The Catcher in the Rye

So I've been on a "classic book" kick, deciding that with all of the reading I do, I should try to work in more well-known literary novels. The ones I should have been reading in HS or college. Catcher in the Rye was on my list this month.

Interesting book...although not my favorite of all the "classics" I've read, it definitely left an impression. Amazing descriptives and it really puts you in the mindset of Holden Caulfield. And you might be shocked at what you feel/think about. It's easy to slip into this character and get lost in how he is feeling and who he is and what he's dealing with. A close look at a hard life. For those merits alone it's worthy of a Pulitzer in my opinion. (Although it notoriously did not win one.)

It's an easy read, nothing to be intimidated by, and it's short at only 250 pages. What do you have to lose? I'd recommend it.

I disliked this book when I read it, I was uncomfortable being in Holden's mind and it was a place I knew I never wanted to visit again, once was more than enough. I read it when I was in my teens and kept expecting the good stuff to show up, to justify or explain the popularity of the book, but it never did. I have no idea why so many think this is such a classic, I found it depressing, tedious and boring. I had zero sympathy for Holden, and while I never wished him ill, I thought his problems were all of his own making, he did not need any outside help to contribute to his angst, it was always there if its own accord. Reading the book felt like walking down a filthy street in a slum with overflowing garbage cans and the fug that goes with it and no salavation in sight and I was SO glad when it ended! However, as they say, "chacun a son gout" so I will leave the words of the miserable teen to others who have a bigger tolerance and appreciation for that sort of thing.

This book was reveals some very interesting, sometimes revolting, and in-depth character development. The book starts off explaining Holden Callufields' life and why he's in his current predicament. The rest of the book explains the next 3-4 days and what goes on between them. A whole range of emotions is presented in these days and reveals the confusion of his immature teen self. He goes through prostitues, tons of ciggaretes, and has a depressing adventure through New York.

One reason I like this book is because the way things are always happening. Holden is a character that supports this aspect of the book and is almost always on the move. I also liked how Holden is not perfect like in many books. This book shows you the darkside of life and the dangers of pyschological depression. It really makes you feel bad for Holden and wish the others in the book can help him in the right way, when there isn't a good way to help him in entirety.

Holden really does feel real when I find myself thinking about him. He makes realistic decisions and you find yourself hoping for him to do something and he does it. When he doesn't do something you want him to do it just makes you even more exicted to see what he will do next.

I just don't get it. This was one of the most boring reads ever. I had to force myself to finish the book, short as it is. When I was 16 or 17, I knew who I was and what I wanted from life. I can find no basis for identifying with any of Holden's psychotic mental rantings. If you find yourself groundless and life to be a bewildering chaos, then maybe you can find some connection with this character, but I, for one, find Holden to be a narcissistic whiner, and I find this "classic" to be a complete disappointment. Oh, and for the reviewers who carry on about the symbolism: ok, it's there, but I think the "deep" symbolism that you gush over is trivial. But then, I'm a little jaded because one of my best friends wrote a novel that made the NYT Best Seller list; he says he did not purposely put ANY symbolism whatsoever into his story, but found that he later had to invent some in order to massage the egos of reviewers and readers who just KNEW that it was rife with multiple layers of symbolism. Wait a minute...maybe Sallinger did have a valid point, after all, with his treatment of society's phoniness. The bottom line for me: this book receives a ton of positive press, and I would love to have liked it, but the honest truth is I hated it.

i must have forgotten to read some part of this book -- what makes it a classic? it's a first hand account of a high school drop out who has too much money in his pocket and too much time on his hands. with all its sex and foul language, teenage boys will certainly find this book fascinating. but if you want a "coming of age" book, read anne frank's diary (or mad magazine) instead.