At least for now we don't have to see alienated Holden Caulfield in his geezerhood thanks to last week's temporary restraining order halting the publication of "60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye." But that wasn't all we learned about the state of Catcher fandom.
Over the weekend a very amusing, but sad NY Times piece related that while Catcher is taught in today's high schools teenagers don't relate to Caulfield -- or least his style of isolation, torment, alienation and other adolescent psychic maladies. Teachers relate that kids find him whiny and immature and can't feel bad for a "rich kid" who has a free weekend in New York. One student flat out suggested "Shut up and take your Prozac."
Ah, yes, the world has changed and each generation of teen has its own eccentricities and social rites and rituals. But I offer you an activity for a rainy day (what it hasn't been raining for nearly a month where you live): Imagine Holden Caulfield descending into the maelstrom that is today's social networking culture. Would he use Twitter? Facebook? IM? Send email? And with whom would he communicate with given that he wasn't much for connection? Would all this technology draw him out or make him feel more alienated? Interesting to think about. And would he wear his red hunting hat backwards?
OMG!
