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Franny and Zooey is a book by J. D. Salinger which combined two of the short stories he had previously published respectively. "Franny" and "Zooey" were two works that originally appeared separately in The New Yorker in 1955 and 1957, but then were published together as a book in 1961. The book focuses on siblings Franny and Zooey, the two youngest members of the Glass family.

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Franny's story starts with her on a visit to her boyfriend, Lane Coutell. Lane takes her to lunch room before they were expected to go to a game. Franny quickly becomes exasperated when he only appears interested in discussing his academic frustrations. Franny questions the importance of college education. She begins to feel sick, and she eats nothing but smokes continuously. Eventually she excuses herself to go to the restroom, where she mutters a spell, regains her strength, and returns to the table. Lane questions her on the small book she has been carrying. She explains that the book titled "The Way of a Pilgrim" tells the story of how a Russian wanderer learns the power of "praying without ceasing". Lane is uninterested and remains only interested in the game. Then Franny faints, and he tends to her and postpones the weekend's activities. After she wakes, he goes to call a taxi to take her to her lodging, and leaves Franny alone who practices the act of praying without ceasing.

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"Franny and Zooey" has many skeptics and isn't beloved by all. Salinger has a way of painting the world with a melancholy realism that many authors lack which is part of his appeal. Salinger paints the tone of the story through the intensity and, feverishly realistic characters. In Franny's story, the premise is based on intellectual arguments rather than a romantic tangle. Franny's search for her spirituality develops her into a real character. One that develops throughout the story, giving the reader a chance to develop with her. Salinger has also portrayed a realistic family bust-up. Zooey's intolerant relationship with his mother creates a perplexing relationship that readers can perhaps relate to their own relationships. This book portrays realistic characters, as well as dives into spirituality, ending in a conclusion presented by Zooey that one should live with optimism and love. A positive message to end on. For me, a good story challenges its reader's beliefs and allows them something to think about after the end of the book. "Franny and Zooey" allows readers to ponder their own thoughts on spirituality as well as spend time dissecting and relating to Salinger's characters. For my definition it is a good book.

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Franny presents the reader with two crises she further dissects throughout the story. The first is that she dislikes much of the world around her. She thinks college is an ego-fest that's more about showing off than anything else. She feels that she's missing important things like wisdom and spiritual advancement. The second is she resents that she's so judgmental about college, the people around her, and the acting world. She might have issues, but she blames herself for judging them. Her interest in religious philosophy comes from the education her older brothers gave her at a young, impressionable age, and throughout the story that develops into existential questions about religion. Throughout the story the reader is able to see these crises develop for Franny as well as her need to grow her spirituality. She is a compelling character because she poses problems for the reader that are applicable to the readers lives, and allow them to further question if the issues Franny is facing also apply to them. Her characters keenness to dissect the world around her keep the reader fixated on the story and how her character develops to answer these questions.

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The book “Franny and Zooey” is a novel that is a short story, which is realistic fiction. The genre helps to keep the reader interested. Franny poses many extissential questions surrounding religion. Because the genre is realistic fiction, the reader can apply those questions to their own life. Realistic fiction allows for this book to portray realistic characters, and the book dives into spirituality. It ends on a conclusion presented by Zooey that one should live with optimism and love, and because the characters are relatable the reader is more likely to take that message to heart.

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Zooey reads a four-year-old letter from his brother Buddy in the bath in his family's home. In the letter, Buddy discusses their eldest brother Seymour's suicide several years previously, and encourages Zooey to pursue an acting career if he is drawn to it. Zooey's mother enters the bathroom, and the two have a long discussion surrounding his moms worries about his sister, Franny, who was in a state of emotional collapse and was refusing food. During the conversation, Zooey fights with his mother and asks that she leave. She leaves but before she goes says, he's becoming more and more like his brother Buddy. Zooey gets dressed and goes to the living room, where he finds Franny on the sofa. He questions her motives for reciting the "Jesus Prayer". Zooey retreats into the former bedroom of Seymour and Buddy, and reads the back of their door, covered in philosophical quotations. After contemplating, Zooey telephones Franny, pretending to be Buddy. Franny eventually figured out the ruse, but she and Zooey continue to talk. Zooey shares with her some words of wisdom that Seymour once gave him, suggesting that one should live with optimism and love because, even if nobody else does, Jesus notices. After Zooey hangs up, Franny lies in their parents' bed and smiles at the ceiling.

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Salinger made an intentional choice to have two separate stories connect, but still publish them as two stories. The main character is Franny and the story is set up into two pieces which allow for the reader to further understand the character development of Franny. The reader is able to see Franny through the lens of other people. That gives the reader gives us a whole new perspective on Franny. It gave background information on Franny's life and how her family saw her. She is described as having an “ existential crisis” by her mother, and her brother accuses her of being selfish for studying religion. We are able to further see how she is viewed as Zooey’s story goes on, which Salinger developed through two different lenses. Salinger made an intentional choice that benefited the reader by further developing his most compelling character.

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I love this book. I think it gave me a chance to question what I thought about spirituality and religion. She was so immersed in religion, and that allowed me to take a step back and think about what religion meant to me. I used to be very religious but I've strayed away and I think this book potentially spoke to that old side of me. It definitely made me question what my spiritual values are and I need to further examine that as I move forward in my life. It also allowed me the sanction that I don't have to figure everything out right now because even by the end of the story Franny had still not figured out everything. I liked how the story ended on a pretty good note and there was a conclusion for Franny in that moment that she could keep exploring. It allowed her peace of mind that she was doing the right thing by pursuing her spirituality. I thought that maybe this book spoke more to religious Christians in particular, and perhaps that was the intended audience, but I think it made it hard for this book to be super general. It was about spirituality and specifically focused on Jesus which I could see as having an appeal to a large group of people, but not everyone. Overall I think this story was super interesting and allowed me to ask myself questions about what I believe in which allowed me to grow as a person.