The Catcher in the Rye

Rating:
Summary: Don't skip this book because you're over 20
Review: Some of the reviews on this page say that readers past adolescence should skip "Catcher." No! I am 25 and I just read it over the holiday. Never before have I finished a book, put it down, and thought -- "I want to read that again." So I did! Yes, many of Holden's observations are specific to adolescence -- but many of his problems dealing with society are universal. I often find myself stuck between doing what "polite society" requires, and what I'd just rather do myself. Also, anyone who thinks Holden is a "bad person" is way off base. Holden's problem is that he is too decent for the world.

Rating:
Summary: A timeless novel for the teen struggle
Review: I just recently read The Catcher in the Rye after reading On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Both these books in my opinion are not for the typical mainstream human being.They show how life should be lead and not how someone tells you to lead it. Both, especially Catcher in the Rye, go against the grain and tell of real life situations.They talk about things like depression and drug abuse which a lot of the teens deal with today.Even though Catcher is sometimes read in school it is not the typical high school english book.it goes against all principals and morals and deals with reality, which many americans choose not to deal with.When it dealt with Holden being bullied by his roomate I related with it because I've never fought back and I guess I'm just a wimp just like Holden. For all the people who felt it wasn't incisive enough and it was just an overall boring book should stick to John Grisham books.people who don't understand it are those people who try to ban it. if morality is the question, than thats bogus because nobodies perfect. Those who think they are,are probably closet pedophiles anyway.It is a must read for those who know themselves and who are not influenced by the majority.

Rating:
Summary: There is a point where you have to came up
Review:
This is the story of someone that is not ok. In the end he understands this an decides to treat himself. So, you can take a good message from it. I.e, this is a story about a person that goes down and gets to the pit and than understands that the only way is up ( I know it seems like some kind of corny, but my english is not very good). Some people, in some time, in their teens, or later in their lives, feel like that. This story is about someone who finaly choses to fight back. And of course his cynicism must be a result of the deturped way he sees life (resulting from he fact that he is not ok), that, being the TRUTH or not(you will never know), must be altered.It's rather impressive how some of the reviews are full of a "upper look" of people that don't what it is to be "down". They never suffered alienation. And maybe they are right. Maybe they should rule the world. Well, I really don't know. Like the character of this book I just "think about things".

Rating:
Summary: Do YOU really understand this book?
Review: Having just read this book within the last month or so, I am still asking myself if I really understand the content of it. I do realize, however, that I can relate to the 16-year-old Holden Caulfield. Being only a year younger than H.C. we have many similarities. The most imortant one that continues to remind myself of Holden's emotional problems, is that I also lost a sister to cancer. Although, the one major difference between us, is that I was treated for my depression soon before Holden's was. Of course technology of such situations have improved, therefore, allowing myself to not make many of the mistakes H.C. made. Including those relating to school, friendships, family,etc. Many do not understand the emotional effect a death can have on a person, which can very often turn to depression and nervous collapses. Until one can, shall I ask, WILL you really understand The Catcher in the Rye?

Rating:
Summary: Must read for all 16 year olds
Review: It really helps me cope with being a teenager. Holden isn't much different than me. I'm currently 16 and now read Machiavelli, Unabomber's Manifesto, etc, etc. This is one of the books that started it all. I hear if you read it after your teens, it loses all meaning. I think I'll read it again and again now while I still have the chance and savor it for the years to come, looking back upon it with awe - instead of reading it again when I'm 25 and thinking it sucks . . . .

Rating:
Summary: Boring, pointless, and stupid!
Review: I read this book because I heard it was terific and a classic, I love classics. But I hated it! It was extremely boring and there was no point to it. I just can't understand all the people who loved this book!

Rating:
Summary: what? what? what's going on? what?
Review: waht????????? a very strang book.i didnt want to rate it,but u HAVE to(stuipd!) i gave it 8 because its a very reguler rating,NOT like this strange,strange-a bit "nice" book. strange...........

Rating:
Summary: Teenage Angst -- a great read
Review: There are those who can't progress much further into a book once they see the F word in print. I feel sorry for those people. Holden Caulfield is not a bad kid by any means. He's troubled. He had to suffer watching all the horrible situations the people he knows go through, and can't do anything about. He had to suffer through a death. He's frustrated that he can't fix the problems in the world. These are what all who've read this book should've seen. Salinger deals with a lot of symbols in his books. Understand what lead Holden to call these people phonies. Understand why Holden believes what he believes, and then you'll understand why this book is a great must-read classic.

Rating:
Summary: interesting
Review: Pretty good book-and very easy to read. This is not your typical "classic" book. It's funny and very real-life. It's life from a teen's perspective and it has spunk.

Rating:
Summary: This book should only be read once and only in high school
Review: I first read this book in high school about 11 or 12 years ago. It had a great reputation in my mind, for back then, in high school, I could identify with Holden Caulfield, someone who was isolated, a bit of an outcast, surrounded by "phonies", and sensing his lack of independence. These things I too felt in high school

Now, after graduating from college, I reread the book. The second time wasn't as exciting or enjoyable; this story definately lost its luster. I don't know if this was because I am older, more mature, and have had some life experiences or if was because I read more classics in college but I now feel that this Holden is a self-absorbed, disturbed, socially-maladjusted adolescent who is critical of everything and everyone, and hates his situation, yet can't seem to do anything about it except complain. I've met people like this in college; people who find fault with everyone they meet or middle-class brats who bitch and moan because not everything goes their way. They weren't pleasant people to be around.

And I tire of Salinger's contrived writing style. Too many "he really was", "...no kidding", or "...if you want to know the truth..." It's like what Holden said about some of the performers that he saw - Salinger tries too hard to make the narrative sound like it was from a juvenile.

The one part of the story I can still relate to though is when Holden tells Sally Hayes why they can run away now but not after they become adults and live a middle-class life. Being a youth does give you a certain sense of freedom that you lose when you hit the "real world" and have pressures and responsibilities to deal with.

As a side project I think I'll list all the things that Holden hates.