Don't Go Searching For A Mermaid, Son, If You Don't Know How To Swim

[snogged]

1. The temp agency I applied finally came through for me this week. I will be filling in as a receptionist for Power Packer (a factory that specializes in hydraulics) from July 5th to July 9th as their regular receptionist is going on vacation. I have to go in for training tomorrow so hopefully that goes well.

2. I finished Catcher in the Rye this afternoon. I know this book is supposed to be one of those classic American novels and has been declared a literary accomplishment and all that. But it just didn't do it for me. I found it whiny, uninteresting, and repetitious. I get that it's supposed to be all about teenage apathy and angst, but I felt like there was nothing to connect to. I didn't feel moved by his recollections of his dead brother. I didn't feel connected to the pain he was going through. I just didn't feel anything but bordeom.
It also didn't help much that most of the women in the book were portrayed as sexual objects instead of strong female characters that could stand their own against Holden. I did quite like the younger sister, Phoebe. It didn't surprise me that she wanted to find a role model in her older brother and yet, she came across as far more mature than he did. She seemed more aware of the world around her and she didn't hate everything. As for the ending, I agree with some of the other reviewers, open endings can be great, but this one just felt mediocre at best and I'm thrilled to be done with this junk.

3. I've watched two episodes of The Vampire Diaries. It's no Buffy, of course, but I like it way more than Twilight.

Comments

[fifteenminutes.livejournal.com]

Aw, The Catcher in the Rye is my favorite book.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

That's cool.
I just wasn't thrilled with it.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Yay! It's a job! Okay, a temp job, but it's something and it helps and...YAY!!!!

Not a Salinger fan so I am right there with you on Catcher.


Gabrielle

[snogged.livejournal.com]

Yay! (except for the fact that I have to get up by 6:15 for it. But at least, I'll be home by 4:30.)

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Yes, the 6:15 thing is not the greatest. If it makes you feel better, I once had a job that required me to awaken at 4 AM most days and 2 AM on Sundays.


Gabrielle

[otempora42.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're enjoying it so far! I didn't really get hooked until a few episodes in. And, while I agree it's not Buffy, I think it's a really good show in its own right.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops.

[hellolamppost17.livejournal.com]

I recently had a conversation with someone about Catcher in the Rye, and how basically it's a book with a window. The window being about 13-16 when you can relate to the book most, and have it stick out as being something that means something. Read it for the first time outside the window, and suddenly the book isn't magical but kind of stupid.

So I get why you're not a huge fan of it. (Did that make sense? I'm working on two hours of sleep right now.... so I might sound a little off kilter.)

P.S. As soon as you said temp agency, all I could think about was Dead Like Me.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

See, the thing is though, I worked with emotionally troubled adolescents for a year and saw how their lives and stories unfolded. They swore like the devil, got expelled from their schools, and yet...unlike Holden, there was something irrevocably charming about them that made it possible to connect on their level.

PS. Hee! I wanna work at Happy Time!

[sweet-lyri.livejournal.com]

I started reading that and just gave up. It really wasn't my kinda book.

Vampire Diaries gets better the more the season progresses. I just watched the season finale about 3 hours ago, and it blew my mind. I ADORE Damon, I think he's awesome. I love his complexities and the battle his fights with himself as well as Stephan. Everyone else is kinda bland in comparison to the older Salvatore brother, but Jeremy gets a little more interesting and Caroline gets less annoying, lol. There are a few Buffyverse connections, though, so you should keep your eyes peeled for them. You'll know them when you see them, if you haven't already.

And congrats on the job. Sounds like fun!

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely keep an eye out for the Buffyverse connections.

So far, I've seen the ring that seriously resembles the Gem of Amara, but nothing else stands out.

[sweet-lyri.livejournal.com]

Don't be too hard on it. The first novel was publish in 1991, so WAY before BtVS. I started reading the first novel, but in it, Elena is blonde, Bonnie's...not black, and everyone's just upside down and inside out, lol. It was a bit confusing, lol, so I gave up. Maybe I'll try again now that the season's over.

But trust me, darlin, it gets better as it goes along.

[nonothrthnme.livejournal.com]

"Catcher in the Rye"

werd. I have always felt unequivocally "meh" about said classic. Never has done a thing for me, for much the same reasons as you describe. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

temp work sounds... scary. 0.o

[snogged.livejournal.com]

It works for some people I guess.

As for temping, it sounds better than retail.

[angelskuuipo.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the temp agency came through. Have fun!

It's been years since I read Catcher, but I do remember not being overly impressed either.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I'll do my best!

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

But will you be able to answer the phones with "Hello? Power Packer," without snickering??

[snogged.livejournal.com]

LOL.

Now I won't be able to for sure!

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

Sorry. I'm a bad influence.

[vimtastic.livejournal.com]

1) Sounds good! Except for getting up early, but it's a job!

2) I've never actually read Catcher in the Rye, even though it's one of those books that everyone has read in high school. I've heard that it comes across as a little wangsty before.

3) I've seen the first two episodes too! I'm interested in how it's going to develop as well.

Ooh, I just discovered some songs from Great Big Sea a while ago. Now I want to go find The Mermaid and listen to it.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I never had to read it in high school either. And I don't normally mind wangst, if there's something about the character I can connect too.

It's my favorite tune by them!

[deadlynight27.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who didn't like Catcher. I had to read it in high school for my Contemporary Lit class and I couldn't stand the book.

As to Vampire Diaries, I haven't watched it. I tried to read the books but they were so awful I couldn't. But I heard the series is a lot different. So I've been considering giving it a chance. =)

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I never read the books at all so I don't really know how they differ.

[rua1412.livejournal.com]

Temp work is better than nothing ^_^

I'm glad you started watching TVD. It becomes better and better with each episodes.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

It is.

And I'm looking forward to the show's progression into further awesomeness.

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

Glad the agency came through for you.

I first read 'Catcher' as a teenager at school and loved it, reread it as an adult and couldn't relate to it.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

There seems to be an age requirement for that book.

[idioticonion.livejournal.com]

I echo what mostly everyone else said. I managed one chapter of Catcher before throwing it down in disgust. Utterly without merit.

The person who said there was a window to read it is probably bang on.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

Most likely.
But I still don't think I would have liked it in my teenage years. In fact, I probably would have liked it less because I was a total goodie-two-shoes.

[cee-m.livejournal.com]

I didn't like Catcher in the Rye either. I was like OMG Holden... shut up!

Congrats on working...

[tonnic-x.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the temp job!
I love TVD! =) The soundtrack is wonderful as well!