The Catcher in the Rye

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Summary: Life is a game. Will you be the catcher?
Review: Holden was cynical.
Holden was inarticulate.
Holden was observant.
Holden was intelligent.
Holden was lost.

Salinger, on the other hand, is articulate enough to let his readers to see the world through the eyes of his inarticulate main character. As the story unfolds, Holden grows. A once lost soul who has lost himself within the rye field we may call it life, by the end of the story, he has found the meaning of his life: to be the catcher in the rye.

Is the world corny, foolish, meaningless, and perverted as Holden described to be? I'd say yes, but life is a game, a game one plays according to the rules. Should one despair over the facts of life?

This book is very flexible for interpretaions. It is meant to be that way so people with different experience may relate to the story differently and find a guiding light within their confused souls.

Life is like a rye field surrounded by cliff edges. Will you share your light to others and be a catcher in the rye?

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Summary: Catching up on the classics...
Review: I'm sure I was supposed to read this book in high school but it was so long ago, I can't recall reading it (not to mention that I didn't care for school, like my new friend Holden Caulfield). It is refreshing to read a book that is written as though the main character is talking to you, and not so concerned about grammar and proper writing etiquette. Since the book was written in the fifties, a lot of the stories and scenery seem dated. Some important things about the book, for me at least: 1) the book is short (around 200 pages); 2) easy to read - never a dull moment; and 3) not too fast-paced like a novel written by a lawyer. Before I bought the book, I read the reviews on Amazon.com and even considered the negative ones before I bought the book. But now, having read Catcher, I would guess that those people are the ones that Holden would refer to as phonies. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has Attention Deficit Disorder (or self-diagnosed ADD, like myself) OR to those of you that just don't care to read books much (also, like myself).

Rating:
Summary: The Catcher In The Rye
Review: I have been wanting to read "Catcher In The Rye" for the past three years. The moment I actually picked up the book, I regretted every moment I had spent wanting to find pleasure in the story.

I understand Holden. He is like a normal 15 year old boy. Trying to fit in, not knowing his place in the world; but his techniques with whining and always befuddling the world around him got tiring after the first three chapters. God forbid someone acts like a 'phony' for even one second of their life around Holden.

I would have liked this book better if it had some sort of technique thrown into it, and perhaps a specific goal that was worth going through all two hundred and something pages. Yes, the ending was a bit of a surprise but not enough to be handed a 'spectacular realistic ending' title to it.

If you like reading more realistic, based on what could really happen in your youth life books, then I recommend this. But if you are a heavy reader and are more sought out to read things with more integrity, intelligence and adventure, then this book is not for you.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining For Required Reading
Review: I first read The Catcher in the Rye in 10th grade, and immediately fell in love with the voice of Holden. The style flowed easily, and the author quickly painted a perfect picture of the character by using the language that had no holds barred. It is because of this language that I have to agree with a reveiwer who said "Salinger is subtle, and yet wonderfully blunt".

I was also impressed with how the author developed his character, and never strayed from the foundations he a laid. Not once did Holden seem unlike Holden.

The Catcher in the Rye is a classic. Salinger so perfectly put himself into the shoes of an angry and depressed teen that it's almost impossible to think that anyone but Holden actually penned the novel. It is also no wonder that this novel has become required reading in many schools, irregardless of the complaints from parents not approving of the language the author has chosen.

I have never regretted having been forced into the reading of this book in high school. In fact, I have a new found respect for any schoo lthat reequires it's reading. It was nice for me to have been able to read a novel that proved I wasn't alone. Not to mention that it forced the my whole english class to talk and think. What a marvel.

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Summary: Be warned this book is not what you think it is
Review: This story is about teen angst and don't be caught thinking this is some book for killers or conspiracy theorists. This is a book about a fifteen year old boy named Holden Caulfield. His narration and his wry explanations are so real its almost like you are reading a diary of his or his thoughts and not a book written by Salinger. He does such a fantastic job of setting up his character and the way he looks at the world that you almost have to believe Salinger stole this or wrote this when he was fifteen. An amazing story that takes you through Holden's life and how he looks at it. No longer is he the simple happy go lucky person he used to be. Now he can see the world through his own eyes. And it isn't all flowers and rainbows. No it's harsh and different. Read this book if you are 13-18. You might not get the full gist of this book if you haven't read it before, and you are 40 years or older.

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Summary: Not worth the money
Review: This was the most terrible book I have ever read. I wan a refund for all of my money and time put into this. Oh if this sells the world is ending.

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Summary: Irish Fiction
Review: When all you have is hope, hope is all that you need.

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Summary: Well-written, but seems dated
Review: My impression of the book was that it was well-written but many of the ideas and concepts were very dated. Supposedly there has been a lot of controversy surrounding this book because of the deviant nature of the main character. Judged by today's standards....the violence in the movies and video games are much worse.

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Summary: Instruction for use, potential side effects
Review: As far as I'm concerned, this is the best book that has ever been written since the start of modern literature. Ok, the beginning of my review could seem a bit cheesy but the impact this book had on me was so striking that i don't even know where i should start from. However, the more you read about the "madman stuff" that happened to Holden Caulfied in a cold December in NY city after he got kicked out of prep school, the more sympathy you feel for him, the more thoughts and feelings you share with him. He's just a nonconformist teenager that really hates movies and hypocrisy, has to deal with a lot of peers and adults that turn out to be extremely phony and ready to deceive each other for their personal interest. He realises his perception of the world is different from the one he had in his childhood, when everything seemed fine and everybody loyal to one another. Therefore he wishes he could look after all the young kids who aren't yet aware of the hypocrisy that affects human beings and these feelings are really strong whenever he's next to his little sister Phoebe, who could be regarded as the epitome of sincerity and need of protection.
You will fall in love with Holden's forthright way of thinking, you'll end up sticking up for him during the tons of arguments he has with "phony bastards" such as his arrogant and conceited roommate Stradlater or a pimp that tries to fix him up with a young prostitute, you'll get very emotional when reading about Holden's deceased brother Allie, you'll be amused when the starring of this book is taking the piss out of his nerdy roommate Ackley, you'll get really involved while reading about the topsy and turvey relationship Holden has with girls and sex, you'll be glued to the pages of the book when Holden narrates about the good time he had with Jane - a girl he is very fond of - and how different she is from the others, you'll end up taking a taxi and asking the driver whether he knows where all the ducks and coots go in the wintertime when the lagoon is very icy and frozen. You'll change your way of regarding people, I mean, you'll start loving people you are getting along well with, you will literally hate people that do not give you any kind of vibe.
You'll realise how rare Holden's sincerity is, above all in a particular society where a teenager's biggest concern is the quality of his leather suitcases that could look tacky if compared to his roommate's ones.

Rating:
Summary: One of the finest examples of modern literature
Review: This book is definitely not for everyone. If you're looking for a classic novel to read simply for the sake of saying "I've read it" stop right now. Pick up something else. Not only would Holden be embarrassed for you, but more than likely you won't be able to appreciate this work for what it's worth.

"Catcher in the Rye" is manna from literary heaven for those who appreciate the written word. The story, in and of itself, in unremarkable: fifteen-year-old Holden Caulfield journeys from his private school to his New York home. Essentially, that's the plot. However, the 200 pages are wrought with detail and oozing with narrative voice.

Holden can be wry; Holden can be surprisingly deep; Holden is at times appallingly cynical; most of all, Holden is real. By the time you've finished reading, you'll know Holden better than any other character you've experienced.

I iterate: the plot is not remarkable. It's an experience that could easily be encountered by most anyone. In fact, the writing is so amazingly clear and descriptive that you just might come off feeling like it actually happened to you.

If you love to read, then this book is for you. I guarantee you'll finish it in an afternoon. If you're unsure whether or not you'll be able to appreciate this, a similar narrative piece with a deeper plot is "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky. If you read and enjoyed "Catcher in the Rye", I highly recommend any other of Salinger's books, specifically "Franny and Zooey" or "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles.