The Catcher in the Rye

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Summary: The Catcher in the Rye
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is one of those books that can easily be over analyzed, but is never understood. Some see that as part of its intrigue, but I simply find it ridiculous. The Catcher in the Rye, while not a horrible book by any means, does not live up to its widespread fame and appeal. It is a staple on school reading lists and is considered to be a "must-read" for all educated people. Why? Good question.

I've come across many people who claim to love The Catcher in the Rye, who say that it is full of deeper meaning and symbolism. Unfortunetly, when I ask them to elaborate and explain what it means, there is silence. I think that a lot of people say that they like the Catcher in the Rye because that's what you are supposed to say - you're supposed to like it. I just don't see what its appeal is.

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Summary: Just J.D. and Me
Review: Anyone who has yearned to tell a spontaneous, elaborate lie to a total stranger, just for the heck of it, will love the character of Holden Caulfield in this book. That's OK as far as it goes, but when assassins of popular cultural icons, like John Lennon's killer, seek to relate their motives for evil actions by referring to this book, what does that mean?

It means this book can also function as a magnet for the unhinged, who wish to be free by reinventing themselves.

The whole catching image articulated by irresponsible young Holden is hard to understand, too, and who really knows what a field of rye looks like anyway? Why the cliff image? Could it be that being caught in a big whopping lie is like suddenly falling over a cliff? No way to repair it? Just time for sudden, dramatic consequences?

Salinger is a riveting personality, and also a great anti-hero, exemplified by his resolution to never talk to a single critic about this book, with the sole exception of a girl writing for her high school newspaper. Maybe he was tired of over-serious, over-credentialed literati types, who are too late and too ill-equipped to redeem their heavy, boring lives from their earlier failure to embrace a little more spontaneity, a little more fun, a little more high school newspaper derring-do.

Whatever it is, it's still fun to read. Buy this book and carry it around and just watch the looks you get. Especially airports and bus stations, teeming with would-be foils for the next Holden Caulfield to play with.

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Summary: The Catcher In The Wry
Review: Contrary to popular opinion, I think this book is slightly misunderstood. J D Salinger's famous novel is actually very amusing and witty. It is not all morose teen-angst and frustration. By far the most enjoyable bits of the book, (to me anyway!) are when Holden is making fun of the 'phonies' around him. Like the guy outside the cinema who has to take a step back before he can speak just so everyone notices him. That cracked me up. I don't quite know how this book has gotten such a strange reputation as being connected to psychotics and conspirators. It is a shame because there is a lot more charm to Holden than a bunch of loony bins.

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Summary: One of my favorite books of all time
Review: This book has a lot of important themes that have to do with adolescence and life. Reading this book taught me a lot about life, and it definately has earned the title of a classic. It is worth it to read this book.

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Summary: The Quintessential Teenager? Puh-leeze!
Review: What a prison of pessimism. Reading Catcher in the Rye felt like bathing in a toxic waste plant.

T.S. Elliot said, 'April is the cruelest month of the year' because the sun reveals some things we'd rather not see. Likewise, Salinger's work conjures up the darkest memories of adolescence'memories I'd ceremoniously burned (along with my acid wash jeans and Debbie Gibson cassettes) years ago.

Of course, I must recognize that my response is perhaps reflective of my aged removal from young adulthood. As an educator, it is imperitive that I am tuned in to what makes my students tick. If there's one redeeming element of the book, it is that I was reminded of what a potential time bomb is the teenage brain. Regardless, I'm sure that point could have been made without harping on the most banal aspects of adolescent existence.

Having recently observed the teaching of Catcher in the Rye in a high school classroom, I experienced first hand student's reactions of apathy and distaste for the book. Student editorials discussed Holden's narrow character development. One student made the point that if Caulfield is a character adults use to peer into the adolescent mind, they are largely misled. The common consensus among the students held that Holden is not the quintessential teenager.

So I think it unfortunate that students suffer through the Catcher experience. While I cannot speak for everyone, the specific classes I observed were most turned off by Holden's language, poor decision making, and overall depression. Many explained that Holden is not a character they would like to strive to be like. Rather, he is merely someone to feel sorry for. And who wants to read an entire book where the primary emotion invoked is pity?

I will acknowledge that there are certain themes in Catcher that are universal. Themes include loss of innocence, rebellion from society, mental instability, death, immaturity in sexual relationships, and resentment towards parents. While these are issues most any teenager can relate to, presentation is of the essence. Unfortunately, based on my HS classroom observations, Salinger's writing style and characters have little to offer today's breed of students.

I wonder if my reaction to the book would be different were I ten years younger. But as for now, I already know how bad raw sewage reeks, so why expose myself to such noxious fumes page after page? The masochists can have their Catcher. I'd rather drink my tea with two sugars, thank you.

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Summary: A classic read.
Review: A book that's a good read for either adult or teenager, we follow the adventures of life with a young man named Holden. A good comming of age story and it reads true to life all the way through. It's the book my boyfriend rereads annually.

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Summary: dated and vacous
Review: perhaps a novel which is too much viewed through rose coloured lenses. although well enough written i have always found the story to be somewhat absent. an uninteresting mildly nihilistic character, meanders through a brief and uninteresting plot. leaves me cold.

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Summary: The first (and best) coming-of-age novel
Review: I think people who criticize this book (and Holden himself) for being trite or self-indulgent or whatever are forgetting just how revolutionary Catcher was at the time it was published. No one had written a book like this before. No one had bothered with the confused, imperfect, wise-beyond-his-years, yet painfully inexperienced teenage point-of-view. Since then, we've been inundated with Salinger imitators in all areas of entertainment--books, tv and film. All of these archetypal copies have, unfortuntely, undermined just how unique this story, and this character really are. This is not just the first modern coming-of-age novel, but the finest.

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Summary: Holden reminds me of an old boyfriend
Review: Holden's character is so believable (despite what other reviewers have said) that he actually reminds me of somebody I used to know. His language, thoughts, and actions are so similar to many modern teenagers.
When I read this book in high school I remember it made me laugh out loud and I truly enjoyed it. I decided to read it again last year (my senior year in college). I was still equally impressed with the book, but I'd forgotten how depressing it was. Holden is a negative optimist whose emotions run high and low and really take the reader there with him.
Not just a 'coming of age' book, but certainly a classic that everyone should read at least once.

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Summary: Profanity???
Review: I don't get it. Holden freaks out so bad when he reads that cuss word on the wall in Phoebe's school. And yet, on virtually every page of the book, Holden is cussing! And the bit where he says he's really glad the atomic bomb has been invented... What a gaff! Apart from that, there were some amusing bits. There really were. But come on. It's not that great, people. Try reading 1984 or All Quiet On The Western Front. Get a taste of reality.