The Catcher in the Rye

By j.d. salinger, the catcher in the rye themes, painful experience vs. numbness.

Perhaps the greatest theme of the novel involves the relationship between the pain of actual experience and feeling one's feelings, on the one hand, and on the other hand the equally devastating numbness that comes with shutting down one's emotions in order to avoid suffering. After the death of Allie, Holden essentially shuts down, forcing himself to lose all attachments to people so as never to be hurt again. He repeatedly mentions how important it is not to get attached to anyone, since this will lead to missing them once they are gone. By the end of the novel, he has spiraled so far down with this theory that he has become afraid to even speak to anyone. Phoebe is perhaps the only reminder that Holden still has the capacity to love. When he looks at her, he cannot help but feel the same tortured love that he felt for Allie. Nevertheless, the surges of these feelings leave him even more bereft. He knows he must leave Phoebe to protect himself, but when she shows up to accompany him on his journey, ultimately he puts his love for her first and sacrifices his own instinct to flee in order to return home.

Holden, it seems, is in the throes of an existential crisis. To a great degree he is numb to the pains and joys of life. Unable to come to terms with his brother's death, he has no one to show him the kind of parental or brotherly love that he himself gave Allie. Whenever someone does end up showing him even a hint of such love (such as Mr. Antolini ), Holden ends up being disappointed.

Love and Sex

At his core, Holden is a deep, sensitive soul, at bottom unable to sublimate his feelings into numbness. He envies someone like Stradlater, who can simply pick up girls whenever he likes, and who treats sex as a casual pleasure. To Holden, however, sex is deeply discomforting. He cannot have it with girls he likes, and he cannot manage to numb himself enough to treat girls casually. Numbing himself to love, it seems, is Holden's greatest challenge. He feels too deeply about the world, about people, to truly shut down. When he finally does fall in love with Jane Gallagher , he soon discovers that Stradlater has a date with her, which confirms his suspicion that everything he loves eventually deteriorates. He leaves Pencey with some hope of inventing a new identity, but he cannot break out of his being. Even in the presence of a prostitute, he cannot think of having sex, only of having a conversation in the hope of feeling some glimmer of human affection with her. All Holden wants to do is talk, but he cannot find someone who will listen.

Loss of Innocence

Holden must face that fork in the road of adolescence when one realizes that maturity entails a loss of innocence—that greater knowledge of oneself and others and the circumstances all comes with a price. In Holden's case, he cannot bear to accept the death of Allie, the death of pure innocence that had no good reason to suffer or die. In Holden's eyes, Allie is truth, while everyone else is “phony.” Innocence goes with idealism and a certain inability or unwillingness to bear and accept the harsher reality. Holden cannot bear to hold onto his innocence because innocence brings its own harms; people continue to disappoint him. Thus the cost of maturity is much less; innocence has been quite painful, too. Innocence has been problematic: the prostitute demands more money for nothing, the man who takes him in seems like a pedophile, and the cab drivers berate him as stupid when he asks simple questions about the birds in the park. While Allie’s memory can help him preserve his innocence, this is not enough, for he cannot find real love in the outside world.

Besides, losing Allie has brought tremendous pain. Holden also has the common adolescent experience of perceiving that time in school learning mundane lessons feels petty when his entire soul is in flux as it comes to grips with reality. When the entire world around him appears phony, where can he go to grasp hold of some reality, some stable truth? Without an explanation why Allie was taken from him, there appears no reason behind the world's events, and in this respect Holden’s maturity involves a deep loss of innocence such that he perceives that the reality of the world is its very irrationality.

Phoniness vs. Authenticity

Holden labels almost everyone a “phony,” excepting Phoebe, Allie, and himself. In Holden's eyes, a “phony” is someone who embraces the world’s mundane demands and tries to make something out of nothing—that is, just about everyone who studies in school or who puts on airs in order to do a job or achieve a goal. The fact that no one is acknowledging how trivial and fleeting life is, compared with the grand things we tell one another about reality—how difficult it is to truly love and share oneself with people knowing that all, like Allie, will eventually die—causes him to burn with frustration, even rage. Holden understands on some level one of the most profound truths of mortal life: the superficial matters little because it will not last, yet it is made to seem so much more important. Meanwhile, all around him, he must watch superficial people win honors through their artifice. He thus holds his deepest contempt for those who succeed as phonies: Stradlater, the Headmaster, and all the boys who treat school as if it is a club to be ruled by Social Darwinism. All Holden wants is some authentic living, to hold on to someone like Phoebe or Allie who knows nothing of the world’s superficiality and therefore is not tainted by it, but he is afraid to make it too real out of the justified fear of one day losing them forever.

Life and Death

A key part of Holden’s emotional life involves his reaction to Allie’s death. People live for a while, but all too soon we all die. Allie did not choose it, but Holden thinks about James Castle , a skinny boy who jumped out the window at school and fell to his death. Holden himself entertains thoughts of a similar suicide. The decision to numb himself to his feelings about life is a decision to shut himself down emotionally so much that he is no longer truly living. It is a decision, however, that remains fundamentally impossible for Holden. When he thinks about James Castle, he cannot bear to imagine James just laying there amidst the stone and blood, with no one picking him up.

Holden might see some romance in suicide and some comfort in the idea that it ends internal pain, but death does seem worse, the ultimate loneliness. He seen the effects of death on the living as well. He thus cannot do to Phoebe what Allie has done to them already.

He plods on, only sure that he must gradually wean himself away from Phoebe so that she gets used to losing him forever--and so that he gets used to being away from her. Though Holden needs closeness and love in order to renew his life, he keeps driving himself further away from it in order to avoid the inevitable loss. The more he wants to experience life, the more antisocial he becomes and the more he imagines death. This paradox is part of Holden’s life: there is pain in shutting down one's feelings, and there is pain in the risk of opening oneself up again. He impossibly tries to avoid pains that are inevitable for human mortals while they live.

Lack of Authority Figures

Holden is profoundly alone. His parents are absent except for insisting that he progress along a conventional path and stay in school as long as he can before he is kicked out or tires of each institution. His parents do not let him regroup but send him off to the next school. At Pencey, Holden finds no adult to trust with his feelings; most people everywhere are phony. Some adults even seem so selfish that they are willing to abuse children. Overall, Holden views adults with intense disappointment, even cynicism. How is it that the older they get, the farther from authenticity they get? Meanwhile, the gradual deterioration of the body disgusts him. Upon visiting an old professor, much of his thoughts are dedicated to the awfulness of the old man's body. There is no allure in growing older.

Authority does not seem related to wisdom, either. Adults tell Holden to find direction and thus stability, but he views such advice as both suspicious and naïve; playing such a game is inauthentic. Going his own way autonomously, as a law unto himself, does not work out so well either, so it is unclear where Holden might find legitimate authority.

Holden is very lonely, and his adolescent loneliness seems to run much deeper than the feelings so commonly felt at that age. He admits to his loneliness openly, and it gives him evidence that perhaps he might still have some emotions left. At the same time, Holden takes few steps to mitigate his loneliness. Whenever he feels the urge to meet someone, to call up a girl, to have a social experience, he ends up sabotaging it before he can get hurt. He thus protects himself so fully that he effectively shuts off any possibilities of alleviating his own loneliness. He might want to call Jane, for example, but he hangs up before she gets on the phone. He might want to sleep with a prostitute to feel human comfort, but this will not do. He might want to interact with friends at a bar, but he ends up saying something hurtful so that they abandon him. Pushing them away provides a deeper and deeper loneliness, but at these moments of choice he is willing to endure it rather than eventually face the ultimate, devastating loneliness of losing another person like Allie.

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The Catcher in the Rye Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Catcher in the Rye is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

In my opinion, Holden didn't want to see jane with his roommate. In addition, he is insecure.

Did you like the book?

I have enjoyed The Catcher in the Rye each and every time I've read it. I hope you did too!

Explain this quote " Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules."

In the quote, Mr. Spencer is trying to explain to Holden that life is a series of choices.... we can choose to make good choices, follow the rules, and hopefully find success, or we can make bad choices and possibly never have the chance.

Study Guide for The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye study guide contains a biography of J.D. Salinger, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  • About The Catcher in the Rye
  • The Catcher in the Rye Summary
  • Character List

Essays for The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

  • The Etymology and Symbolism of Characters' Names
  • The Maturation of Holden Caulfield and Henry Fleming
  • Holden Caulfield's Character Presented in the Novel
  • Holden Caulfield and Daniel Issacson: Much in Common?

Lesson Plan for The Catcher in the Rye

  • About the Author
  • Study Objectives
  • Common Core Standards
  • Introduction to The Catcher in the Rye
  • Relationship to Other Books
  • Bringing in Technology
  • Notes to the Teacher
  • Related Links
  • The Catcher in the Rye Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Catcher in the Rye

  • Introduction

catcher in the rye essay themes

86 Catcher in the Rye Essay Topics & Ideas

🏆 best essay topics for catcher in the rye, 🎓 interesting catcher in the rye essay titles, 📌 good essay prompts for catcher in the rye, ❓ catcher in the rye essay questions.

  • Hypocrisy in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger Stradlater reveals to Holden that he has a date waiting and that he needs to shave. Stradley asks Holden to write an essay for him and informs him that the former is taking a girl […]
  • Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” What this paper will show is that one of the keys to understanding Holden’s behavior is his attitude toward the movies.
  • J.D. Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ – Themes and Insights This paper aims to summarize the plot of the novel, to discuss the central themes and the main characters, and to provide a personal review of the book.
  • Holden’s Inability to Comprehend Reality in Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” This indicates Holden’s growth as future situations indicate he is aware of his age and does not perceive issues as a child, returning to school after the escapade.
  • The Pain of Maturation in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.Salinger The important literary device used to depict Holden confronting the pressure of the society and the corruption of the adult world is characterization, as the main character calls people he meets “phony” and refers to […]
  • “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger The book’s story of escape and a search for happiness despite all the sham and drudgery in this world is the topic of this paper.
  • “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger Review Critics admit that Salinger’s depiction of Holden Caulfield symbolizes the dilemma of the idealist in the contemporary world and shows the primary structural framework of a novel.
  • Jerome Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye Thus, this paper, starting with the outline of characters and plot, discusses potential interpretations of The Catcher in the Rye and proposes the opinion of the paper’s author.
  • J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye The reason is that the face value of the content impairs the ability of the reader to dig deep into the book and unravel some disturbing traits about Holden.
  • In What Way Is The Catcher in the Rye an Iconic Work We, however, do not subscribe to such point of view, because there are good reasons to believe that the actual explanation as to this novel’s iconic status is the fact that in The Catcher in […]
  • The Idea of Love in The Great Gatsby and the Parallels or Contrasts That Can Be Drawn With the Presentation of Love in The Catcher in the Rye Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Jerome Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, it is possible to state that the notion of love is presented there similarly even though the texts are absolutely different and […]
  • The Theme of the Loss of Innocence in “The Catcher in the Rye” by Salinger
  • The Universal Theme of Growing up and the Colorful Symbolism of “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Use of Defense Mechanisms in J. D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”
  • The Use of Isolation and Alienation to Idealize Innocence in Holden’s World in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Search for Company and Failure of Holden in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Effects of Past Experiences in the Mental Health and Relationships of Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye”
  • Transition to Adulthood in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Themes of Maturity and Preserving Innocence in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Tragedy of Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Struggles of Holden Caulfied in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • Universal Confusion and Evil in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” and J. D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”
  • An Analysis of the Sexuality in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Thoughts and Feelings of a Teenager in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain and in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • Unreachable Dreams as an Important Theme in Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”
  • The Use of Symbols to Demonstrate Holden’s Fear of Maturity and the Adult World in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Use of Rhetorical Choices in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Theme of Protecting Innocence in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • A Theme of Road Rage in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Theme of Individual and Society in “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck and “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Role of Dialogue in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Depression of Holden Caulfield Caused by Loneliness in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Theme of Maturity in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • An Analysis of How Men Lose Their Innocence as They Age in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Common Themes of Suffering and Adjustment in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Life Struggles of Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Importance of Companionship in Humanity in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Theme of Falsification in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Themes of Maturation and the Problems a Teenager Goes Through in Maturing in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • An Analysis of Angst in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Innocence of Childhood in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • An Analysis of the Human Condition in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • An Overview of the Complexity of Holden Character in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Meaning of the Red Hunting Hat in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Value of Innocence in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Hatred of Holden Caulfield for Phonies in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • Use of Symbolism in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • Compare and Contrast the Literary Device Used in “Death of a Salesman” and “The Catcher in the Rye”
  • A Look at the Psychological Problems of Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • A Moment of Revelation in J. D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”
  • A Theme of Stigmatization and Hypocrisy in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Life and Challenges of Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Loneliness of the World in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Visions in Life of Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • The Portrayal of Teenage Angst in the Character of Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger
  • How Does Clinical Depression Affect the Main Character of “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • What About Holden’s Relationships With Teachers and Classmates Helps Us to Understand More About His Character in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • How Does Holden Caulfield See Himself as the Catcher in the Rye?
  • Why Does Holden From “The Catcher in the Rye” Love the Museum of Natural History?
  • Which of Holden’s Efforts Paid Off in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • How Does Holden Caulfield Subconcioulsy Protect the Innocence of Childhood in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Is Holden Honest Enough With Himself in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • How Does Holden Deal With Death in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Is Holden a Sociopath in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • What Does the Novel “The Catcher in the Rye” Tell About Human Nature?
  • How Does New York City Represent Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Why Does Holden Caulfield Always Lie in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • How Does Holden Deal With Grief in Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Is “The Catcher in the Rye” a Classic Story?
  • Can Clinical Depression Be Related to Holden in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • What Are Symbols Meaning and Significance in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • How Does Holden Caulfield Deal With Alcohol, Sex, and Violence in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger?
  • How Does Holden Build Relationships With People in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Does Mr. Antolini in “The Catcher in the Rye” Give Good Advice for Modern Teenagers?
  • How Are Themes of Alienation and Loneliness Presented in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Is Holden an Insane Person in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Can Holden Be Considered a Tragic Hero in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • How Is Alcoholism Represented in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Is the Novel “The Catcher in the Rye” Based on One Literary Element?
  • Do All of Holden’s Problems in “The Catcher in the Rye” Come From Him Being a Spoiled Child?
  • What Does “The Catcher in the Rye” Teach the Reader?
  • Can Holden Be Considered as an Anti-Hero in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Can Holden Be Considered a Static or Dynamic Character in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
  • Is “The Catcher in the Rye” a Novel About Social Protest?
  • What Is the Significance of the Red Hunter’s Hat That Holden Wears in “The Catcher in the Rye”?
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Bibliography

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Themes and Analysis

The catcher in the rye, by jerome david salinger.

From youth to isolation and mortality, there are a myriad of themes in J.D. Salinger’s only novel, 'The Catcher in the Rye.'

Emma Baldwin

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

From youth to isolation and mortality, there are a myriad of themes in J.D. Salinger’s only novel, The Catcher in the Rye . These themes touch on the most important parts of the protagonist,   Holden Caulfield ’s personality and tortured mental state. It is a desire for youth, fear of aging, appreciation for death, habitual isolation, and desire for a company that bog down the young man’s mind and help make The Catcher in the Rye the much-loved novel that it is today .  

The Catcher in the Rye Themes and Analysis 1

The Catcher in the Rye Themes

Throughout the novel, the reader is given examples of Holden’s preference for children over adults and youth over aging . He has a persistent fear of growing old and finds all the adults in his life to be fake and annoying. This can be seen through his interactions with the teachers and the way he shrugs off and even grows angry at their advice.

Additionally, Holden’s behavior should be read as a consistent rejection of maturity and the process of aging. He consistently gets kicked out of school and when he’s annoyed he gets angry and rejects other people. Or, most obviously, there is his desire to run away from his life, a solution that solves no problems.  

Isolation  

Holden feels as though it’s impossible for him to find someone he relates to, aside from Jane who he met years before the novel started. Everyone around him is shallow, irritating, and distasteful. This is in part due to the consistent circle of similar peers he ends up in. Despite the different schools, he’s been to, they’ve all been for the upper class, rich kids. These kids act in a particular way and take advantage of their privilege.  

Mortality  

Death is a topic that’s always on Holden’s mind. It is a consent part of his life, from when his younger brother died of leukemia before the novel began. There was also a past memory of a suicide he witnessed at one of his schools. A young boy, cornered in a room by bullies, jumped out the window rather than be attacked. Holden doesn’t fear death, at least when he sees it through the eyes of this student. He admits to respecting this boy’s choice. A reader should also consider the time period in which the novel is meant to take place, the 1950s, post-WWII. Death was something ever-present and on everyone’s mind.  

Analysis of Key Moments in The Catcher in the Rye  

  • Holden is kicked out of Pencey Prep  
  • He confronts Ward about his date with Jane. They later get into a fight.  
  • Holden storms out of school and takes the train to Manhattan.  
  • He encounters the mother of one of his school mates on the train.  
  • Holden tries to find someone to have sex with and fails.  
  • Eventually, Holden goes to a jazz club and sees one of his older brother’s ex-girlfriend
  • The elevator operator sends a prostitute to Holden’s room, it doesn’t end well.  
  • Holden imagines committing suicide
  • He makes a date with Sally Hayes, they go to the movies and ice skating. Holden gets annoyed and leaves  
  • After getting drunk, he annoys another acquaintance, Carl Luce.  
  • He sneaks into his own house to talk to his sister, Phoebe.  
  • With nowhere to sleep, he goes to Mr. Antolini’s house but leaves after feeling uncomfortable.  
  • Holden decides to run away and meets phoebe for what he thinks is the last time.  
  • He takes her to the zoo and pays for her to ride the carousel. He cries.  
  • The novel ends with Holden narrating his present. He wishes he’d never told his story.  

Style, Literary Devices, and Tone in The Catcher in the Rye

Salinger makes use of several literary devices in The Catcher in the Rye. These include slang, narrative point of view, and symbolism. The first, slang, is a prominent feature of Salinger’s writing in this novel. As well as one of the main reasons the novel was rejected by critics when it was first published. Holden uses words like “flitty” to refer to gay men, frequently curses, and uses colloquialisms such as “pretty as hell” . These words stand in stark contrast to the “phony” adult world Holden is so opposed to.  

Salinger provides the reader with Holden’s first-person perspective in the novel. In a sarcastic and judgmental tone, he tells his own story, looking back on the past. This means, considering holden’s state of mind at the time and in the present as he’s speaking, that he’s an unreliable narrator. A reader shouldn’t trust that everything Holden says is the truth or is a fulsome depiction of events or people. There is also a stream of consciousness elements in the novel. His words and thoughts run together, one after another as if there is no pause between him thinking something and saying it.  

Symbols in The Catcher in the Rye  

Allie’s baseball glove  .

Tied intimately to the themes of youth and mortality, the baseball glove symbolizes the love he has for his younger brother and the anger he felt at his death. There is a distressing scene in the novel in which Holden’s roommate, Ward, speaks dismissively about a composition Holden wrote in regard to the glove. The glove is covered in poetry handwritten in green ink. These words are Holden’s way of making sense of the world and calming himself in times of terrible stress and anger.  

The Ducks in Central Park  

Holden repetitively asks cab drivers in New York City about the ducks in central park. They are a temporary feature of the park as they will, when the water freeze, fly away. He worries about where the animals settle when they’re not there. They symbolize his anxiety, fear of change and the passage of time. They can also be connected to Holden’s larger desire to leave his world behind. The ducks do so regularly and he can’t seem to escape at all.  

The Red Hunting Hat  

One of the many moments of bright color in the novel, the hat symbolizes the most confident parts of Holden’s personality. He wears it to feel good and he likes the way he looks in it. It is at its most important at the end of the novel when he gives it to his sister, Phoebe before she goes to ride the carousel. Holden cries at the sight of her experiencing joy and wearing his hat.  

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Emma Baldwin

About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

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J.D. Salinger Portrait

J.D. Salinger

J.D. Salinger was a pioneer of the American short story. He is remembered today as the author of The Catcher and the Rye , as well as Fanny and Zoey , and numerous other stories about the troubled Glass family.

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