22 May, 2017. 15:34
ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
A Year 10 student at a prestigious South Betoota secondary school has had his world turned upside down after being required to read Catcher in the Rye for English class.
Though he admits it’s the first book he’s read cover-to-cover, Alistair Momms-Boltons said the book’s protagonist Holden Caufield speaks to him on a personal level – that somebody else his age feels the same way he does about the world and all the ‘phoney bullshit’ that comes with being alive.
“I thought I was the only one going through this type of shit,” said the Queens College pupil.
“But after reading Catcher, it became my favourite book because it spoke to me, spoke to me on such a level that I thought nobody could. I’m basically the Holden Caufield of my wide friendship circle. I’m the outsider.”
Alistair’s English teacher has echoed the misunderstood youth’s sentiments, saying that this type of thing happens every year – but young Ali’s period of introspection after reading the book is lasting much longer than usual.
Teacher Brett Conway explained to The Advocate that though the 1951 J.D. Salinger classic is still taught in classrooms around the world for that very reason.
“I didn’t know it affected Mr Momms-Boltons so much,” said Conway.
“He’s even tried talking to me about the unofficial prequel to the book, The Ocean Full of Bowling Balls, which I didn’t even know existed. Apparently, it was leaked onto the internet some years ago, I might have to look it up,”
“But yeah, back to what I was saying. He’s a good kid, but what he’s going through isn’t exactly unique.”
More to come.
