Don't think I could have given this book less than five stars.

I am completely obsessed with the Glass family. The writing and characterisation in these stories are absolutely beautiful.

Buddy and Seymour are two of my favourites of Salinger's characters. This collection focused on them a lot. However, it made it a little more depressing due to Seymour's death and Buddy's obvious mourning.

But there's something about the characters here and the sheer force of emotion that is injected into every one. It makes these stories so magical and addictive to me. Half way through "Raise High", I found myself reaching to read passages from "Nine Stories" again.

The first story was way easier to read than the second, and I got a lot more from it. Stylistically, "An Introduction" is more interesting because of the use of stream of consciousness and character study. But the witty dialogue and plot from "Raise High" made me love that one a lot more.

I'd say maybe don't read "An Introduction" first, but save it until you are acquainted with all of the kids.

I've technically finished reading all of Salinger's published works now. But then again I haven't, and I never will. Because there is always something more of him to read, always something new to gain, and the Glass family will never leave me.

These two stories couldn't be more different.

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters was classic Salinger. It had all the elements that made Salinger's works so beloved. The characters were complex, the dialogue was sharp, and the story was engaging from start to finish.

Whereas, Seymour an Introduction was... well, it was a slog to say the least. Seymour felt like a first draft. A rambling internal monologue spewed out onto the page. Some might argue that that is precisely the point of it, but it simply didn't work for me. Reading it was like being at a family function, sat next to *that* relative who rambles on about nothing all night.

The lack of structure and focus made it difficult to follow and hard to care about what was happening. It was a disappointment compared to the other Salinger works I had read.

I understand that some readers might appreciate the more experimental nature of Seymour an Introduction, but for me, it just didn't hit the mark.

Most people know how to ignore or suppress this doubt that sometimes and often the world is not really a place of life.

............

...........

However, I have never been able to ignore this doubt.

I have never been able to.

Never.....

This doubt has always lingered in my mind, like a shadow that follows me wherever I go. It haunts me, making me question everything I know and believe.

Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one who feels this way, or if there are others out there who also struggle with this same doubt.

I try to find answers, but often I come up empty-handed.

Despite my efforts, this doubt persists, and I am left to grapple with it on my own.

Maybe one day I will find a way to overcome it, but for now, it remains a part of me.

In the story "Seymour: An Introduction", the objectionable sentences and their parentheses have contributed to the realism of the story in such a way that I came to the conclusion that "Salinger?". I thought it might be a crazy American, that he wrote these and Salinger just discovered and published them. And indeed, Salinger's characterization is so strong that it is believed that the Caulfields and the Glasses are real; just as Salinger himself believes.

I read the best description of Seymour Glass and the other six Glass children in this book: Seymour is a saint and his other six sisters and brothers are his disciples.

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters is truly an incredible piece of literature. It is complex and marvelous, deserving a rating of 7 out of 5 stars. The story is about strangers who find themselves trapped together after a failed wedding, and it is extremely interesting. The characters are well-developed, and the writing is at a level that is truly remarkable. Salinger's ability to create such vivid and engaging stories is something that I can only aspire to.

I read some things and sometimes feel a sense of pride in myself, thinking that I already write better than certain authors. However, when I pick up Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, it quickly reminds me that I still have a long way to go. Salinger's writing is at a level that I'm not sure I'll ever achieve.

One of the most interesting aspects of the story is the character of Seymour, who is depressed and says some really cool things like "I have scars on my hands from touching certain people." Even though he never actually comes into the story, his presence is felt throughout.

On the other hand, Seymour -- an introduction is almost unreadable. It feels too intellectual for me and comes across as rambling. I ended up skimming through it. However, I have read some wonderful articles about how it is Salinger's least appreciated and most deserving piece. Maybe I just need to read it again with a different perspective.

Overall, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters is a must-read for any lover of literature. It is a complex and engaging story that will leave you thinking long after you've finished reading.

I am completely breathless.

My heart is pounding like a drum, and my mind is filled with thoughts of you.

I love you, Salinger. I love you with all my heart and soul.

Your presence in my life has brought so much joy and meaning.

Every moment spent with you is precious and unforgettable.

I can't imagine a day without you by my side.

You are the light that照亮 my path, and the love that fills my heart.

I will always love you, Salinger, no matter what.

Brilliant!

I have an insatiable appetite for reading anything related to the Glass family. The dialogue within the stories is simply captivating, and the satirical comedy is so uproariously funny that it has made me burst out laughing on numerous occasions.

I find myself longing to be completely immersed in this vividly描绘的 New York and within the orbit of their fascinating family. Salinger's writing is truly masterful as he packs these stories with an abundance of intricate details.

Despite the wealth of information already presented, I am always left with an unquenchable thirst to know more about the Glass family and their adventures.

It's as if Salinger has created a world that is so rich and engaging that I can't help but keep coming back for more.

His ability to bring the characters and their surroundings to life through his words is truly remarkable.

I can't wait to discover what other hidden gems and surprises await me in the pages of his works.

That memory of the time when you first read the words.

It was a moment that seemed to freeze in time, etching itself into your consciousness. The words danced on the page, captivating your imagination and transporting you to another world.

The moment after you last purchased books and find the time to be the same numerals as the cash value of your transaction, digits transposed.

It was a strange coincidence, almost as if the universe was playing a little trick on you. But it was a moment that made you stop and think, made you wonder if there was some deeper meaning behind it all.

The poetry served to cement the real in time.

It was as if the words had the power to hold onto the fleeting moments of life, to make them eternal. The poet chose not to feel. This is forgivable. We learn to understand these sorts of choices slowly, or not at all.

Sometimes, we all need to put up walls to protect ourselves. But it's important to remember that those walls can also keep us from truly experiencing life.

The memory stands.

It is a testament to the power of the human mind, to our ability to hold onto the past and use it to shape our future.

Your memory supersedes my superiority complex. Remember that the narrator's primary knowledge of the departed is pre-war. That war changes things in ways that a lifetime's meditation upon the permutations inherent in the word "existential" will fail to impart.

War has a way of shattering lives and changing people forever. It is a force that cannot be ignored, a reality that we must all face.

The run on sentences are in general a case of the tl;dr unless one is keen to catch the drift, intent upon the correct brain-barrier-blood-sugar-y-majik-sex remedy at hand. The frequency adjusts itself on an as needed basis.

Sometimes, we need to slow down and take the time to truly understand what is being said. But other times, we can just let the words wash over us and enjoy the ride.

They got along famously until they did not. Even this is permissible. To chose to retain one's only telephonic contact in an unlived apartment housing dormant ghosts is the early 20th century equivalent of throwing a cell phone down an elevator shaft of an empty shopping mall.

Relationships are complex and ever-changing. Sometimes, things just don't work out. But it's important to remember that we can always learn from our experiences and move on.

We are most at home where we may accept pain. The discomfort of being brought us to this point.

It is through pain and discomfort that we grow and learn. It is what makes us who we are.

Most of the time maximal-ism causes me to subscribe to glossy men's magazines that are in general embarrassing for the rare times when non-relatives enter my living spaces.

Sometimes, we get caught up in the pursuit of more, more, more. But it's important to remember that true happiness doesn't come from material possessions.

The real recedes as we approach it. I never thought too much about the aphorisms at first, only the attributions. This was not my only mistake.

Sometimes, we are so focused on the surface level that we miss the deeper meaning. It's important to look beyond the obvious and truly understand what is being said.

The plan all along was to stand in awe, to avoid blurbs, to remain speechless, to elicit no response, to make the speaker wet, to wash the cloth in kind.

Sometimes, the best way to show our appreciation is through silence. To let the words speak for themselves and to simply be in the moment.

I always wanted there to be more. This collection is, more than the rest perhaps, indicative of what we are not seeing from Salinger's estate. Does thinking about that make me a rubbernecker? If I was a woman living 40 years prior to my birth, it is very possible that I may have attempted to bed Mr. Salinger.

We all have our desires and our curiosities. But it's important to remember that we should respect the privacy of others.

I have never been to New Hampshire.

Sometimes, the unknown can be exciting. It makes us wonder what lies beyond the horizon and what adventures await us.

Hagiography does not interest me any more. I found the dirt less satisfying than the flowers which were oh so carefully cultivated.

We often glorify the past and forget the flaws and imperfections. But it's important to see things as they really are, warts and all.

How many times did you hear "I couldn't get into it" before the conversation dropped?

Sometimes, we just don't click with certain things. But it's important to keep an open mind and not be too quick to judge.

When we lose sight of the accidents which brought us together we become automatons.

It is the little things in life that often have the biggest impact. We should cherish those moments and remember the people who brought us together.

The effects of stardom upon the very very young remains a topic ripe for discussion.

Stardom can be a double-edged sword. It can bring fame and fortune, but it can also have a negative impact on a person's life. We need to be careful about how we raise our children and make sure that they are prepared for the challenges that come with success.

This was the second book that I read from Salinger. The text of his book was relatively smooth, but until the middle of the book, a person's patience wears out a bit, because he describes events and characters that don't have a special charm, but they are necessary to advance the story.

As I understood, Salinger's stories have a meaningful connection with each other, and Salinger somehow leaves a symbol in each of his stories. The main character of the story, that is, Buddy, was similar to Holden Caulfield in "The Catcher in the Rye", a wanderer and a bit introverted and with hidden emotions. And perhaps to some extent, he suffers from loneliness. In the story, Buddy was not friendly with any character, and other people also did not have a helpful opinion of him.

The part that was noticeable to me was the end of the book when Buddy starts reading the notes of his brother Seymour. I really liked the romance that was in his letters.

The end of the story, again Salinger takes the main character of the story to his own state, everyone is confused, and "Buddy" is alone with himself again. This is very close to Salinger himself. I really identify with this writer.

This is such an interesting book:

The first story, "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters," is a captivating story from beginning to end. How a simple sequence of events is told in such an impactful way that a reader feels like watching a movie. It should actually be taught as a lesson in schools. I loved it so much.

The second story, "Seymour: An Introduction," on the other hand, evoked completely opposite feelings in me. Although it is an organic, interactive, and interesting story, due to its excessive length and being embellished with unnecessary details - which the author himself admits in the text - I got bored. It was very difficult to read after the first story.

Nevertheless, despite everything, Salinger is a great master, beloved, liked, and missed.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

I hope I am not boring you, my dear readers, with all these books from 1963. I am making significant progress on the list by reading one book a week. As of today, I have only four of the bestsellers left to read. Then, I will move on to the award winners.

I have now read all of this infamous and controversial author's books. I suppose there will be unreleased stories published in the coming years, but this one concludes the works published during his lifetime. In fact, the two pieces here, long stories or novellas, were originally published in the New Yorker in 1955 and 1959, respectively, during Salinger's heyday.

I happen to like Salinger, Holden Caulfield, and all. I especially like his crazy Glass family, who feature in both selections here. Those precocious children who were forced to perform on the radio and grew up to be eccentric adults seem to be the forerunners of characters in novels I have read by Cynthia Ozeck, Lydia Millet, and Karen Joy Fowler.

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters is the story of Seymour Glass's wedding that almost didn't happen. It turned into an elopement, leaving all the family members flailing about or, in some cases, stuck in a taxi together. I recalled that Mary McCarthy also opened her 1963 novel, The Group, with a wedding in New York, and that incident had a scene in a crowded taxi as well! Though Salinger's story is poignant, it is also one of the funniest things he wrote.

Seymour: an Introduction is filled with the angst of Seymour and his brother (who is writing the piece) and takes place after the wedding as well as after Seymour's suicide. It is meant to be a character study but serves as a farce on writing. Some reviewers have called the piece "self-indulgent." Duh! Apparently, they didn't get the joke.

Earlier this year, I watched the 2013 documentary Salinger. It shows the man in all his reclusive, reporter-hating, misogynist glory in his later years. It was a disturbing take-down of one of my literary heroes. I wish I could unwatch it because those scenes in the movie kept coming up while I was reading. Whether the documentary is true or not, I'd rather keep my illusions about the author who has given me so many hours of reading pleasure. If you love Salinger's work and have not seen the documentary, be warned. Personally, I don't require the authors I read to be sane, well-balanced citizens.