Sunday, April 28, 2013

166 Quiz Answer



The answer to this week’s quiz is The Catcher in the Rye, a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger.  Originally published for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage angst and alienation.

(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "P" is for "Paul")

Here’s this week’s Berownial quiz question.

It’s about a book that had a total sale of more than 65 million copies; over a quarter of a million copies are still sold each year.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is: name the book.

My friend Paul recently told me about a dream he had, a dream that seemed to me to be pure surrealism.

In his dream, he explained, he could see quite clearly that there was before him a field of rye grain, a field that was almost covered with a huge group of children, playing and having fun.  They were of different ages and sizes; nothing special about any of them, they were just a lot of kids.

But somehow, and he didn't know how, Paul believed he had been put in charge of them, like a lifeguard at a beach.

It seems they were in danger, or at least the possibility of danger existed for them.  And he was the one who was supposed to save them.

As I say, it was a very strange dream.  He went on to add that at that time he knew (and maybe cared) little about children.  He rarely thought about them.  But the situation made him, still in that dream, nervous and anxious.  He felt he was acting like a penitent, being punished for some imaginary sin.  He was resistant to the idea because saving them would be a huge responsibility.

As the dream progressed, he learned what the danger was.

It seems that the field they were playing on was next to a steep cliff.  It was obvious that while they were cavorting about they might possibly fall over the cliff.

And the dream made clear that he, Paul, was supposed to catch them!

It was evidently a really scary experience for him.

Then suddenly it occurred to me that he had been influenced by a book that was quite famous some time back.  And perhaps now you can pay tribute to the book by giving us its name?

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings) 

43 comments:

kaykuala said...

Harry Potter by any chance?

Hank

Roger Owen Green said...

Know what's embarrassing? I've never read Catcher in the Rye, only about it and how it influenced this one or that. I probably should...

Altonian said...

This, surely, can only be Salinger's 'The catcher in the rye'.

Berowne said...

As you might expect, both Altonian and Roger Owen Green have come up with the right answer.

Old Egg said...

This could well be "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger.

Berowne said...

oldegg has just joined the ones who know the correct answer.

Tess Kincaid said...

The Cather in the Rye...

Jae Rose said...

Are we talking 'the' book - The Bible?

kaykuala said...

Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code then!

Hank

Frances Garrood said...

Lord of the Flies...?

Berowne said...

Things are really rolling now because Tess Kincaid - herself - just submitted the right answer.

Kathe W. said...

the Hobbit?

naturgesetz said...

Someone in a field of rye who must catch: could it possibly be The Catcher in the Rye?

George S Batty said...

I'm going to try "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

Berowne said...

Glad to have naturgesetz back with us, while submitting another right answer.

Kathe W. said...

Lord of the Rings? Wizard of Oz?

Charleen said...

I don't know the name of the book, but I will tell you that dreams can leave you puzzling!

Belva Rae Staples said...

It's either Catcher in the Rye or Where the Red Fern Grows. I'm leaning toward the first. Am I right?

Unknown said...

The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger

Kathe W. said...

okay okay...Catcher in the Rye! Geez that took me awhile!

Unknown said...

Catcher in the rye?

Berowne said...

Quite a lineup of winners to start off the day. The following folks all coughed up the right answer: Belva Rae Staples, Rene Foran, Kathe W and Frankie Jay.

Lyn said...

So that's what he was catching..."The Catcher in the Rye"? Salenger..the Big Kahoona!

Berowne said...

I'm pleased to report that Lyn has just signed in with the correct answer.

ninotaziz said...

Berowne, your choice of words give away the title right? Catcher In The Rye?

Berowne said...

ninotaziz is the latest to provide us with the right answer. Who's next?

Silent Otto said...

Platos Republic

jabblog said...

I'm no good at riddles or quizzes but I do know dreams can seem remarkably real and often very disturbing. My first thought was the Bible, but now I realise that was wrong.

Leslie: said...

I'm thinking the Bible.

Hildred said...

"Catcher in the Rye"

Kate said...

Catcher in the Rye and Holden Caulfield. Kate, ABC Team

Berowne said...

Kate and Hildred are two more who've provided us with the correct answer.

Intelliblog said...

Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye"

21 Wits said...

Could it be Left Behind?

Berowne said...

Nicholas V has just submitted another right answer.

Anonymous said...

Catcher in the Rye. Wish I'd seen this earlier. This was too easy, Berowne! But fun. Amy

Berowne said...

The right answer has just arrived from Sharp Little Pencil.

21 Wits said...

Pilgrim's Progress!

Sheilagh Lee said...

no idea

rallentanda said...

Something by Tennesee Williams.

Shady Gardener said...

I see my answer would have been wrong! I've not read Catcher in the Rye... Should I, if given to dreams?? :-)

The Blog of Bee said...

Oh I missed it this week! Thursday already! Jeez!

Roger Owen Green said...

I think the Bible is an interesting answer. While I've read it a few times, I'm not a scholar and I wouldn't be surprised if a similar story showed up.

 
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