The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 2.2: Holden Shoots the Bull While Thinking About Ducks | Banned Books Podcast

Holden wrote a kind note at the bottom of his failing essay so Mr. Spencer wouldn't feel bad about flunking him. Spencer repaid this kindness by reading it out loud like he'd won a ping-pong match. So Holden did what any smart kid would do: shot the bull, told Spencer exactly what he wanted to hear, while his brain escaped to Central Park wondering where the ducks go when the lagoon freezes over.

Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter—we don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.

Things To Listen For:
- Holden's note trying to make Spencer feel better about flunking him gets read aloud as humiliation
- Jennifer thinks Holden might have ADHD - doing two things at once because his brain needs it
- Dan realizes Holden is "reading the room" and performing to survive the conversation
- The moment Holden puts his hand on Spencer's bare bumpy shoulder to comfort him while desperate to leave
- Spencer yelling "Good luck!" and Holden thinking it sounds terrible when you really think about it

Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? This chapter reveals the real reason: Holden sees through phoniness, questions authority, and teaches readers to spot when structures and performances are fake. That's far more dangerous than any swearing.

If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).

Banworthy to Bingeworthy

- **Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order** - A deep dive into when the US military was deployed on American streets, targeting whole communities for removal, and the burn order issued to cover it all up. A stain on this country we said we'd never repeat.

- **Good News for Lefties** - Beowulf Rochlen brings you the positive news on the progressive front that mainstream media won't cover.

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Featured Clips
This episode includes short clips from Bizzy's "Defying Gravity - BAD Singing Cover." All rights belong to their respective owners and are used here under fair use for the purpose of cultural commentary and education.

Disclaimer
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.

The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.

This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to J.D. Salinger, his estate, or the publishers of The Catcher in the Rye. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.

Topics Covered:
The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Chapter 2, Holden Caulfield, Mr. Spencer, Mrs. Spencer, phoniness, questioning authority, performance and survival, ADHD, mental escape, Bizzy, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast