Rating:  Summary: This is a great . A little depressing at times, but great. Review: I read the Catcher in the Rye, and I thought it was great. I did get the impression that Holden was angry at everything and everyone, but most teens are. He was an incredibly well-written character, and I loooved the book.
Rating:  Summary: ONE OF THE GREATEST! Review: THE LAST TIME I READ THIS BOOK WAS BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BACK THEN I THOUGHT IT WAS BRILLIANT, 13 YEARS LATER, IT IS STILL ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS I EVER READ.
Rating:  Summary: "CATCHER IN THE RYE" is a kind of book that gets you going. Review: "THE CATCHER IN THE RYE" is basically about a kid name Holden Caulfield who is in high school and is having a hard time passing his classes. Holden is a kind of person who can't concentrate on is priorities and he is confused of what he wants to do in his life. I believe that the main reason he feels this way is because he is not over his brother's death. Holden really loved his brother Allie who died. When Allie died Holden got so depressed and angry that he broke all the windows in the house with his fist. Ever since his brother's death he hasn't been the same. He dropped out of four high schools and he also got in small fights with people who were once his friend. Holden had a hard time growing up and one of the reasons for that is because he is very picky, in the book he talks about how much he hates phony people. Basically Holden has suffered a mental disorder when his brother died. I felt that this was kind of a sad book because Holden seems to be very depressed through out the book. If you like reading books that are serious and kind of emotional then I would recommend you to "THE CATCHER IN THE RYE." On a scale of 1 to 10 for 10 being the greatest I would give it a six because overall I thought that it was an ok book.
Rating:  Summary: Perfection Review: ...A shocking portrayal of a dimented child's thought processand views of society...The book may seem a trifle monotonous and evenoffending to the everyday moralist. However, the true reader can look beyond the estranged character of Holden Caufield and grasp a more meaningful theme. Being able to understand the thought procedure and opinions of others is a powerful ability to possess (i.e. Prince Hal in Shakespeare's 1 King Henry IV). We do not need to agree with the anti-social, "phony-hating" character of Holden, we only need to understand his reasoning for such a display of social anxiety. In doing this, you have captured the pathos of the work. If we let our moral values and beliefs stand in the way of appreciating art, we are not capturing the full value of literature. This is a great piece and we must appreciate it for what the author intended the novel to be: A portrayal of an anti-social child.
Rating:  Summary: EXCELLENT! Review: I've read this book three times in the last five months. I can't get enough of it. If there's anyone in the world I can relate to it's the protaganist, Holden Caulfield.
Rating:  Summary: Dangerous Review: Seeing so many "one star" reviews for this book is somewhat disturbing, it certainly seems to say something about Humanity: That generally people have very little understanding of each other. Holden understands the Human race, sees its many flaws, and it is this which drives him into his depression. In other words the people who didn't understand this book are not the Holdens of this world, they are proabbly the "phonies". Those who truly did, I don't mean they could just relate to him, they truly understood him, are in it with Holden: Trying to struggle through the absolute horror of life. I am not just being melodramatic, life isn't a nice business and it is those who "misunderstand" this book which that make it that way. (see also "Misunderstood" my previous review).
Rating:  Summary: Truly thought worthy Review: I don't understand how some can give this book so little credit. Since I was young I knew that "The Catcher in the Rye" was considered an excellent piece of literature, but I didn't know much else about it. For most of my life I thought it was a book on fishing in the country. I read the book for the first time several weeks ago. I chose it for an independent work in my Advanced Placement English class (Yes, high school, teenager, the point of view is different, I understand.). I was hooked (pun, I know) by the first line. Salinger perfectly captures the psyche and manner of not just a teenager, but a human person. To me, the plot was more than fulfilling. Like another reviewer, I also wondered if some crisis was about to enter Holden's path.However, I was greatly relieved that there was not. This allowed for a great study of the mentality of the character in ordinary life. Such a development would have made the story as phony as the Hollywood spew-outs that the book decries.(By the way, to this particular reviewer, "grab a gun and start shooting the phonies"? I'd suggest a good therapist.) This is what I consider writing not worthy of my time. The plot was intensely believable, and brightened by the fact that Salinger describes personalities that we know exist in perfect detail. The reader can indentify with Holden's observations because everyone shares that cynicism on some level. The reader can digest that cynism and use it to create a more accepting view of life. The ending is blessedly simple and provokes a good amount of thought on relationships in life. Holden's conclusion on life is one we can understand, but not one with which we have to agree.
Rating:  Summary: Ok, but disapointing for all the build up. Review: I read this book as an assingment for school but considering what I had previously heard about this book I was somewhat disapointed. But the book does have its momments, so I suggest you read it, but this book is not quite as good as I had expected.
Rating:  Summary: A CLASSIC Review: THIS IS TRULY ONE OF THE BEST AND GREATEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ. J.D. SALINGER DID AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THIS BOOK. IT'S A FUN BOOK TO READ AND IS ONE OF THE BEST NOVELS EVER MADE.
Rating:  Summary: Reading the obituaries is more interesting Review: Disappointing to find out all the hoopla over this book only applies to people who enjoy whiney bores for main characters. Holden may be realistic but is his every thought interesting? No. Most peoples' aren't (except maybe to them). Would have been more suited to a short story rather than a full book. Covering 24 hours of a person's uninteresting life over more than a hundred pages makes for bored and frustrated readers. Salinger beats us over the head with his repetition, and lack of imagination. It might have had more oomph if I had read this as a teenager, but not likely a positive effect. It doesn't compare to Bless the Beasts and the Children which I still recall even not having read it for 15 years. A little more plot/action/motivation and less diatribe would have kept my attention. Since I couldn't sympathize with Holden I felt apart from what little action there was, more a spectator. Kept waiting for Holden to "lose it" ---grab a gun and start shooting the phonies. Anyways, not recommended for discerning readers who value their time. Authors with more skill and consideration for their readers await...
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