Rating: 
Summary: Am I missing something?
Review: This was one of the worst books I have ever read! I thought that I was missing out on not reading the "classics" while I was in high school....so, I decided to work my way through them now that I'm in my 30's. If this book is an example of what I will be getting into, I'll stop now. The Holden charactor rambled on and on about things, jumping from one subject to another and mainly focusing on his self absorbed thoughts of life and people. I felt nothing but distaste for him because he was such a whiner that wanted to blame everyone else for his laziness. At the end of the book all I wanted to do was say "WAAAAAAAA!". How in the world do these books get a classification of being a "classic"????
Rating: 
Summary: Non-convenional Classic
Review: Upon reading the first page or two of The Catcher in the Rye, I was certain that this was not my kind of book. However, I had always heard how excellent it was and I knew that I had to finish it. This novel is truly a classical piece of American literature. Although this book is most definately your typical classic with heroes and victims and morals that leap off the page, Salinger's novel is real. Holden Caufield is an unusual narrator. He is honest, which is refreshing as he notes the superficial world surrounding him. This honesty alienates Holden from society, for he will not conform to the typical schoolboy personality of those that he has lived with all of his formal education. He becomes a watcher and analyzes the many people he encounters. In due course, he confirms the human being as a indecisive creature that thrives on interaction. Regardless of ho hard Holden tries to separate himself from his clueless, high society parents, Phoebe, his sister, and the kind intentions of others affect him. Through his many experiences prior to his sixteenth Christmas, Holden reaches some realizations, but eventually he has concluded that life cannot be planned. Also when we bear our souls and secrets to someone, in the absence of their company, we find ourselves very lonely and regretful. Some may find the language inappropriate for a novel, but it is only reality that is found on the pages. This book has remained on banned book lists for so long because people are afraid of the truth, and many can find the confusion or cynicism that Holden possesses in themselves. I simply ask that you look past the front and find the great symbolism throughout the novel. There is a piece, however small, of Holden in each of us and we cann all learn from his frankness.
Rating:
Summary: worst book ever
Review: I've read a lot of books. And I can say without doubt that this is the worst book I have ever read. Yes, you probably disagree with me. You'll say, "Well, it's a classic book!" The only reason you think it's a classic is because you've been TOLD it's a classic. But hear me out. Here are some reasons this is the WORST BOOK EVER: 1) BAD writing. My english teacher told the class that when we are writing anything, the opening sentence has to grab the reader's attention. Read the first page. It doesn't make me want to keep reading at all. 2) No plot. This book just keeps going and going. It's just Holden rambling on and on. It doesn't make any sense. When he is talking to Mr. Spencer, he is thinking about ducks. No, that's not a typo. He's thinking about DUCKS. Maybe there's some deep symbolic meaning in that. That gets me to my 3rd reason. 3) TOO MUCH SYMBOLISM, NOT ENOUGH INTERESTING STUFF: the problem is, too many writers focus on deep meanings and symbolism and themes instead of having an interesting, fun to read book. Personally, when I read a book (such as my favorite, The Wild Road, by Gabriel King) I read it because it is interesting, and it's a page-turner. I can't put it down. This book is the exact opposite. 4) A lot of profanity, not enough INTERESTING STUFF: yes, there is quite a bit of profanity in this book. And a lot of fighting. I just skip the fight scenes altogether, skip Holden's conversations about ducks, all that filler. Cut all that stuff out and you'll only have about 10 pages of reading material. I'm not exaggerating. Anyway, that's about it. I'm sure I'll think of something else later. If you have to read this for your english class.. well.. I feel sorry for you.
Rating: 
Summary: HOLDEN'S MISCOMMUCATION AND COMMUNCATION
Review: TELL ME MORE ABOUT HOLDEN MISCOMMUNCATION AND COMMUNCATION.
Rating: 
Summary: The Catcher in the Rye
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is about a 17-year-old boy named Holden Caulfield growing up in the 1940s. He has just been kicked out of Pency Prep School, and leaves shortly before Christmas break is scheduled to begin. He doesn't want his parents to know that he was kicked out, so he gets a brilliant plan to spend a couple days in New York City before heading home. In this short period of time, Holden has many adventures. One that sticks out the most to me is his night at the Lavender Room. He meets three girls visiting town from Washington. One in particular really enjoys dancing, and Holden dances with her for several songs. Another memorable moment is when Holden goes home in the middle of the night to see his sister Phoebe. She is one of the few people he truly loves. One major theme in this book is death. There is some reference to it in every chapter. Several times Holden mentions suicide. This leads you to believe he isn't exactly normal and that he will end up in the position that he explains at the end of the book. Many people ask him if he is going to apply himself when he goes back to school. He tells them he doesn't know and there is no way he would know until he actually goes back. He has a very good philosophy when he tries to explain it. This is a very good book for teenagers to read if they are trying to discover their true selves in the real world.
Rating:
Summary: Open-minded Teenagers Will Like It
Review: Are you a high school student who isn't in the "cool" group? Are you constantly ridiculed and/or picked on? Or are you just cynical and mad at the world? If you are any or all of these things, this is the book for you. It is your bible. Holden Caulfield IS you. Sorta. And he IS me. Sorta. We can relate. That is what makes the book so good, it is realistic and believable. It could happen to anyone. In fact, it happens, more or less, to hundreds, maybe thousands, of teenagers every year. Out of all the characters in popular literature, Holden is probably the most "real" to his readers, with the possible exception of Sherlock Holmes. I know people who thought this was a true story and wondered why the author's name didn't match Holden's. All this is not to say that only teenagers will like the book. They are more likely to like it, but anyone could like it. It is a realistic description of the world. Many of the things said in the book about human nature are so dead-on accurate that is it damn near scary. SPOLER ALERT. The sad ending, where Holden ends up in a mental ward is depressing. One can only wonder what would've happen if he had gotten his cabin in the woods like he wanted...
Rating:
Summary: A Classic, But Somwhat Distracting
Review: Somehow I escaped reading Catcher in the Rye in High School. I am not sure if it was because of the Holden Caufield in me, or if it was never part of the curriculum. Anyhow, in the interested of expanding my frame of reference and shared experiences, I ordered a copy. I found it very difficult to read, as I was put off by the language in the book. No doubt the story is a classic, but I found it somewhat distracting to read.
Rating:
Summary: The Quintessential Novel Of Growing Up
Review: Salinger's only novel, "Catcher in the Rye", is a rambling monologue by 17-year-old Holden Caufield. He has run away from boarding school before Christmas, and is spending a few days drifting in New York City while he decides whether to go home or not. He feels that his childhood is over and his innocence lost, but he detests the phoney, loveless grown-up world (symbolised by plastic Christmas baubles and seasonal fake goodwill). He thinks that to be adult is a form of surrender, but he can see no way to avoid it. He wanders the city, talking aimlessly to taxi drivers, lodging house keepers, bar tenders, prostitutes and his sister Phoebe, whom he tries to warn against growing up. Finally, inevitably, he capitulates-or perhaps escapes, since we learn that we have just read his "confession" to the psychiatrist in a mental home. Salinger in this novel pursued the question of how to recover moral innocence, in which he done remarkably well. A book to read again and again...
Rating:
Summary: MOST ENJOYABLE BOOK EVER WRITTEN!
Review: From all the books I've read, this may be the one that allowed me to experience a wide range of feelings...from joy and fun to sadness and anger. The book presents Holden Cualfield, who is a character who constantly feels discontent towards society...I must confess...that by moments, I felt identified with him and his feelings (which is something you'll hear from anyone who has read it). Anyway, the book is one of the most enjoyable books ever written. With a great simplicity, Salinger expressed the most dark inner feelings people have. However, it is not a book to read for an analysis, just sit, relax, read it and have fun. This is a classic!
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Summary: My Review
Review: The Catcher In The Rye was a very entertaining yet desturbing book. The story opens up as a boy telling a story in first person point of view. About how he ended up in a California rest home after sufering a mental breakdown. He goes about telling the reader about him self and the problems he encountered in boarding school. Holden Caulfield is a 17 year old high school who got kicked out of his boarding school for not aplying him self. Holden failed all his subjects except for english. Holden goes on to decribe his rommate Ward Stradlater who goes on a double date with Holden. On apon returning from the date Holden and Ward get into a fight over the way Ward was treating his date. Holden then leaves and boards a train for New York City. Holden tells about how he was expecting to only stay in New York for a couple of days but it turns out to be longer than that.Holden wonders around New York finding all kinds of encounters. After wondering around New York Holden calls his student advisor to meet for a drink. While there his advisor calls Holden inmature and Holden gets mad and leaves. He goes home and wakes up his sister and askes her if she could give him her Christmas money to borrow. She gives Holden all he had and promises she wont tell their parents he returned. Holden then goes to his former Engish teachers house and sleeps on his sofa. When he awakes his teacher is patting his head, Holden gets scared and runs away to the train station. He decides to head west, he leaves a note for his sister telling her to meet him when she arrives she comes with her bags to go with him. Holden refused to take her with him so instead he took her to the zoo. Holden then stops telling the story and is not sure if he is going back to school or not. Then the story ends with Holden in the mental institution confused on where his is going or if he is geting out.
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