Mrs. Glass speaks to Zooey in the bathtub and simply won't shut up or leave.) I didn't find any of the dialog believable, and I didn't care very much about the characters either. Young people may enjoy the intellectual exercise of keeping track of the Glass family and their verbose meanderings, but I grew tired of it all. I'm glad I got to the end because the message there is indeed an important one, and helps justify the reading of these stories; they are not great, however. Salinger showed off his writing skills better in some of the Nine Stories.
Rating:
Summary: Salinger's Best Book!!!!!!
Review: J.D. Salinger's brilliant "Franny and Zooey" is essentially a novella about a woman's quest for spiritual perfection. This book, approximately 200 pages in length, contains two sections (more like two fairly long chapters--the second much longer than the first) detailing Franny Glass' efforts to reach a higher spirtual plane, her subsequent breakdown, and her brother Zooey (Zachary) Glass' attempts to pull her out of her swoon. Part one, appropriately titled "Franny" begins with Franny's breakdown in a highscale restaurant with her literary-student boyfriend. The story unravels slowly (much like Franny) as details of what's causing the change in Franny are revealed. After reading about an itinerant Russian peasant's quest for ultimate spirituality (in two books from older brother Seymour's library) through incessant repetition of the Jesus Prayer (a reference to 1Th 5:17), Franny sets out to do the same with a concerted effort to continually mutter the prayer herself. Franny spends the meal railing against the desires and cravings of the well-to-do around her and has by all appearances undergone a drastic change of personality which ultimately results in her breakdown. Part two, titled "Zooey" picks up where part one lets off (for the most part). Franny returns home to the Glass house where she promptly refuses to eat and spends most of her time sleeping on the living room couch. This section of the novel (perhaps the most delightful 150 pages I have ever read) deals with Zooey's efforts to bring Franny back to reality. What makes this such a great book (aside from Salinger's way with words) is the dialogue between the various characters (only Franny, Zooey, and their mother, Bessie Glass make an appearance in part two). "Zooey" starts out with an amusing scene in Zooey's bathroom with an extremely amusing discussion between Zooey and Bessie regarding Franny's condition. Bessie urges Zooey to do something about it and ultimately Zooey agrees to talk to her. And talk to her he does. The dialogue between Zooey and Franny is equally engaging although instead of humor, it's tinged with an overt spirituality and love. Powerful and rapidly achieved, the conclusion to this story is simply beautiful. There's nothing more to say. A terrific book on many levels--a true classic every bit the equal of "Catcher in the Rye" or "Nine Stories"--and not to be missed. Very highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: And they say Catcher and the Rye is the best...
Review: If you were like me, you read Catcher and the Rye first. Now you are stumbling unto the other Salinger books in hopes for something possibly superior or at least not subordinate. Well, my friends, here you have it, Franny and Zooey in my opinion exceeds the expectations of the reader. Salinger adds depth and personality to these characters that are less irritating as Holden. This book is a great addition to any library, and can be especially appreciated by the reader who has a close relationship with a sibling. Buy and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: shine them for the Fat Lady
Review: Wow! This one really blind sided me. I, of course, love The Catcher in the Rye, but when I tried reading Nine Stories, I was put off by them, so between that & his notorious silence, I just assumed Salinger was a one hit wonder. Still, he's got a birthday coming up (1/01/1919) and I found the book for a dollar, so I figured what the heck. Boy, am I glad. The book consists of two interconnected stories from the Glass family series, originally published in The New Yorker; Franny is the youngest sister, Zooey the youngest brother. All seven of the children were featured, each as they came of age, on a radio program called "It's a Wise Child", where: In general, listeners were divided into two, curiously restive camps: those who held that the Glasses
were a bunch of insufferably "superior" little bastards that should have been drowned or gassed at
birth, and those who held that they were bona-fide underage wits and savants, of an uncommon, if
unenviable, order. I wavered between these two opinions, though leaning towards insufferable, through the first story, Franny (1955), which concerns Franny's visit to her college boyfriend as she teeters on the edge of a breakdown, and the first three quarters of Zooey (1957), which opens with an extended scene featuring the visiting TV star Zooey taking a bath and arguing with his mother as she tries to convince him to help Franny, who is continuing her breakdown on the family couch, having abandoned acting class. It seemed that these characters were simply Holden Caufields a little farther along in life--precocious, bright and charming, but hypersensitive to the point of neuroses. But then all of a sudden, when Zooey does intervene, the story really takes off. Franny, who shares with Zooey and her other siblings (and with Holden Caufield) an exasperation with the inadequacies of all those around her and with the problems of the world in general, has become fascinated by the works of a Russian mystic who advocates endless repetition of a certain Jesus Prayer as a means of getting in touch with God. (...) This beautiful revelatory story is so suffused with empathy, humanity and spirituality, I had very nearly the same reaction as Franny. Zooey/Salinger has offered a way out of Franny's/Holden's/our' dilemma: the dissatisfaction with the seeming shortcomings of the world and the people around us. First, we must let go of our obsession with the failings of those around us; we can not be, nor should we try to be, catchers in the rye, trying to save or change everyone. Second, we must polish them for the Fat Lady; seek to live our lives perfectly, that we may be worthy of the audience, Christ Himself. If you have ever read and enjoyed The Catcher in the Rye, you owe it to yourself to read this book, an extended coda which, in effect, completes Holden's tale. It is one of the most moving and profoundly Christian works I've ever read. No wonder folks get so wound up at the thought of what Salinger has been writing during his extended silence. GRADE: A+
Rating:
Summary: Franny
Review: Franny is a short story about a young woman's infatuation with the book "The Way of the Pilgrim" which tells of a Russian man's efforts to pray unceasingly. The story follows Franny on a date with her boyfriend. At a restaurant she tries to explain the book to him and it all really falls on deaf ears. There is more, but you will just have to read this compact story by Salinger.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book-
Review: I think that this is a great book for anyone who enjoys Salinger. I thought that this was a very funny book.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good Salinger book
Review: Franny & Zooey by J.D. Salinger examines the youngest children of the Glass family. Like their older brother, Seymour, made famous in Salinger's classic short story, A Perfect Day for Banana Fish and most of Salinger's children, they are gifted, precocious youths who have found ways to be miserable when faced with the task of growing up. While the Zooey, an actor and underachiever by Glass standards prefers to face his personal problems with a stubbornness and wittiness, his younger sister, Franny is waist deep in self-pity because she feels misunderstood and alone and can not find meaning in pretentious and phony upper class college life. Zooey is the perfect person to give Franny the tough love and show her the new perspectives to help her through her dilemmas and that's precisely what he tries to do one morning when he finds her in a weariness-induced sleep on their family couch. Although, it is not a book for readers bored by characters simply lounging around and talking (because that is precisely all they do), Franny and Zooey is a superb exploration of the relationships between adult siblings when they reluctantly leave the nest.
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