Rating: 
Summary: Simply the BEST
Review: This book is not what you expect from a classic novel. It's written in a form of language that is still accepted today. A MASTERPIECE!
Rating: 
Summary: why it might be banned...
Review: JD. Salinger has written the personality and language of an animal few humans try to know, the seventeen year old human male. This was reality in its greatest show, a masterpiece by all means. I hated it. I was supposed to hate it because I'm a female, middle aged woman with high propriety. Sure, the language in the book bothered me; it was supposed to. But I saw that its intent was to explain a boy with a tough facade. Later in the book, on page 157, the facade melts when the boy recalls the happy days of childhood and going to the Museum of Natural History with Phoebe. The "damns" almost disappear. As far as censorship, it would be a terrible shame if this book were to be censored. No other book that I know has ever captured the tone, vernacular, and character of the most vulnerable person of our modern society, the 17 year old boy. I would highly recommend this book to parents, educators, and young wives. It is wonderful, but awful
Rating: 
Summary: AWFUL!
Review: I am very open minded when it comes to literature (I even read through Mein Kampf without any objection) but I just hated this book! If it wasn't required reading, I would have stopped on the fourth page! I think Salinger could have done much better!
Rating:
Summary: Misunderstood
Review: Reading the many reviews on this site I couldn't help feeling like Holden: The people who dislike the book seem to fit perfectly into the category of "phonie", and those who like it seem to have generally missed the point. You are not supposed to enjoy reading the catcher in the rye - it is a depressing book. It deals with those truths about life that in adulthood we are forced to sideline as we to are drawn into the comercialized, dishonest "real" world. Why else did Salinger become a recluse?! Of course the most important part of the book is when Holdens teacher tells him that he is not alone and that others have been through the same as him (shame I haven't met them yet); this demonstrates perfectly the part of the book I find is most misunderstood. It is not a "coming of age" story at all, the teacher is saying hold on to your beliefs - "you are right". All these other people who "wrote down" there Holden like experiences could not have been children now could they. Salinger is saying he is on of them too and he is not a teenager. If anyone else agrees with me - mail me.
Rating:
Summary: interesting
Review: The Catcher in the Rye was 'interesting' for lack of better words. I read it in three days and was quite intrigued. it got my attention. but i don't feel that it improved my vocabulary or intelect in any way. That's what a good book should do. When I read it, I didn't feel like I was reading 'The Catcher in the Rye', from all I'd heard of it. I thought I'd be at least a bIt hard to understand. Ironically,it reminded me of this boy I know who lives up the street from me and that distracted me.
Rating:
Summary: In defense...
Review: I noticed, that in general, this book mostly got five stars from reviewers, and the second most occurence was 1 star. I have to say that all the people(or should I say kids) who gave the book one star, were obviously not old enough, or wise enough, to have any perspective on this book. The common complaints were:1. I did not relate to the book, and do not understand why people think teemagers are like Holden. Therefor, because I did not relate to the book, I think that you should not waste your time reading it, because obviously, if I didn't relate to it, you won't either. 2. It had no plot/character develpoment/conlict, and was boring therefor 3. I didn't understand it My response: 1.You don't have to be exactly like Holden to understand where he's coming form. The book was written showing the glimpses of most adolescents minds, the tumult, that doesn't come as fully as it did in Holden, but is there none the less. The author projected teens(and all peoples) little struggles onto a whole life. That is why it is so satisfying for us to read, it gives our feelings validation. Also an outlet reading this book, for our "Holden-like emotions" to flow through us, and not remain squished up in our heads.Everyone has dysfunctional emotions, and you are keeping them all squished up, and therefore rendering yourself spurious, if you do not ever feel them. I do not imply, that everyone is dysfuntional(quite the opposite), but only that we all at one time or another, and especially in our teen years, struggle with life, and our attitude towards society. 2.Although the book had little plot, that is not the point of all books. If the book had been more story like, it would not have rung as true, as nobody's life, especially just 3 or 4 days of it, has a definite plot. And, yes, the book DID have character development, not in the traditional sense, but the author highlighted a short period of Holden's life, in which he went through a transformation. 3. Please read it again in ten years or so, when you have had more experience of life, you will then understand it. I won't tell everyone to read it because I loved it, but I will say, that you should read it, because it will describe your attitude towards life, based on your reaction to it. If you are a teenager, read it now, but read it again when you are older, whether you liked it or not when you first read it, you will understand much more.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: i love this book! if youre looking for a book that you enjoy every minute of , i definetly suggest picking this one up . theres a little bit (or a lot) of holden caulfield in everyone , and just because you can relate to this guy does not make you a "lemming"(whoever said that in their review on sept.8th). i could go on and on about this book but i wont , pick it up and form your own opinion of it . hopefully youll enjoy it as thoroughly as i did .
Rating: 
Summary: muy interesante
Review: This book was very difficult to comprehend at first. I had to read it for an English class, over the summer. I didn't understand it, and thought that Holden was just a very immature and coloqial kind of person. But when I read it again, I got most of the humor, and understood everything a lot better. Everyone has to read it in school, so if you haven't read it yet, READ IT!
Rating:
Summary: The most interesting book I've ever read
Review: This book is a masterpiece. Despite it is easy to read and not very complicated in terms of language it provides the reader a very clear description of how complicated our thoughts and opinions are.It is also very catchy and once you have started to read you can't put it down !!
Rating:
Summary: not really sure
Review: i purchased this book from a yard sale and havent quite finished it yet , i'm only on page 90 or so and really dont understand what its about maybe i'm crazy or something , but i'll keep going and will come back later for a better review for you and possibly a better opinion of it, however i am glad that i only paid 50 cents for the book as it does not hold my attention for longer than about 1 or 2 chapters at a time thank you
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