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Summary: The Catcher in the Rye
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is supposed to describe the universal teenager and reveal all the problems a teenager faces. However, the book fails miserably. Holden is not a typical teenager, but rather a deluded child. The central images of death, sex, and innocence do not combine well. Salinger attempted to write a novel giving insight to every teenager's life, but all he does is focus on the phoniness of society, and the breakdown of Holden Caufield. Holden Caufield is portrayed as a typical teenage male, obsessed with death and sex. He wants to devote his life to protecting the innocent, yet he is far from being pure. Holden's younger brother died two years ago, but Holden still talks to him. Holden remembers anything that has to deal with death or sickness because he fears death. Salinger saturates the book with references to Holden's fixation on death. Holden is also haunted by his sexuality. He describes himself as a sex maniac, but he can not bring himself to actually use a prostitute. Salinger again gives the reader detail after detail proving how much Holden thinks about sex, but he never quite gets there. Holden does not like "phony" people or "phony" things, but Holden is the phoniest person in the book. Holden acts like he is the best person to stand on the cliff and catch the children playing in the rye, but he is not innocent. Holden, as the narrator, gives a skewed view of society that is not very accurate. Phoebe should have been the narrator of the story because she has control of her feelings and she thinks things through. Also, she represents the innocence Holden is trying to protected. She can be influenced, like any normal human being, but she gives a more accurate view of society than Holden. Phoebe is the person who keeps Holden in check because she has not been corrupted. Salinger's style makes this book easy to read, but the constant cussing makes the book a struggle. Also, Salinger uses the same phrase, "that kills me", in so many different ways it is sometimes difficult to catch the meaning. Salinger is not realistic in describing his characters. Phoebe and Allie are too perfect. They are portrayed that way because of the way Holden sees them, but Holden is disillusioned. Holden himself is not an accurate portrayal of a teenager. I sympathize with Holden because he is so confused, but I do not agree with Salinger's description on the "normal" teenager. Overall, I think The Catcher in the Rye was a well-written novel with lots of symbolism to connect its major themes, but the themes did not mesh and the book was not realistic, so I did not like it.
Rating: 
Summary: Everyone should read it
Review: I can't say too much about this book that hasn't already been said....I will say that if you haven't read it, you should drop everything and order it right now off of Amazon.com! Well anyways, the thing that sticks with me from "Catcher in the Rye" is how Caulfield strives not to be a phony.
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Summary: The Meaning of Life
Review: Throughout this book, Holden is not just searching for the meaning of life, but more specifically the meaning of his life. After nearly forty hours of bars, prostitutes and trashy hotels, he finds it. Happiness. Plain and simple, right? Unfortunately no. This spawns another question. What makes you happy? For Holden, it was watching his sister Phoebe ride the carousel in the park. It did take him, however, aout seventeen years to discover that. Even worse, there are people out there much older than that that still aren't sure what makes them happy. That's why through Holden's example, the importance of finding yourself and finding what makes you happy is so important. Because of his innate knowledge of life Holden seems to teach life lessons throughout his journey through New York.
Rating: 
Summary: Is my book edited?
Review: ( )Okay, I am now stating that I am not any kind of English buff or literary critic of any kind. I am a high school student and read The Catcher for an English assignment. I have to say that I really enjoyed the novel. I actually read the book "cover to cover". I bore through Arms of the Man and Scarlet Letter. Note: ( ), I really enjoyed The Great Gatsby (There are some brownie points). The Catcher provided a style that was realistic and complex. Many find this difficult that Holden comments on several situations at the same moment, but when you think about it, that is exactly the way that humans function. Come on, you can not tell me that when you were talking to someone and never find yourself thinking about that time when... ANYWAY, The style and the graphic dialogue create a dislike for the Catcher. When people found out that I chose the Catcher, they would say all this stuff about the language and how bad it was and how they could only get through the first page. After talking to all these people I could have sworn I had the edited version. The abrupt language provided a break from the classic style and made the novel realistic. Have you ever seen Good Will Hunting? Any they are complaining about the Catcher? I will say that on the way through the novel that I skipped over the symbolism/ extended metaphors and did not find any, but going back over the symbolism is very coherent. So you can find them, look for the comparison of ducks on the frozen pond to Holden's personality frozen to the world and the Catcher in the Rye saving the child from the cliff of adulthood. (Just a little help. These are not found in Cliff Notes.) I love Holden's character. Holden is a gentleman at heart and does not present himself as anything he is not. He provides an interlude from the society of "phonies". To Holden, phonies are everywhere. A phony is anyone who presents a different personality according to the audience whom they are presented with. Being a phony is typically an adult trait. Please do not get bitter on me, but let me explain. It is typically an adult trait, because the child idealism does not include the need to impress people. Holden engulfs himself in the ideal of innocence mostly found in children especially Holden's younger siblings and Jane whom he places on an angelic pedestal. Holden explains that such innocence can be discovered in adults through his example of the drummer. Holden admires the drummer, because the drummer's job consists of a few miniscule notes and the drummer never bores and plays every performance with pride. Holden finds honor in the drummer. Holden provides an extraordinary character and a change in pace from the American literature found on the English department bookshelf. I fell in love with Holden and by the end I felt like I really knew him. By the end, I felt sorry for him and all I wanted to do was to give Holden the gift of a really good friend and a fake ID. If you enjoy more psychological kind of novels and preferably on the younger side, because of the subject matter (and plus if our parents knew how we think then what would we do then?) then The Catcher in the Rye is a good bet. If you like the action packed thrills then save your money. ( )Nuff said.
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Summary: A Very Controversial Novel
Review: After reading very serious novels in 8th grade such as The Crucible, We the Living, Anthem, and others, I decided to take a break and read something that I had preconceived to be easy reading. I immediately delved into The Catcher in the Rye the day summer vacation started and read all through the night without even noticing the time pass by. It was the most accurate observation on teenage behavior I've ever known. Despite the fact that Holden Caulfield is a symbol for many teenagers, he has his own unique sense of authenticity and shattered perspective of his surroundings. In the course of merely a few days, the transitory moods and emotions that shape adolescence are ever present in the universal protagonist who is the hero of many young adults. I enjoyed this book so much because it stimulated so much controversy that it was banned in the 1960s. Teenagers such as myself are very curious and want to know and understand why and how a book can be so controversial. I wanted to know what was in "Pandora's box," so I read it and I encourage any teenager who seeks understanding from others to read this. The power and depth of this novel is truly amazing.
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Summary: Moving and easy to relate to...
Review: I first read this book when I was fairly young, during my pre-teens. I really didn't get it, but now, I understand. I could now understand how he feels and the J.D. Salinger did such an outstanding job and impressed me so much, this is the only book I really consider a teen classic.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Classic
Review: The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, took place in the 1940's (though it's story could have taken place today, or at any other time, for that matter) in New York City. The main character is Holden Caulfield, the narrator and a bad student. Holden is quite intelligent but lets his talents go to waste by not doing school work or anything else he felt like. He is awfully stubbborn, and brutally honest, and I didn't really like his characteristics very much, even though they were very much like how real people act. The book was odd because there seemed to be little plot. The story starts when Holden Caulfield gets expelled from his exclusive--and expensive--school. The rest of the book tells of Holden and his excitement through New York over a period of several days with almost no plot. Pretty boring, right? Not neccessarily. The book was not about plot, it was about exploring characters, especially Holden. But there were a mob of others. Most characters were just in for a few pages, and then were gone. Those types of characters include: Mr. Spencer, a teacher; Ackley and Stradlater, annoying roommates; Jane, his crush; Mrs. Morrow, the mother of someone he knew; three ugly girls Holden danced with; Sunny, a prostitude; two Catholic nuns; and numerous others. But Holden was still the majot character. I really didn't like him that well. I liked most of the other characters, though, especially Phoebe, his clever sister. One reason I didn't like him was his reinforcing everything he said. Also, cursing in a book is an okay thing, but this book goes to some extremes. Don't refuse to buy it on account of that, because it's still a good book, just Holden's cussing can be a distraction. And even though I didn't like Holden's personality as a character, he was the best person to narrate the book. The book was very good with a lot of hidden meaning. I really hope that a lot of people can read this classic, but it's not one of the best classics out there.
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Summary: Universal Tale
Review: I've read The Catcher in the Rye many times--when I was 11, 13, 15, and 17 years old. Seriously. I loved it from the first time I read it, but it didn't hit home until I was a junior and senior in high school. I AM HOLDEN CAULFIELD. Well, not literally and exactly. But almost. Holden is an extraordinary character. His absolute terror of leaving the wonderful, innocent, carefree world of youth is something everyone can relate to. I'm about to graduate from high school, and even though I'm excited to be a free, independent adult, I can't help but be terrified of the corruption and hard reality that lays ahead, which I have been blind to, as a young person. I mean--who wouldn't miss being a kid?--living at home for free, not having to do anything or be responsible for yourself or anyone. Holden embodies this. To me, that's what I related to most from the book. Most kids I know don't like the book cuz they're forced to read it for class, which is understandable. I wish they could see the beauty, and heartbreaking universality of Holden's story, though. It is something J.D. Salinger had the talent to grasp, and share it with the rest of the world. And it's so freakin' inspirational I have to go on Amazon.com and tell some people!
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Summary: Superlatives are inadequate
Review: This story of a wild youth who gets thrown out of boarding school and goes to New York City is one of America's most popular storys. I have a hard time reviewing novels which mean this much to me, but I will try my best. Instead of focusing on the plot like everyone else i will try to place this novel in a broader context. The name Holden Caufield has entered America's collective lexion, representing "rebellious youth." Despite the fact that this novel was released in the 1950s, it is still a top seller today, appearing near the bottom of the top 50 charts from time to time, usually in the summers when the students buy their books. When Kevin Smith named Ben affleck's character in Chasing Amy "Holden," everyone in the country knew exactly when he had in mind. This novel is so important that it is truly a shame that Salinger does not continue to publish. Perhaps someday we will be able to get a peak at the notebooks he fills with words daily at his house in rural New England. But we might not. CATCHER IN THE RYE is one of the great American novels of the 20th century. It deserves to be mentioned alongside INVISIBLE MAN and THE GREAT GATSBY and THE GRAPES OF WRATH. Catcher in the Rye is the only novel I have been assigned in grammar school, high school, and college. I have taken something new from it every time. What else can you ask for? Its insight into human nature, plain and simple.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid
Review: An absolutely wonderful work of art. I cannot express how great this book is. Never have we been so close to deciphering the complexities that encompass puberty. 5 STARS A+
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