On a whim, I bought a used copy of J.D. Salinger's Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour a couple of months ago while browsing through a bookstore before meeting friends for a movie. I read it once about 10 years ago when I went through a Salinger phase shortly after starting college. It followed Franny & Zooey, and I couldn't really remember anything about it, except that I didn't get into it or like it as much as F&Z. I think the problem was that I fell in love with F&Z, and was so absorbed in that love, that whatever I read for a long while after couldn't possibly measure up. My 19 year old self refused to believe that anything else could make me feel so exhilarated or happy or understood. It was that rare and wonderful case of finding the perfect book at exactly the right moment in life, and it is still my favorite after all these years.

Anyway,I decided to pick up a new used copy of F&Z while at the bookstore, since I always seem to lose mine by lending them out, and that's when Raise High the Roof Beam caught my eye. It sat on my bookshelf untouched these past months, but finally I grabbed it on my way out the door to my friend's cabin this weekend. Now I can't put it down. It is Hilarious. I don't know how I missed that the first time, but I'm pretty much grinning like an idiot while reading. Maybe I just wasn't ready for it at 19, but now I adore the style and humor and storytelling and all the little bits of story tossed in. I'm constantly earmarking pages with great lines or entertaining passages, and the only annoying part is my friends either have not read it or read it ages ago, so no one wants to talk about it with me! Harumph. I think people should read it NOW. Out of desperation to share, I'm feeling the urge to turn to strangers on the bus or wherever and say, "Listen to this!" I have to stop myself from getting on the horn with everyone listed in my cell to read all my favorite parts out loud. I've run that prospect by a few friends and the response has been chilly. To be honest, I think my friends are now screening their calls. Harumph again.

Let me ask you a question. Does my cat look like she's dead on a grate in this picture? I think she's just doing her little cute Kitty routine while enjoying the heater, but my friends have a different opinion. I say, "Isn't she cute?" and they ask, "Is she dead?"




It's late, but more blogging soon!