J.D. Salinger – Franny & Zooey –Comment.

 

First read this little book in high school, and now so many years later, it reads to be an entirely different text. I am reminded that reading is a skill that, for some, will develop over time, and if one is persistent or lucky, the experience much richer as a result. My current reading of Franny and Zooey was a pleasure. For certain, not only the prose and dialogue so easy, and at times profound, the two central characters so fascinating, intelligent, thoughtful, and damn eccentric.  

The two protagonists are the youngest children of Salinger's Glass family. From what can be gleaned from this text, the Glass parents were old vaudeville performers, who spawned children with extraordinary intelligence and artistic talent. The children were panelists on a radio show called ‘The Wise Child,’ and asked a variety of tough questions and dazzling their listeners with their uncanny brilliance. (Zooey for example can remember everything he has read and can quote all word for word.) The children are outliers and their genius intellects, from this short reading, is a curse for them.  

The book opens with Franny, the youngest of the Glass family, a college student. who meets her “boyfriend” for lunch. During their conversation, Franny has a breakdown of sorts, fainting in the restaurant. We find out that she is reading a book called, ‘The Way of a Pilgrim.’ The text, in short, is about a Russian peasant who in on a spiritual quest and discovers that by repeating a short prayer over and over ad infinitum, one can achieve a connection to God, a transcendental ‘oneness’ with the Universe. This young woman, from all appearances, is having an existential and spiritual crisis.  

Next, we meet Zooey while he is in the bathtub, reading a manuscript leading to a lengthy conversation with his mother, Bessie. Zooey now is a professional actor who currently is being sought after for television roles. My first impressions of the character are he is highly intelligent, self-superior, arrogant, curt, and impatient with us lesser human beings. Franny has returned home from university and has planted herself on the sofa with her cat, Bloomburg. She will not eat and is depressed. This subject makes up much of the conversation between Mrs. Glass and her youngest son. - concern for Franny’s wellbeing.  

When Zooey confronts his little sister, we discover that he is quite aware of ‘The Way of the Pilgrim,’ and thus begins a dialogue touching on religion, philosophy, the nature of God, and the notions of ‘self’ in relation to the world.  

When Franny and Zooey’s conversation ends in the living room, unfortunately Franny is left crying and more distraught. Zooey finds a creative way to continue their discussion and, for me, revealed an impressive passionate and sensitive side to the character.  

Salinger is an entertaining writer; an author who makes you want to read more. There is a rumor that his unpublished works is a continuation of the Glass family saga. Let us hope so.  

The Case of Journalist Jeremy Loffredo Revisited. (Opinion)

 

Independent journalists across the planet are either being forcefully silenced or jailed. In the grand old UK, one can be imprisoned for posting on social media “hate speech.’  In many instances the posts are dissident voices against government and/or war. This is not “hate” speech but the right to express one’s views about the world. The case of Julian Assange is undoubtedly the best-known example of journalistic oppression. Recently, the independent journalist Jeremy Loffredo was illegally detained by the Israeli Defense Force on dubious grounds. The treatment of this journalist was appalling and sadistic. This story requires further comment.  

Loffredo is an independent investigative journalist who is a major contributor to The Grayzone. While in Israel reporting on the missile strikes from Iran, obviously targeting military installations, (unlike Israel who bombs innocent men, women, and children) while returning from the bomb sites, was stopped at Israel’s many check points, which has existed for several years, before October 7. Laffredo is an American citizen, and at the time had all the appropriate paperwork to move through the checkpoint. While other journalists were free to go, Jeremy was detained, blindfolded, and placed in shackles. He was then sent to an unknown prison facility and placed in solitary confinement.  

During his time in solitary, at one point he was taken out of his cell, and forced to stand in front of a flag, ordered to smile and not smile, and verbally harassed while pictures were taken. “Do you love Israel?” “Why do you want to hurt Israel?” (This is terrorist behavior.) The young man was not given food or water for days. He remained in solitary for three and a half days. He went to court and the judge was dumbfounded because other journalists’ including one from a major Israeli newspaper had reported exactly what Loffredo had reported. He was sent back to jail for further interrogation.  

As an added note, a man next to Jeremy’s cell was being brutally tortured, the screams ringing throughout the compound.  

To get more specific details of Loffredo’s experience while incarcerated, go to The Grayzone website.  

Jeremy is an American citizen and journalist. The IDF and the Israeli government regime treated him as if he were a terrorist. My problem is the official State Department response...which was nothing except “American journalist freed and back on US soil.” (paraphrased) 

Israel could not be committing a full-blown genocide without American money and weapons. The US is committing genocide by proxy. The real question is who is really in charge here? From my standpoint, it is certainly not the United States. 

 The Israeli regime applies censorship with violence.  

Since October 7, 2023, over 100 journalists have been murdered by these thugs. If one asks why this is so, the answer is obvious. Israel does not want their heinous crimes reported throughout the world. Well, too late. 

Jeremy Loffredo’s treatment was wrong, sadistic, and criminal, and not a peep from American officials.  He should be commended for his bravery and commitment to real journalism.  

 

Murakami – South of the Border, West...Comment.

 

Attempting to describe Murakami’s novels in a few words is near impossible. The term “interdimensional-fantastic” comes to mind. Perhaps “magic amid the mundane” is a better turn of phrase. However, one can certainly state that all his novels take the reader into other realities, other worlds, persuading the reader that these worlds might truly exist. 

In South of the Border... Hajime recalls his life from childhood to middle age and reflects on his behavior and more so, three significant relationships. As an only child, he believes this was a hindrance to his social status in his early years.  As a young adult he meets Shimamoto, a beautiful girl who also is an only child. Their bond is special, and although they kiss and fondle, their relationship is never consummated. Their common connection is music, where they spend hours together listening to her father’s record collection.  

Around the same time, he meets and has a relationship with another young lady, Izumi Ohara. While in this relationship, Hajime has sexual affairs with other women. He tells Izumi about his infidelities which deeply hurts her, they disconnect, and Hajime moves away. Later in life, this relationship comes back to emotionally haunt him.  

After graduating University, Hajime is hired by a publishing firm, editing academic textbooks. This job lasts several years and is quite monotonous. In his 30’s Hajime meets Yukiko and marries her where they have two lovely daughters. Yukiko’s father is a wealthy developer and helps Hajime invest in a jazz bar that turns out to be successful.  

One evening, Hajime walks out of his bar and believes he sees Shimamoto. Rather than calling out and confronting her face to face, he decides to follow her like a common stalker. He follows her for quite some time when abruptly, a well-dressed man grabs his arm forcefully and walks Hajime into a coffee shop. He tells Hajime never to follow the woman again and hands him an envelope. The man tells him that their meeting “never happened.” Inside the envelope is a considerable amount of money. Hajime throws the money into the draw of his desk and never spends it. From time to time, he retrieves the envelope from his draw to remind himself that this strange incident really occurred.  

Time passes, and unexpectedly, Shimamoto appears in Hajime’s bar. She is elegantly dressed and incredibly beautiful. They strike up a conversation and she ask that Hajime never enquire about her current circumstances nor her immediate past.  

Both fall in love with each other all over again. It is here the mystery ensues.  

This novel is a love story that touches on the poetic and the spiritual.  

A worthwhile and entertaining read.