>I thought there were some positive > drives in the novel as well, for instance the end and the narrating of the > story itself. I think that's a really nice way of putting it - I think the indefinable hope we all get out of TCIR has a lot to do with the fact that Holden himself is taking the time to tell us his story. Perhaps it's catharsis; I don't know. But whether a story is sordid or happy, there's something special about being gathered around the campfire to be relegated with it. Camille verona_beach@geocities.com @ THE ARTS HOLE www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/6442