Jun 20Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller, M. E. Rothwell
Thanks for this. My Junior English teacher gave me a copy of “Catcher in the Rye” and said to me “Please don’t tell anyone I gave you this book. I’m not allowed to teach it.” 1968. Still have it. Still love it.
I never really knew what it was in the book that I wasn’t supposed to read! It was a brilliant move on the teacher’s part as I devoured that book, searching for the forbidden fruit!😂😂🙌
Jun 20Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller, M. E. Rothwell
What a gorgeous reflection on art, life, and becoming, Kate. After 45 years on this planet, I'm still amazed at the way books (and music and art) can save our lives — not just once, but every single day. 💙
Thanks so much, Julie. Yes, it's about 20 years ago now but still so vivid in my mind. I knew this student quite well from sport, too, in the years after. I'm very happy to say the change was lasting.
What a wonderful reflection on how a single short novel can travel with us through so much.
This also reminds me of my Salinger phase, and specifically the beautiful and devastating "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" from Salinger's Nine Stories. Working in 1990s Kent social services, a small team of graduates I was on got hold of this book and passed it around the office - we'd take it to lunch at the park and come back wrecked, but it really created a bond between us. These are such strong stories.
Thank you for the beautiful writing and memories, Kate.
Thanks so much, Jane! I do also love those stories - "De Daumier Smith's Blue Period" and "For Esmé..." are probably my favorites. They're zanie, all over the place, yet poignant as well. Such an interesting memory you have of passing the book around. I love that.
An incredible book, even for a farm village kid who couldn’t quite grasp most of Holden’s city life experiences (Salinger’s gift). The Laughing Man was more relatable to me, and I think about it occasionally to this day. That’s about forty five years after I first read it. Beautiful, meaningful, and lovely.
Thanks for the comment, Chase. I could see how it’s a very different setting than you would have been used to. Maybe culture as well. I haven’t thought about this perspective before!
This was such a lovely read to officially start the summer season with 🥰 I remember reading Catcher in the Rye in high school and absolutely loving it. I had a really great English teacher that year and he made everything we read, come alive. Thank you for this ✨
Thank you for sharing this, Dr. Waller. My roommate was also killed in a car accident in college and it was a deeply transformative period of my life. The grief is something I hadn't experience before or really since. This is one of my favorite books and probably the book I've read more than any other. I get something new from it every time I read it. It's part of my rereading project for this summer and I'm looking forward to spending time with Holden again soon.
Excellent piece on how a high school teacher can have positive influence on a student. For me, it was my Grade 11 English teacher, Ms McIntosh and The Great Gatsby, back in 1975. Still love this book and what it says about America.
Thank you for such a beautiful essay, Kate. I’m so very sorry to hear about your college friend. That must have been such a difficult time for you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences of the ongoing importance of literature in our lives.
Thanks for such a lovely and kind message, Victoria. Yes, that was quite difficult at the time but it's those experiences that form us as well, I guess. Like Holden after his brother's death. I find it so interesting that we really don't get much detail about that in the book, yet it's central to his experience.
Thanks for this. My Junior English teacher gave me a copy of “Catcher in the Rye” and said to me “Please don’t tell anyone I gave you this book. I’m not allowed to teach it.” 1968. Still have it. Still love it.
Oh wow, David. Was that due to language or subversiveness or...?
Thanks for the comment and always good to find another person who loves this book!
I never really knew what it was in the book that I wasn’t supposed to read! It was a brilliant move on the teacher’s part as I devoured that book, searching for the forbidden fruit!😂😂🙌
Ha that’s great. I’ll have to try that sometime as a strategy 😉
Very moving and powerful. I've been meaning to read 'Catcher' for ages; your essay has made me move it to the top of my TBR list.
Oh Terry, you would love it. Thanks for the kind words!
What a gorgeous reflection on art, life, and becoming, Kate. After 45 years on this planet, I'm still amazed at the way books (and music and art) can save our lives — not just once, but every single day. 💙
How true is this?! 💙💙 Thanks so much, Michael. There could be a spin-off: The Art That Saves Us.
Thank you for all the music you bring into our lives with such care and attention.
What a great coincidence. I have it right next to me on my desk. Going to read it during vacation, at least that was the plan!
Oh, fantastic! Hope you love it.
I have read a some bits from it, I’m sure I’ll love it.
Have you read Huck Finn? In some ways it’s a response. You can always go backwards though. :)
I had many conversations about Huck with my English Lit prof back then. Long conversations, in his study. Ahh, such a great book.
Have read Catcher of course, twice - but never in school, only on my own. What a dream to have you as a teacher teaching this book... ;)
Aw thanks Troy ☺️
I guess I could do a read along at some point 🤔💙
Well that would be fun!
beautiful, Kathleen, and so well said. I teared up at the story of your student. what a powerful reminder. I need to reread this book.
Thanks so much, Julie. Yes, it's about 20 years ago now but still so vivid in my mind. I knew this student quite well from sport, too, in the years after. I'm very happy to say the change was lasting.
What a wonderful reflection on how a single short novel can travel with us through so much.
This also reminds me of my Salinger phase, and specifically the beautiful and devastating "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" from Salinger's Nine Stories. Working in 1990s Kent social services, a small team of graduates I was on got hold of this book and passed it around the office - we'd take it to lunch at the park and come back wrecked, but it really created a bond between us. These are such strong stories.
Thank you for the beautiful writing and memories, Kate.
Thanks so much, Jane! I do also love those stories - "De Daumier Smith's Blue Period" and "For Esmé..." are probably my favorites. They're zanie, all over the place, yet poignant as well. Such an interesting memory you have of passing the book around. I love that.
Loved this. Thanks for writing it.
Thanks so much ☺️ Really appreciate and found interesting what you said in the restack as well, Facundo.
An incredible book, even for a farm village kid who couldn’t quite grasp most of Holden’s city life experiences (Salinger’s gift). The Laughing Man was more relatable to me, and I think about it occasionally to this day. That’s about forty five years after I first read it. Beautiful, meaningful, and lovely.
Thanks for the comment, Chase. I could see how it’s a very different setting than you would have been used to. Maybe culture as well. I haven’t thought about this perspective before!
I love this book, too. Thank you for this wonderful essay on it!
Thanks Jenn! Appreciate the kind words.
The experience with the student was so poignant. The combination of a great teacher and great book is so powerful.
Thanks a lot, Maureen!
This was such a lovely read to officially start the summer season with 🥰 I remember reading Catcher in the Rye in high school and absolutely loving it. I had a really great English teacher that year and he made everything we read, come alive. Thank you for this ✨
Thanks Mackenzie!
Thank you for sharing this, Dr. Waller. My roommate was also killed in a car accident in college and it was a deeply transformative period of my life. The grief is something I hadn't experience before or really since. This is one of my favorite books and probably the book I've read more than any other. I get something new from it every time I read it. It's part of my rereading project for this summer and I'm looking forward to spending time with Holden again soon.
So sorry to hear about your loss, Kuleigh. It’s never easy to lose a friend but I think it hits you differently at that time.
Hope you enjoy the book reread and thanks for commenting. ☺️
Excellent piece on how a high school teacher can have positive influence on a student. For me, it was my Grade 11 English teacher, Ms McIntosh and The Great Gatsby, back in 1975. Still love this book and what it says about America.
Oh another GREAT book. Thanks so much for the kind words, Perry. ☺️
Wow, what a great moving piece. Your feature on here was long overdue I feel!
Thanks a lot, Harvey! Mikey's newsletter has some great features, doesn't it?
Certainly does!
Thank you for such a beautiful essay, Kate. I’m so very sorry to hear about your college friend. That must have been such a difficult time for you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences of the ongoing importance of literature in our lives.
Thanks for such a lovely and kind message, Victoria. Yes, that was quite difficult at the time but it's those experiences that form us as well, I guess. Like Holden after his brother's death. I find it so interesting that we really don't get much detail about that in the book, yet it's central to his experience.
💜
And I’m sure ‘Frank’ thinks of you fondly like you do Mr Steele.