RE: I ask this in all seriousness....
Becky Spiro Green (becky@HUNTINGTON.ORG)
Thu, 24 Jul 1997 11:03:29 -0700
Sonny's reference to Zozo Glass is the closest I've seen
to any _evidence_ regarding the pronunciation of "Zooey."
Seems to be purely a matter of literary interpretation for
every reader. (I happen to believe, firmly, that it rhymes
with "Joey.")
Eberhard Alsen has speculated that Buddy's full name
is Webb Gallagher Glass. Boo Boo's son Lionel has
an Uncle Webb (the owner of the goggles--the ones
that used to belong to Lionel's Uncle Seymour).
Also fascinating: Zooey's habit of calling everyone
"Buddy." Possible implications:
The second-oldest Glass sibling was given a generic
nickname. Either he's universal, he's Everyman--or he
almost doesn't exist, he's just buddy.
It's part of why Zooey considers himself a freak. He
uses his brother's name almost in vain. Buddy (who
did everything else Seymour ever did, or tries to--why
doesn't he just kill himself and be done with it?) has
had an unjustifiably significant influence on his
youngest brother.
Seymour, Buddy, and Zooey have been brothers for
several incarnations. Maybe Zooey's learned, after all
this time, that everyone really _is_ Buddy.
Becky