Post #2

Franny and Zooey
pages 1-34

In the first section of Franny and Zooey, entitled "Franny," Salinger introduces one of the central characters in the novel. Salinger, rather than describing Franny, gives intricate details unveiling her personality and thoughts through letters she writes and dialogue between her and other characters. In regards to plot, in this section, Franny writes letters to her boyfriend, Lane, from her dorm room at school. She also goes to visit him, and they discuss a variety of things. It is apparent through their conversation that Lane sees Franny as acting odd, and she even states, "All I know is I'm losing my mind." (p.29). Franny also mentions that she has been reading a religious book, which she describes as "terribly fanatical," and tells of a new method of prayer Franny seems to be particularly interested in.

I chose this passage on page 25 as a representative example of Salinger's writing style.

"Oh I remember..Listen don't hate me because I can't remember some person immediately. Especially when they look like everybody else, and talk and dress and act like everybody else." Franny made her voice stop. it sounded to her cavilling and bitchy, and she felt a wave of self-hatred that, quite literally, made her forehead begin to perspire again.

I chose this passage because it is a good display of Salinger's style, including the characters inner-thoughts without laying out every detail of their personality. Through this passage, we can assume that Franny has some insecurities and anxieties about her own personality faults, but Salinger never describes her in this way, because he shows it through her actions.