Your Money or Your Life

Title: Your Money or Your Life

Authors: Joe Dominguez & Vicki Robin

Pages: 336

Genre: Self-help, Personal Finance

Grade: A

Synopsis: This book outlines a 9-step program that empowers the reader to reach FI (financial independence, financial intelligence and financial integrity). The steps consist of finding out how much money you have made throughout your lifetime and then comparing that to your current net worth. The next steps are to track your spending from month to month and to determine whether or not you are getting the actual monetary worth from the money that you are spending. The goal in all of this is to be able to find and reach your personal crossover point, where your investment income equals the income that you need to have to live (see http://www.yourmoneyoryourlife.org/).

My Review: I really enjoyed this book. I had heard that it was one of the most recommended personal finance books out there, that has largely stood the test of time (almost 20 years, at least). I started a few of the exercises, but decided that it would be more beneficial to get my hands on a used copy of the book and then to read this with Alison and go over the exercises together. I liked the focus the book had on reducing our personal consumerism. We have been brainwashed into thinking that it is critical for us to consume in order to the economy to continue to grow. This mindset is detrimental to ourselves and in many ways to the environment. I had always envisioned reaching the crossover point right around the time that I was to retire. I now see that with intelligent financial management, this point can be reached much earlier and then allow us to have financial freedom for a longer period of our life. It's worth it to me to live frugally and be smart with my money in order to have more time (and money) to put towards my dreams later on in life.

From the Book: "(p. xviii) This shift has arrived none too soon. Americans need to transform the way they think about, spend and save money--if only for their own security. The savings rate in the United States has dropped from just below 5 percent when the book was first published to below zero at the time of this writing. The sirens of consumerism have but us into a deep sleep. The apparent deep pockets of Uncle Credit Card allow us to indulge in living far beyond our means. According to a 1997 Public Agenda report, nearly 40 percent of Baby Boomers have less than $10,000 saved for retirement. The old norm of increasing savings in the good times to offset the inevitable fallow years has been reversed. Overspending increased during the economic expansion of the '90s. It was this head-in-the-sand attitude about savings that most concerned Joe in the years before he died in 1997. Drenched for decades in information about the national and global economic ups and downs, he found Americans myopic about the long cycles of the markets and economy."

"(p. 15) Americans used to be "citizens." Now we are "consumers"--which means (according to the dictionary definition of "consume") people who "use up, waste, destroy and squander." Consumerism, however, is just a twentieth-century invention of our industrial society, created at a time when encouraging people to buy more goods was seen as necessary for continued economic growth."

"(p. 117) You come to differentiate between a passing fancy and real fulfillment, that point of perfect balance where desires disappear because they have been completely met. Any less would be not enough. Any more would be too much. A fulfilling meal is one where all the flavors, smells and textures blend perfectly and your appetite is satisfied without even a trace of teh discomfort of having overeaten. In the same way, a fulfilling car is one that meets your transportation needs perfectly, that you will enjoy owning for many thousands of miles, that doesn't insult your wallet or your values and that, with good maintenance, will be both reliable and a pleasure to drive. Your internal yardstick would dismiss any superficial desires to impress others, to relieve the boredom of driving a two-year-old car, to own a Mercedes because you want the status symbol or to have a blue convertible that matches your eyes. Those are all external yardsticks. If an experience or a purchase is truly fulfilling, the desire disappears for a long time. You are satisfied, contented, at peace."

The Longest Walk

Title: The Longest Walk - An Odyssey of the Human Spirit

Author: George Meegan

Pages: 402

Genre: Non-fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: George Meegan is the world record holder for the longest continuous walk in history. He started at the southern tip of South America (Tierra Del Fuego, where Carmen Sandiego used to hideout), and walked north through South America, the Darien Gap, Central America and into the United States. Instead of just walking straight from Texas to Alaska, he took a detour through Washington D.C. and New York City and then cut across Canada and the Northern states before heading up into Alaska and onto Prudhoe Bay on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. His walk was more than 19,000 miles, and took 7 years, during which time he started a family and fathered two children (with his Japanese wife, that he married in Argentina).

My Review: I enjoyed this book, but it got a little long (even though he barely skims over his last 4-5,000 miles). He talks a lot about his experiences walking such long distances, but most of the book is full of stories of his interactions with people that he meets on the walk. The stories are interesting and inspiring and I found it amazing how friendly people were in every country except the United States. Although this walk happened in the late 70's and early 80's, I think there is a lot that we can learn from all of our southern neighbors. I loved reading this book with my World Atlas open next to me on the couch as I followed his progress.

From the Book: "(p. 37, Patagonia) In fact, my itinerary, as I have hinted before, was influenced not so much by Tschiffely's journey--I hadn't even read his book--as by Snow's. Snow's original plan was not to stop after completing South America but to continue either straight up to Alaska or northeastward to Washington, D.C. My insane plan was to do both, thereby "completing" the Americas and by virtue of the extra distance gained by the detour to the east coast, recording the longest unbroken walk of all time."

"(p. 81, Bolivia) Potosi, at over thirteen thousand feet, is the highest city in the world, and it is inconceivable that anyone would ever bother to build, much less occupy, a city at such an altitude were it not for the fabulous riches of Cerro Rico. Indeed, at one time things were really humming here--French wines, Chinese silks, posh whores, etc.--Potosi's university was founded well before the Pilgrims ever thought to set sail, and in 1613 the population was a hundred twenty thousand, equal to London's."

"(p. 84, Bolivia) After reaching Oruro, I was surprised to learn how many Mormons were living here. Or maybe they just stood out. They could probably be spotted from a high-flying jet, so conspicuous were they in their brown suits, wide ties, briefcases full of evangelical props, and close-cropped blond hair. I spent an hour and a half in the company of two of them, a pair of earnest, sincere, and intensely boring young men. While one with great solemnity sought to convert me, the other standing a foot before my face, silently held a booklet with illustrations to accompany the lecture and periodically flipped the pages for my benefit. It was a hard-earned tea."

"(p. 123, Ecuador) ...During my first few hours in Loja, I had good fortune to run into two young Mormon missionaries who let me sleep one night in their room and three further nights at their temple. My four days in Loja were somber ones, however, not so much because of the Mormons, who didn't try to convert me (at least not very strenuously), but because of the constant rain."

"(p. 377, Alaska) In this land of great opportunity and few roads (in most regions the Alaskan Highway is the only real road), the immense distances can only be reasonably handled by air, in fact, half of all the private aircraft in the world are registered in Alaska. Near any urban center, such as they were, I couldn't look up into the sky without seeing at least one fixed wing clawing itself into the sky."

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Author: J. K. Rowling

Pages: 8 discs

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A

Synopsis: Harry Potter is back for his second year at Hogwarts. Once again, he is glad to be out of the Dursley's house and with his best friends. During the school year, students are mysteriously being petrified and Harry is hearing voices in the wall. Can Harry Potter save Hogwarts and find out what is petrifying the students?

My Review: I'm a sucker for these books. I had a great time listening to the book because there is so much that I have forgotten since I read it last. While it's hardly believable that the young Harry Potter is able to solve the mysteries that are stumping the greatest wizards of his time, it sure makes for a good read. I'm looking forward to listening to the next book.

Ella Minnow Pea

Title: Ella Minnow Pea

Author: Mark Dunn

Pages: 208

Genre: Fiction

Grade: A-

Synopsis: Ella Minnow Pea is living happily in the island country of Nollop of the coast of South Carolina. The small island is named after Nevin Nollop, the famed author of the famous pangram, “the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.” As letters fall one-by-one from the 36-letter pangram on a monument to Nollop, the government of the island decrees that once a letter falls from the monument, that letter may no longer be used in speech or writing without severe punishments – including expulsion or death. The book is a compilation of letters (correspondence) that are written between the island’s inhabitants. As more and more letters fall from the pangram, they are removed from the book. Ella is on a quest to come up with a pangram at least 4 letters shorter than Nollop’s in order for the council to reinstate the full alphabet.

My Review: This has to be one of the most clever books that I have ever read. It’s a quick read because the letters (correspondence) between the people are often fairly short. The book does get more difficult to read and understand as more and more letters are removed from the approved alphabet. Very unique and imaginative story, and very clever writing. Have a dictionary handy as you’re reading because Dunn’s command of the English language is superb.

From the Book: "(p. 6) On Wednesday, July 19, the Council, having gleaned and discerned, released its official verdict: the fall of the tile bearing the letter "Z" constitutes the terrestrial manifestation of an empyrean Nollopian desire, that desire most surely being that the letter "Z" should be utterly excised--fully extirpated--absolutively heave-ho'ed from our communal vocabulary!"

"(p. 153 - B,C,D,F,J,K,Q,V, and Z have fallen) "U" is gone. I suppose you're aware. The 1st aeiouy to go. Up until now the other graphemes were not aeiouys. When the aeiouys start to go, Ella, writing to you turns exponentially more grueling. I will not throw in the towel, though. I trust that you won't either. I truly relish our partnership."

"(p. 175 - B,C,D,F,J,K,Q,U,V,X, and Z have fallen) Lately, I haph startet painting my torso in pretty, motley hews. I sit in phront oph the mirror in the sleepy-room. I atmire my hantyworg. I am a hooman apstrat paining."

Fablehaven - Grip of the Shadow Plague

Title: Fablehaven - Grip of the Shadow Plague

Author: Brandon Mull

Pages: 496

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A

Synopsis: This book picks up right where the last book left off. Kendra and Seth are still at Fablehaven and they are suspicious of the Sphinx’s loyalties. Kendra is recruited to be a Knight and heads off on a secret mission to retrieve one of the remaining artifacts. She continues to discover more and more about her special condition. Seth is stuck at home, but notices that many of the creatures at Fablehaven that are good are turning evil and finds that he has a few special abilities of his own as well.

My Review: These books almost seem to be getting better and better. They are full of unexpected twists, new characters and interesting creatures. I am finding Seth to be less annoying in this book than others, but his courage is still admirable. Very exciting and intriguing book and very hard to put down.

From the Book: "(p. 367) Hooves clomping over the whitewashed planks, Doren sprinted along the boardwalk after Rondus, a portly satyr with butterscotch fur and horns that curved away from each other. Puffing hard, Rondus cut through a gazebo and started down the stairs to the field. Only a few steps behind, Doren went airborne and slammed into the heavyset satyr. Together they pitched violently forward into the grass, staining their skin green."

Vi Agra Falls

Title: Vi Agra Falls

Author: Mary Daheim

Pages: 8 discs

Genre: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery

Grade: B-

Synopsis: Judith Flynn operates a bed-and-breakfast in the Seattle area and has just recently remarried her ex-husband, Joe, who is a retired detective. Things get complicated when Joe's annoying ex-wife moves in next-door with her newest trophy husband (probably about her seventh). She announces that she is going to build a big condominium building on the street and that same night, a man is found hanging from a tree in her backyard.

My Review: Apparently this is the 24th installment of this particular bed-and-breakfast mystery series. I'm a bit surprised it has made it that long to tell the truth. I found the characters annoying and the book (especially the conclusion to the mystery at the end) a bit disjointed. After this book and the previous book I listened to (Mine are Spectacular!) I'm beginning to rethink my strategy of more or less randomly choosing books to listen to (or at least only by the picture or title).

The Complete Tightwad Gazette (Vol. I)

Title: The Complete Tightwad Gazette (Vol. I)

Author: Amy Dacyczyn

Pages: 300

Genre: Personal Finance, Self-Help

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Amy Dacyczyn (aka the Frugal Zealot) published The Tightwad Gazette as a newsletter from June 1990 to December 1996. This book was created as a collection of all the tips and stories from the newsletters. It is split up into three parts (of which so far I have read only one) of about 300 pages each. The book covers ways to save money in hundreds of unique and imaginative ways.

My Review: This book has a long waiting list at the library so I was only able to cover Volume I during my allotted time. I think that it's probably for the better to split it up anyway. I really enjoyed the tips and tricks in the book and plan on utilizing many of them in my life. In fact, I'm going to try and post frugality/personal finance tips and tricks weekly on Lurp's Lounge (my regular blog). I took copious notes from this book and plan on sharing many of them with you, gentle reader. If you ever find a used copy, pick it up and it will quickly pay for itself as you practice increased frugality.

From the Book: "(p. 54) Tightwaddery without creativity is deprivation. When there is a lack of resourcefulness, inventiveness, and innovation, thrift means doing without."

"(p. 152) The manufacturing of most goods harms the environment in one way or another. The culprit is not the factory, but it is we who buy what it produces. Therefore we should think carefully about items we purchase."

"(p. 216) Jim purchased a brand-new book called How to Fix Damn Near Anything. In horror I discovered a $15.95 price tag on the inside of the jacket. Upon interrogation he confessed that he purchased it at the thrift shop for $.25." (My note: I actually purchased this book at full price for my birthday last year. How embarrassing.)

"(p. 228) So how do we sort it all out? The relationship between ethics and thrift can be summed up in just one sentence. It is wrong to save money at the expense of others. Period."

"(p. 232) The dieter will fail as long as he hates low-calorie food. The would-be athlete will fail as long as he hates exertion. The tightwad wannabe will fail as long as he views frugality as a lifestyle he has to endure, or was forced into by circumstance."

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: J. K. Rowling

Pages: 6 discs

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A-

Synopsis: This is the first book in the Harry Potter series. As far as Harry can remember he has always lived with his aunt and uncle because his parents were killed when he was just an infant. Mysterious letters begin arriving for Harry and his Uncle Vernon does everything he can to keep Harry from reading any of them. Eventually Harry learns from a huge man, Hagrid, that he is a Wizard and will be attending the wizarding school Hogwarts.

My Review: This was the perfect thing to listen to while driving through Utah, Nevada and California late at night to and from Disneyland. The story is great, but the series gets better as it goes along. If you haven't read Harry Potter yet, you'd probably better.

From the Book: “(Dumbledore speaking to Harry) To the organized mind, death is but the next adventure.”

Mine Are Spectacular!

Title: Mine Are Spectacular!

Author(s): Janice Kaplan & Lynn Schnumberger

Pages: 10 discs

Genre: Chick Lit, Romance

Grade: B-

Synopsis: The title is taken from a quote at the end of a popular Seinfeld episode (I don't believe that I've seen it). Instead of a synopsis as usual, I will present a character list and describe their place in the story.

Sara - Divorced her first husband James after he disappeared to Argentina 8 years ago. Has been a single-mother to her son (who was born after her first husband left). Is dating Bradford and best friends with Berni and Kate. Junior-high art teacher invited to star on a cooking show on the Food Network.

Bradford - Dating Sara and very busy wall street banker. Has a 14 year-old-daughter and annoying ex-wife (Mimi) that is trying to win him back.

Berni - Hollywood agent that is quitting her job because she is pregnant with twins. Always complaining and best friends with Sara.

Kate - World-renowned dermatologist that works off 5th Avenue. Has perfect figure, skin and makes tons of money. Starts dating an extremely rich guy (who is married) and convinces him to leave his wife.

Kirk - Hunky soap-opera star doctor from Days of Our Knives. Goes with Sara to first filming of her Food Network show and is invited to co-star with her on it. Is always hitting on Sara and trying to convince her to leave Bradford.

James - Main Lady's divorced ex-husband that ran off to Argentina to find himself. Shows up 8 years later and wants to be a part of Sara's life once again.

My Review: This book isn't a trashy romance novel or anything, but it would certainly fall under the category of chick lit. If I was reading it in print I would have stopped early on, but because I was listening to the book on cd, then it's easier to sit through books that I normally wouldn't read. I think that the book has 2 authors simply because of all the desperate metaphors and similes in the book. Every paragraph seemed to contain one - and I doubt that one person could come up with all of them on their own. I did actually start enjoying the book by the last third or so. Not enough to recommend it, but enough that I can actually say that I liked the ending. From other reviews that I've read online, if you've got a penchant for chick lit, then you may just love this book.

Disclaimer: This book is a somewhat mild PG-13. There is no swearing, but there are references to boobs, implied sex, a stripper comes to a baby shower and a neighborhood party that turns out to be a sex-toy party.

Eldest

Title: Eldest

Author: Christopher Paolini

Pages: 681

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A

Synopsis: Eragon doesn't have much time to celebrate the Varden's victory over the Urgals before he must leave to continue his training as a Rider with the Elves in Du Weldenvarden. The Varden are planning to move all of their people to Surda in order to prepare to meet Galbatorix's army in battle. At the same time, the Ra'zac have returned to his hometown of Carvahall to try and take his cousin Roran in order to get more information about Eragon. Eragon must train well enough and hard enough to lead the Varden in battle.

My Review: I last read this book in July of '06, and reread it in order to refresh my mind for the newest book of the series. I think that I liked this book better than the first. I enjoy the multiple storylines and twists of the plot. Much like New Moon (the second book of the twilight series), this book explains a lot of the history of the species of the book.

The Phantom of the Opera

Title: The Phantom of the Opera

Author: Gaston Leroux

Pages: 7 discs

Genre: Classic

Grade: B+

Synopsis: There is a rumor at the Opera House of a ghost that lives in the catacombs below. Mysterious things are happening, culminating with the death of Joseph Buquet. The Opera Ghost seems to be especially enamored with Christine Daae, as is the Viscount Raoul de Chagny. When Christine disappears, Raoul teams up with a mysterious Persian to find her.

My Review: Most people know the basic premise of the story, either from the musical or the movie. As is almost always the case, I was surprised by just how different the adaptations are from the book. I found the book to be quite enjoyable, but a little difficult to follow at times. As for which version of the story I like best (movie, musical or book), I think that I like them all just about equally, with the slight edge going to the live musical version (there's nothing like watching a performance live).

From Squaw Tit to Whorehouse Meadow

Title: From Squaw Tit to Whorehouse Meadow

Author: Mark Monmonier

Pages: 149

Genre: Non-fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: The book is a deep look into how places are named and what the government is doing (and has done) to remove inflammatory and derogatory place-names from official maps. The book dives into names based on derogatory terms (negro, nigger, chink, etc) and sexual in nature (nipple, tit, teat, etc.). Also explored is how places are named in Antarctica, the ocean floor, the moon and Mars.

My Review: As I expected, this is a fairly in-depth educational book with an eye-catching title. I quite enjoyed it because geography is one of my very favorite hobbies and I learned quite a bit. A few tidbits of my learning: Out of 100 place-names in the US with nipple in the title, 11 places in Utah are named either Mollys Nipple, Mollies Nipple or Molleys Nipple. (With 32 of the 100 total places in the US in Utah. Obviously the pioneers were obsessed with nipples...). A short list of some of the more interesting place-names (Many of these names have since been changed due to their derogatory nature):

○ Squaw Teat Butte (SD)
○ Niggerhead Point (NY)
○ Nigger Bay (NC)
○ Nigger Skull Mountain (NC)
○ Jap Creek (UT)
○ Jap Valley (UT)
○ Jewtown (GA)
○ Chinaman Spring (WY)
○ Nigger Jack Hill (CA)
○ Chinks Point (MD)
○ Polack Lake (MI)
○ Negro Marsh (NY)
○ Intercourse (PA)
○ Blue Ball (PA)
○ Coon Butt (TN)
○ Bloody Dick Creek (MT)
○ Wee Wee Hill (IN)
○ Virgin, Virgins Breasts and Nipple Islands (ME)
○ Brassiere Hills (AK)
○ Squaw Nipple (MT)
○ Squaw Nipple Peak (CA)
○ Whorehouse Meadow (OR)
○ Squaw Tit (AZ)
○ Dildo (Newfoundland)
○ Gayside (Newfoundland)
○ Swastika (Ontario)
○ BS Gap (AZ)
○ S.O.B. Hill (UT)
○ Shitten Creek (OR)
○ Kokshittle Arm (BC)

I'll see you all on the Virgin's Breasts.

From the Book: "(p. 16) The intriguing history of American applied toponymy includes a few notoriously unpopular sweeping decisions a year after President Benjamin Harrison created the Board on Geographic Names in 1890. Harrison acted at the behest of several government agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, which was responsible for mapping the nation's coastline, harbors, and coastal waterways. Troubled by inconsistencies in spelling, board members voted to replace centre with center, drop the ugh from names ending in orough, and shorten the suffix burgh to burg. Overnight, Centreview (in Mississippi) became Centerview, Isleborough (in Maine) became Isleboro, and Pittsburgh (in Pennsylvania) lost its final h and a lot of civic pride. The city was chartered in 1816 as Pittsburg, but the Post Office Department added the extra letter sometime later. Although both spellings were used locally and the shorter version had been the official name, many Pittsburghers complained bitterly about the cost of reprinting stationery and repainting signs. Making the spelling consistent with Harrisburg, they argued, was hardly a good reason for truncating the Iron City's moniker--although Harrisburg was the state capital, it was a smaller and economically less important place. Local officials protested that the board had exceeded its authority. The twenty-year crusade to restore the final h bore fruit in 1911, when the board reversed itself--but only for Pittsburgh. In 1916 the board reaffirmed its blanket change of centre, borough, and burgh as well as its right to make exceptions for Pittsburgh and other places with an entrenched local usage."

Gift from the Sea

Title: Gift from the Sea

Author: Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Pages: 138

Genre: Essays, Inspirational

Grade: B

Synopsis: The book is basically a collection of essays that focus on Anne Morrow Lindbergh's (Wife of Charles Lindbergh) meditations on the different stages of life. She compares each stage of life to seashells that she found when meditating on a small island.

My Review: It took me a little while to get into this book and to understand what all her ramblings were about. I think that this is the type of book that would become more enjoyable the more that you read it. Probably one of the reasons that it was hard for me to get into the book was because much of the advice from the book didn't really apply to me.

From the Book: "(p. 26) For life today in America is based on the premise of ever-widening circles of contact and communication. It involves not only family demands, but community demands, national demands, international demands on the good citizen, through social and cultural pressures, through newspapers, magazines, radio programs, political drives, charitable appeals, and so on. My mind reels in it, What a circus act we women perform every day of our lives. It puts the trapeze artist to shame. Look at us. We run a tight rope daily, balancing a pile of books on the head. Baby-carriage, parasol, kitchen chair, still under control. Steady now!"

"(p. 83) I am very fond of the oyster shell. It is humble and awkward and ugly. It is slate-colored and unsymmetrical. Its form is not primarily beautiful but functional. I make fun of its knobbiness. Sometimes I resent its burdens and excrescences. But its tireless adaptability and tenacity draw my astonished admiration and sometimes even my tears. And it is comfortable in its familiarity, its homeliness, like old garden gloves when have molded themselves perfectly to the shape of the hand. I do not like to put it down. I will not want to leave it."

The Cry of the Icemark

Title: The Cry of the Icemark

Author: Stuart Hill

Pages: 12 Discs, 496 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A

Synopsis: 14-year-old Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-arm Lindenshield must lead her people to battle against the huge invading force of the Polypontian Empire. Her father, the king, is killed in the first battle and it is up to Thirrin to find allies of people or creatures that will help them in her cause.

My Review: I love to go to the library and randomly pick up a book that turns out to be a favorite. This book moved quickly and was easy to follow. There were unexpected twists and turns along with the predictable causes and outcomes. The book really sucked me in and made the book hard to put down (aka, difficult to stop listening to). I was excited to see that there is at least one other book in the series and that a film version of the book is currently in pre-production. Highly recommended!

From the Book: "Pain! Deep, tearing, throbbing, needle-sharp, hammer-blunt pain – ripping through his body and through his mind, twisting deep in his guts and slicing at his skin with razors and broken glass. Oskan wanted to scream, but his vocal cords had burned away. He was desperate for water and he could hear it dripping all around him, but his charred tongue found nothing in his mouth but blisters and scorched flesh. For hours he lay on the ropes of the low bed, unable to move, the pressure of the hemp on his destroyed skin sending new agonies deep into his body."

The Catcher in the Rye

Title: The Catcher in the Rye

Author: J.D. Salinger

Pages: 216

Genre: Classic

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Holden Caulfield seems to get kicked out of every prep school he enrolls in. Most of his stories revolve around his time at Pencey Prep and the days after he was kicked out when he was just bumming around New York City, avoiding telling his parents that he had been kicked out of yet another school. Holden has a great relationship with his much younger sister and cherishes the relationships of many of his former teachers, yet is often bugged by them at the same time. He despises anybody that is "phony" and finds fault with almost everybody that he encounters.

My Review: I quite liked this book, while almost not liking it at the same time. When I finished it, I felt almost depressed and disturbed. The novel has a long history of censorship and has even cost teachers their jobs just for using it in their curriculum. The book flows very smoothly and is easier than many classics to read. It is easy to relate with Holden because the book is written with a type of stream-of-consciousness style and nothing that goes through Holden's mind is left out. The only thing I was convinced of by the end of the book was that Holden Caulfield is a little bit crazy. I don't see myself re-reading the book anytime soon, but even so, it is one that I may think about for a while to come.

Disclaimer: The book has lots of vulgarity and almost every paragraph has cursing.

From the Book: "(p. 35) He stuck around till around dinnertime, talking about all the guys at Pencey that he hated their guts, and squeezing this big pimple on his chin. He didn't even use a handkerchief. I don't even think the bastard had a handkerchief, if you want to know the truth. I never saw him use one, anyway."

"(p. 173) "I thought it was 'If a body catch a body,' " I said. "Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around-nobody big, I mean-except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff-I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy." "