The Manchurian Candidate: From Fiction to Fact, Part X, with Sean and Hans.

Published in 1959, 'The Manchurian Candidate' is a gripping political thriller that delves into the world of mind control and manipulation. The story revolves around Raymond Shaw, an American soldier captured during the Korean War and brainwashed by his Communist captors to become a sleeper agent. Upon his return to the United States, Shaw is programmed to carry out an assassination plot against the President. The novel follows the efforts of fellow soldier Bennett Marco to uncover the truth behind Shaw's brainwashing and stop the assassination. Condon uses satire and humor to critique the political establishment and highlight the absurdity of Cold War politics, while also exploring themes of family dysfunction and the abuse of power.

The Catcher in the Rye follows Holden Caulfield, a teenager who has been expelled from Pencey Prep, as he spends three days wandering around New York City. The novel explores Holden's disillusionment with the world around him, his feelings of loneliness and disconnection, and his struggle to find genuine relationships. Despite his cynicism and criticism of others as 'phonies,' Holden reveals a deep emotional sensitivity, particularly in his interactions with his younger sister Phoebe. The book delves into themes of adolescent angst, the loss of innocence, and the search for meaning and purpose in a seemingly superficial world.