Title: Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters & Seymour: AnAuthor: J.D. Salinger
First published January 1, 1955
256 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780316766944 (ISBN10: 0316766941)
Rating: 4.11
Overview
“Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters & Seymour: An” is a gripping tale of the Glass family, narrated by Buddy, the second oldest brother. The story begins with Seymour’s wedding, and the shock that ensues when he fails to show up.
As Buddy accompanies the wedding guests on their journey, he discovers their harsh judgments of Seymour’s character, and he is compelled to set them straight. He finds a mysterious message from their sister Boo Boo for Seymour, quoting a fragment from the Greek poet Sappho.
In the second part of the story, Buddy’s stream of consciousness elegy for Seymour is a journey into the mysticism of Eastern religion. This book is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships.”
About the Author
Jerome David Salinger was a notable American author who gained fame for his novel “The Catcher in the Rye” published in 1951. He was also known for his reclusive nature.
Salinger began writing short stories in his secondary school days while growing up in Manhattan. He published many stories in the early 1940s before serving in World War II.
In 1948, he published a critically acclaimed story called “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” in The New Yorker magazine, which became home to much of his subsequent work.
Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye” was an instant hit and earned him widespread recognition. The book’s depiction of adolescent alienation and the loss of innocence in the protagonist Holden Caulfield was quite influential, particularly among adolescent readers.
Even today, the novel remains widely read and controversial, selling around 250,000 copies annually.
However, success came with public attention and scrutiny, which led Salinger to become reclusive, publishing new work less frequently. He followed with a short story collection, “Nine Stories” (1953), a collection of a novella and a short story, “Franny and Zooey” (1961), and a collection of two novellas, “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An” (1963).
His last published work, a novella entitled “Hapworth 16, 1924”, appeared in The New Yorker magazine on June 19, 1965.
Afterward, Salinger struggled with unwanted attention, including a legal battle in the 1980s with biographer Ian Hamilton, and the release in the late 1990s of memoirs written by two people close to him: Joyce Maynard, an ex-lover, and Margaret Salinger, his daughter. In 1996, a small publisher announced a deal with Salinger to publish “Hapworth 16, 1924” in book form.
But amid the ensuing publicity, the release was indefinitely delayed. He made headlines around the globe in June 2009 after filing a lawsuit against another writer for copyright infringement resulting from the other writer’s use of one of Salinger’s characters.
Jerome David Salinger died of natural causes on January 27, 2010, at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire.
Editoral Review
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters & Seymour: Anby J.D. Salinger was first published in 1955 and is a collection of two novellas. Salinger is known for his cult classic, The Catcher in the Rye, and this book shows his mastery of the coming of age genre.
The novella’s protagonist is Buddy Glass, the eldest of the Glass family, who narrates the stories. The first novella is Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, which takes place on the day of Buddy’s brother Seymour’s wedding.
Seymour doesn’t show up, and Buddy tries to find him while dealing with the chaos of the wedding. The second novella, Seymour: An, is Buddy’s tribute to his enigmatic and brilliant brother, who had taken his own life years earlier.
The novellas explore themes such as mental illness, family dynamics, spirituality, and the search for meaning in life. Salinger’s writing is elegant and deeply emotional, with a finely tuned rhythm that enhances the tension and drama of the stories.
The book offers insights into the human condition, and its relevance hasn’t diminished with time. The themes of mental illness and family dynamics are more relevant than ever, and Salinger’s sensitive exploration of those topics is still timely.
The stories are not action-packed, but the way Salinger portrays his characters and their inner conflicts is gripping. Some readers might find the pace slow, but Salinger’s elegant language and skilled narration keep the reader engaged.
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters & Seymour: Anis a gem of a book that will reward readers who enjoy character-driven stories. It’s a fascinating exploration of family dynamics and the complexities of human relationships that will resonate with many readers.
As an introduction to Salinger’s writing, this book is perfect. It showcases his talent for capturing the nuances of the human experience with sensitivity and grace.
It’s a must-read for anyone who loves literary fiction and wants to delve into the mind of one of the genre’s greats. Overall, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters & Seymour: Anis a masterful work of fiction that deserves to be read and admired.
It’s beautifully written, deeply moving, and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.
