The Catcher in the Rye

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Summary: One of the best books of all time!
Review: This book is vividly written. The novel follows the development of an adolescent into adulthood. I was assigned this book Freshman year of high school and I look forward to reading it again. The situations are ones that everyone who was or is a teenager can identify to. This was a great book!

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Summary: this book ROCKS!!!!!!!
Review: This is the BEST book I have ever read in my life! Holden is so interesting. As are all the other characters. If you dont like this book... you must be crazy. I always always recommend this book to my buds...and they all LOVE it as well. I have read it many times. The book is soooo good that I gurantee you can finish it in 3 days. Anyway GET THIS BOOK! you cant go wrong with it! TRUST ME!

Rating:
Summary: The Catcher in The Rye
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is the best book I've read in a long time. It really makes you think about the world and the "phonies" in it. Holden brings up a lot of good points about society and how people act. Sometimes, the way Holden keeps on repeating everything gets annoying, but I think it's done purposely. He was mentally unstable, due to the death of Allie. Some people say that Holden is incredibly self-centered. But the book is written in stream of consciousness. I don't know about you, but my thoughts are mainly focused around myself. Salinger really uses this writing style to give the book a deeper meaning and greater impact. Holden is like any other teenager I know. He looks at the world and wonders why everything is like it is. Why people act so dumb and lie all the time. The Catcher in the Rye really gives you a lot to think about.

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Summary: Salinger depicts the mind of an adolescent boy to perfection
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is a revolutionary book. Aside from all the notoriety it receives as the cause of some unfortunate incidences, the book is written flawlessly. The language Salinger chooses to use is easy enough to read that most all readers will find the words easy to comprehend. Yet therein lies Salinger's genius. Salinger depicts the mind of an adolescent male to perfection. Using fluid and basic diction, Salinger creates a mood and way of thinking that is so close to reality, its scary. Although not all young men have felt exactly the same as Holden, all have at one point felt certain aspects of Holden's disillusionment and pain.

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Summary: An Point That People Should Know Exists Somewhere
Review: I read "The Catcher in the Rye" and I believe it was a book that was an example of certain troubled teens. Holden was like other teens forced into an uncomfortable position that his mentality was unaccustomed. That' s why he was dismissed from yet another school, there was a part of him that was disturbed. He had different sides to himself, like some people, the side that doesn't care much, the part where he took little notice to leaving the fencing teams foils, or knowing his parents suffered each time he came home as a failure, there was the side that stood out the most, the depressed side where he would get easily depressed when he was caught in a certain situation he'd get depressed, an example, when his brother died, he resorted to smashing all the windows. Many depressed people resort to unthinkable ways when something like that comes up and the reason some people think is they should've known better and they should stop thinking these ideas, but a depressed person can't help their actions sometimes and sometimes seem a little lower to a regular person sometimes. Leaving Pencey is what Holden felt was best, and doing that was good because for Holden to escape where he was crumpled up would have put an anvil on his already troubled mind. That's why he remembers this point of his life so vividly, where he opened up and went through this nervous breakdown that was waiting to come. Through his mishaps with some people such as old Maurice to his viewings as a 'sweet young man' by the two nuns shows his personalities. The one who absently fixes himself into a sorrowful situation to the one that can see a pleasant person who means well. Unfortunately, he is thrown into his mood swing of depression. His nervous breakdown reallyy comes when he gets drunk up to when he cries at the thought of his sister giving him her Christmas money. By then he has reached his point of depressing due to the agony he spent by himself, which is what the novel is about, a young man who remembers so vividly of his suffering which became serious at that point of his life he spent alone. We see hints where most of his hurt comes from. Being alone, several thoughts, and the depression he consistantly feels. At one point his breakdown subsides when he sees his sister enjoying herself, he feels a feeling of joy that replaces any bitterness. Of course, he sees a psyciatrist after all this so the actual problem isn't worked out fully professionally. Holden's continuous pessimistic side of life by referring to his environment around him as 'phony' is one that optimistic people might argue, but we see that child in him; one that wants to see something the way it is supposedly seen, while it's an example that the world itself does't show us what it really is, it paints a serene picture on what it feels it wants to be, then when we're hipnotized into it, it bestows the acttual fact; some don't care about that, others see this and complain. At one point, we see why the book was banned because the f word was announced five times, which I must say is bad in general, but is worse that America would ban the book because of the word. At that time, the world wasn't ready for that word, but it should've realized that this is the world they were living in, and that the book was an example of it. Of course, America didn't want to face the facts, they wanted to shame America from America, which J.D. Salinger unveiled. Mr. Salingner really unveiled America and it took America by surprise. Judging on life itself, the word was probably invented even in the late 1800's but by the time the meaning came around, the word was a shadowy figure, known but never spoken, until it finally shone light. Before I conclude, the story took place sometime in December of 1948 and even though Holden was hesitant to admit he was wrong, we all have the tendency to be that way. In fact, we fail to admit this to. To conclude, I felt some anger towards Holden the first time I read the book, but after awhile, you could see there is some emotional pain to the sixteen-year-old that he has to work out but might not have (a sequel on Holden's progress would fit the cause), and when that is found, sympathy could be given for the kid. What he had could've been, as he related earlier, a phase. I rate the book a three because although the book told a good point of what many might overlook, a great deal it could've unfolded. I'll stop here; I could go on though, but I wanted to talk about the important parts in the book. That's all I have to say.

Rating:
Summary: Stimulating plot, abrupt ending
Review: I had to read this book for my 11th grade English class. This book was really easy to read. I usually don't read any of the English books that are assigned to me, but I read "The Catcher in the Rye" anyway. The story was quite simple and interesting. My only complaint is the ending. I thought it was somewhat abrupt. But, all in all, it was an easy reading that had a stimulating plot.

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Summary: Best Book Ever
Review: This book was the funniest, most realistic piece of literature ever written. I love Holden's character because he's not afraid to say what he really feels. Even though there's no plot really, this book is hard to put down because it's so humorous and interesting.

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Summary: Read Below
Review: Catcher in the Rye is a book, that if we all do not like at least, can relate to. We all make the same mistakes and complain and we all dream about the impossible. Or in Holden's case, for the teenager nowadays, do the impossible... J.D Salinger is a master of the art of writing.

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Summary: Gag me with a spoon
Review: This is the worst book I have read in a long time. It's full of complaints and Holden doing stupid things. Reading it a waste of time. It will put you in a nasty mood and make you feel like there's less to life than you originally thought. It was reccommended to me by a teacher and I was ready to slap her when I finished the book. I can't find justification for it being called a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly Amazing
Review: One of the most well written 'adolescent experiences' I've read. Reminds me much of a boy I once loved - if that ain't sappy and pathetic.
I recommend everyone purchase two hardcover copies of this book - one to read and keep, one to give to their children.