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The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye

List Price: $6.99
Your Price: $5.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Adolescence
Review: J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye is a psychological examination of Holden's attempt to preserve the innocence and authenticity of youth. As Holden becomes exposed to the fatal rituals of pretence and all of adulthood's injustice and narcissism he assumes the role of protector of all youth in an attempt to save them from an awakening into this culpable world. The genius of the book however, lies in its sheer pertinence; the ease with which one can identify with Holden. Holden epitomize a time we all face. Thus reading this book will not only provide you with many entertaining hours of captivating reading but also with many hours of introspective and worthwhile reflection. The Catcher in the Rye is one of the crowning achievements of American literature and a must read.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Review for Catcher
Review: This story is about a male protagonast that is struggling through life. He is an average teenage boy (16-17 yrs old) that lacks school and is failing every subject accept english. He honestly is a really good writer. He is very close with peole in his family like his sister and will take out his time just to spend time with her. He also has a brother but he died. He has a family, but he doenst spend much time with them and how it seems in the book that he doenst really like spending time with them. There are some charaters in the book that help Holden throughout the story to help him with school and his problems.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: absolutely amazing!
Review: This book is perfect if you're a screwed up 14 year old guy who was born to stand out. It's actually perfect for anyone who's ever felt frustrated. Holden Caulfield is one of my role models. This book is addicting. I'm reading it for the second time. I read more advanced books then most people my age, some people (A lot of people) in my school still read those Fear Street books by R.L. Stine..That isn't even close to perfection.
This book starts out with a troubled, angry 17 year old boy named Holden Caulfield, who is writing some sort of an autobiography, but it's not a whole autobiography like he says on the first page. He just got kicked out of Pencey, a prep school in Pennsylvania.
He goes back to his home in New York, and has quite an adventure.
THis is one of the best books that will ever be written. Everyone should read it, because everyone can relate to it. I relate to Holden so much, I've started talking like him now too, that's how this book is. It's influencial.
READ IT!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Poet in the Mist
Review: For those who don't know if they should read, you must. This is one of, if not the, greatest coming-of-age novels of all time. Holden Caulfield flunks from a prep school, but he doesn't want to come home early to tell his parents about it. So he spends four days in New York City on his own. Holden is perhaps one of the most intriguing characters ever written down. He has a "limited vocabulary," but is wise beyond his years. And he wasn't raised by the Disney Channel and others of naive, demeaning purposes. Salinger writes speeches in poetry. This is a classic. It looks at people from a distance with a racy glance. It's a savy, street smart stupendous sample of literature. Read it. Read it today.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This book just killed me.
Review: Holden Caulfield is a confused teenager who is trying to find out who he is and where he fits in. He thinks that he is an adult, but he really does not have the skills to be one. He narrates the story of several of the gloomiest days in his sixteen-year-old life as a flashback. The story begins when Holden is expelled from prep school for poor grades. Because he had flunked out of three or four other schools, he waited around in New York City for the day when all of his classmates went to Christmas vacation before he went home to break the news of his expulsion to his parents. In those several days, he gets drunk, goes on dates, wanders the streets and even sneaks a visit to his apartment to visit his sister, Phoebe. Holden tells Phoebe that what he really wants to do is be the catcher in the rye; that when all of the little kids were playing games in the rye he would be the person to catch the kids before they fell off the cliff. He wouldn't play the games with the kids, but he would just help them to not fall off the cliff. This means that Holden felt like an outsider and longed to be included, but deep in his heart he really wanted to help people.
Holden Caulfield's cynical attitude toward everybody and everything gives him the different personality that he has and makes his story a good read. At times you just laugh at the book because some of the things he does are so stupid and thickheaded. In the end, you will find that Holden Caulfield is a troubled boy who thinks that the world is out to get him and make him do things that he does not want to do.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Catcher Review
Review: J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is a timeless American classic because it exemplifies the effect of corruption in the world on youthful innocence. Through the eyes and mind of a teenager in the late 1940s Salinger offers insights as to why adolescents rebel, but offers no solution to stop it. The hypocritical and dubious values set by the adult world cause Salinger's main character, Holden Caulfield, to have a nervous breakdown. During rehabilitation in a Western infirmary Caulfield has time to reflect on many experiences and people from his past. This results in a wise-beyond-his-years understanding of the human condition. The teenager had a moral disgust towards everything cruel, hypocritical, and evil (what Holden called "phony") in the world. Holden's reaction however, was not one of anger or bitterness, but instead sadness at the current society. Random, all-consuming waves of depression were the result of his self-chosen isolation and uncertainty of where to go in life.
Salinger used a stream of consciousness style when writing, weaving slang and adolescent satire, with incomplete thought processes to show Holden's inability to smoothly transition from boy to adulthood, and frustrating immaturity. Caulfield exemplifies the thought processes of many youths when he understandably avoids his parents when expelled from his third pricey boarding school he attended, attempted to use his height to allow him to buy alcohol and drink with adult men, and naively thinks that he has an understanding of love and sex as a 16 year old virgin. However, his ability to see the shallowness of media, and the often insincere actions of men, shows his deeper, more profound side. Holden is in limbo, no longer a child, but no yet a man. A lost soul- wishing to delay the inevitable repulsive "real world" and responsibilities of adulthood, but intellectually craving more than adolescence can provide.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT AMERICAN LIT.
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is one of the BEST books EVER written by an American author. If you like this is book and basically how could you not, then read To Kill a Mockingbird as well. Both are worthy of your time.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The Catcher In The Rye
Review: The Catcher in the Rye has been condoned a classic book for many decades. My interpretation of this book was neither good or bad. To me this book, compared to others I have read, was rather mediocre, not that I have read an extremely large amount of books in my lifetime. For the most part it seemed that the world Holden describes is very similar to an actual teenagers world. Also the actions and events that Holden performs or encounters is closely related to ones that an actual teenager may face. These very accurate descriptions of Holden's world that he lives in and the troubleshooting that goes along with it, is what make this book a good read for not only young adults but for everyone.

The first part of the book that caught my eye was how well the description of his school matched mine. It seemed that Holden was a rebel that disliked most "preps". No matter who you are there is always someone in this world that labels others. This example of one label disliking another is easily shown in every school, every day all across America. Even though Holden does not like "preps" he still seems to cater there needs. For example his roommate, Warn returns from the football game wanting to borrow Holden's jacket for his date that he is about to attend. Holden agreeably lends it to him then later finds out that Warn is dating a girl that his coat lending buddy may have feelings for. The funny part is, after Warn tells Holden who the girl is Holden still precedes to write a paper for his roommate. Not only does this action relate to me directly but I am sure it relates to others as well.

The book describes very well the life of a teenager who is juggling and dealing with all the difficulties encountered as an adolescent. In some cases such as the hooker and her pimp seem to me to be a little farfetched. In this part of the story line Holden is staying in a New York hotel. On one of his trips to his room he has a pleasant conversation with the elevator attendant, Maurice, who doubles as a pimp. This conversation ends with an offer to have one of Maurice's girls to come up to Holden's room. They then briefly discuss the price and Holden agrees to Maurice's offer. Later a hooker named Sunny appears at Holden's door. These two do little more than talk because Holden is so upset with his situation. The end of the night comes abruptly and Sunny asks for ten dollars as her fee. Holden disagrees and only gives her five. Sunny leaves in a disgruntled manner but soon returns with Maurice to claim the rest of her money. Holden takes a pretty good beating but seems to brush it of as nothing had happened and goes on his way. This whole scenario to me seems to be extremely corny. This is the part of the story line that lowered my expectations for the book. This could happened to an adolescent but is highly unlikely.

At the end of the book Holden seems to be more scared and confused than when the book began. It seemed to him that he either had to run away or die, like his brother Allie. His plan was to run away to the west. He decided that before he left he would have one more conversation with his beloved sister Phoebe. While talking to her, he takes a turn for the better and decides to stop running and stay home. This ending was wonderful. Again the book describes life as a teenager perfectly. Any teenager with a little common sense, a best friend, and something to live for will always make the right decisions. Holden has some common sense he was just thoroughly confused, his best friend was Phoebe, and all he wanted in life was to be unconfused and loved.

In conclusion the details and realisticness of each scenario written about in this book was amazing although some seemed a little farfetched. The relationship that this book and real life was equally amazing. It also seemed that Holden in his journeys as an adolescent was more adult oriented than he knew. This book is a great read for all ages even the people that are only young at heart.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great literature
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is a book that never ceases to amaze me. J.D. Salinger has created a book that captures the true essence of being a teenager that can even apply to today. The text is just absolutely gripping too, from Holden's views on people and life to his adventures that weekend.

It is truly a shame that so many schools have banned this book. I can understand that the language is a little edgy at times but those who don't read this book will be missing out on the great writing of Salinger and how he builds his characters and leaves us with someone (Holden) that we will never forget.

To some degree, I think we can all relate to Holden and his views on life and people. Maybe not to the full extent, but I'm sure a number of Salinger's readers are left with the feeling of understanding. And Holden's words are filled with plain and simple wisdom.

I highly recommend that you read this book. And, oh yeah, be sure to buy a highlighter too because you'll find yourself highlighting all of the great passages.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: the essence of a lost youth¿s plight
Review: Holden Caulfield carried around a lot of emotional
baggage for one so young ( sixteen ). His growing pains
were overwhelming at times as he was entering manhood;
his rite of passage, if you will. He saw his older brother
J B the writer as a total sellout for becoming a hack writer
in Hollywood. Holden loved his younger sister Phoebe. He
thought she was wicked smart. He still mourned his little
brother Allie who had died of leukemia. Holden had a hard
time handling Allie's death. Somehow he just didn't seem
to fit in anywhere. He had a problem dating girls his own
age. He fought with his roommate. His grades were failing
at his second prep school of which he was asked to leave.
Holden Caulfield didn't seem to really belong anywhere!
I think that Salinger has nailed it in this novel. He has
captured the essence of a lost youth's plight. A great read.


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