The Catcher in the Rye

Rating:
Summary: TERRIBLE!
Review: I'd give this 0 stars, if possible. This book was on my Summer Reading List, but I couldn't even get past page 6! The swearing is terrible! Also, from what I've been told concerning the plot - the book only gets worse! If you have to read this, I highly recommend you read an alternitive book.

Rating:
Summary: A good book.
Review: Well I'm 10 pages away from finishing the book and it was a great book. At first I was confused(I kept thinking, "Ok, he's been kicked out of school so why is he still there?"). But later as I read more it all became clear. I started to be able to relate to Holden. I thought, "Wow this guy is me in a nutshell." He's sarcastic, and overall not likeable. He can sniff out a phony before they even open their mouth. I had to read this for my tenth grade English class. At first I was not looking forward to reading this(hey it's summer why should I have school work?) but as I got into I couldn't stop reading it.

Rating:
Summary: Boring, written in teenagerish slang.
Review: Perhaps I am too old for it (I am 26) but I found the book extremely boring. Three days in the empty life of a teenager simply do not interest me. Moreover the book is written in a very irritating teenagerish slang. If your novel is about an ox, you should not write as an ox would.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Thought Engrossing
Review: I read this book as I child and thought it was funny and "cool." Reading it again as an adult, I caught the greater meaning behind Salinger's words. Although I didn't identify with Holden completely, I did find that there's a little of Holden in each of us.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars is not enough
Review: I could probably write a whole bunch of things that have already been said about this book. But the truth is, words are not enough. I've read CITR for the first time when I was 16. I'm 19 now and have read other great novels from authors such as Vonnegut, Heller and Rendell, but Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is still number one in my heart. I've promoted this book to so many people, I should work for Salinger's publisher or something. People say they're obsessed with this book, well guess what? I'm part of that statistic.

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining and sincere book.
Review: I liked catcher in the rye. Everytime I put it down, I couldn't wait to begin reading it again. The book is humorous at times and very honest, which makes it funny. Holden Caulfield, seems a little disillusioned about people and how phony they are and the other characters in the story are extremely realistic. Like Phoebe, Ackeley Kid, Sally? (the one with the loud voice), and Stratedler. But it's too bad Holden never got to meet "Old Jane" again. this is a good book.

Rating:
Summary: one messed up book
Review: Being bored one day,I happened to glance at my book shelf and spotted catcher in the rye. Hearing about this book in a couple of movies(conspiracy theory being one of them) I thought i'd check it out. From what I have read I can see why it appeared in the movie. After reading I could n't help but look at the world in a different way. And thats not such a good thing!Holden is a paranoid peccimist and an alcoholic and chain smoker. But hey thats cool we all have problems. Some or his views are very scary in a way(like his thoughts on museums) Its kind of overwhelming at times and I grew worried I might start thinking the way he does! At times the book is funny and at times sad. I kept hoping he would actually do something like go really crazy(taxi driver type crazy) but he didn't. Throughout the book he doesn't really do anything but his experiences are still amazingly intersting and revealing of his vulnerability and mental state. I really recomend this book. After reading it you won't look at things the same way again. Or worse yet you'll catch yourself thinking the way he does!

Rating:
Summary: Deserves a 2.5 -it is not as terrible as some say
Review: I read Catcher in the Rye for my AP English Composition course's required reading. It is misleading to stereotype this novel as "teenage angst summarized," because, frankly, I could rarely identify with Holden's experiences, though many of his feelings could have been more poignant had they been written in more lucid prose. There were parts of the novel that moved me, and by the end of the book I was NOT praising it as a literary masterpiece, but I knew that Holden's psychology had been brilliantly developed through Salinger's writing, or depiction of 1949 adolescent slang. I frequently could not relate to Holden's point-of-view, much less his undertakings. His character was so different from mine, yet I appreciated it because there were some basic deep-rooted reasons for the way he acted throughout the book that justify his anger [Allie, James Castle]. He is not a deplorable character, as some have said, instead he frequently obtained my sympathy. Everyone keeps mentioning the episode with the prostitute, in which nothing really occurs. He does not act as a perverted teenager in search of sexual satisfaction at all, do you not remember the outcome of this subplot? The "sex," drinking, smoking, and excessive swearing can be overlooked if one is trying to comprehend where Holden is coming from, since these factors are not meant to encourage or praise these habits, but to illustrate Holden sincerely. I do not know if I would ever recommend this book. While some parts are truly human and affecting [Allie, Phoebe, James Catle, Mr. Antonili] most of it is just Holden telling you his story, which involves many glimpses into his mindset. What really made me keep reading were the other characters in the book and the original way in which Holden described them. It is not a bad book, but it is definitely overrated. If you're curious about it, check it out from the library. And if you read the review of the guy recommending Atlas Shrugged by Aynd Rand--do yourself a favor, don't buy that TRASH of stock characters and propaganda.

Rating:
Summary: Simply put: The book of the century
Review: I read this book when I was 16 years old. It was the best book I ever had read up to that point and still is today. The true message of the book has to do with one of the most perplexing aspects of life and adulthood. Understanding the implications could be life-changing.

Rating:
Summary: Undecided and Confused
Review: I don't understand why so many people are raving over this book. It wasn't bad but I didn't really see a plot. It was just a bunch of chatter. I wish I could have gotten out of it what so many people say they've gotten out of it. I love reading and am very disappointed. Maybe I just need to read it again... If you have any comments PLEASE e-mail and explain to me your feelings. Maybe it will help me "get" it.