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Summary: THIS IS A GOOD BOOK!!!
Review: The Catcher in the Rye tells about a boy who flunks high school and roams around New York City. This book shows the psyche of a 'normal' kid. It is not all stiff and adultish. People who are obsessed with not swearing will not like it, and people who are obsessed with swearing should enjoy it.
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Summary: this is what wastebaskets are for...
Review: Catcher in the Rye is possibly the weakest novel I have ever suffered through. It is a constant whine session in which only the background changes. It is even a poor example of angst literature. If you want a real classic in the field try Jack Kerouac's Maggie Cassidy. Otherwise, avoid purchasing this book. If you already wasted the money, you may join me in throwing it into the trash.
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Summary: American Teenage Beauty
Review: For the teenages and preadolences alike who read this novel the broad range of feelings in the goings on within Holden reflects an inner part of what we all could be. The catcher in the rye beautifully answers the question of what would happen if we decided to flunk out of our classes and try to make it on our own. His experiences in dating women, social affairs, and life in general reveal his character as being one of a loser in the eyes of the read. Such a loser that we, ourselves, have to question weither or not we embody at all. Do we, in fact, have problems with women, social functions, or school? For the vast majority of the population that is definitely the case thereby making the reader better able to relate to this boy who has moved in a downward spiral from some of our nation's top schools down to a mental ward reflecting upon the life that, at 17, had all gone terribly wrong.
The simple and collequal tone that Salinger gives to his protagonist gives a personal feeling reflecting almost a diary the likes of which far escape Anne Frank or any other such form. The less than eloquent style of writing and speaking that plagues Holden from progression and mirrors his lackluster work put into English provides empathy for a boy feeling as though the world has been coming down upon him as we all do during various points in our tumultious lives, and unlike us, Holden cracks under the pressure and gives into his most basic of sinful desires. While living in a motel he calls upon the services of a women of ill-repute, but backs out at the absolute last minute. When money runs low he has to go back to his sister to ask for some, money that would be taken from her piggy bank. Here a sister looks to help his brother during some of the lowest points of his teenage years. The love between the two shines through, and by the end of the novel the amount of love felt by the Caufield family toward their mentally scarred child comes between the lines.
After finishing the novel and before reading it again the idea of who would be to blame for the crime against this young man's well being and general mental health. The family did little to acomidate their son other than pay for him to go an expensive school on the east coast, yet lent no other real moral support per se. The ipso facto education provided by the universities did nothing to remedy the ills in academic and social areas during his stay on campus. Finally Holden's own inability to be mature enough to face to his final sense of failure by going back to his parents all let up to his eventual crack.
Salinger looks only to mock the american education system or the lack thereof in prestigious high schools such as Pencey Prep. There he recieved just the same education that he would have while being at a public school, while being provided with more of the types of people that could correctly balence his life. In effect giving him a better chance to steer clear of any problems that he may have had. In the end the paranoid feeling of "don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody" presents Holden's despiration and sadness at his current state of affairs. Life is beautiful? Hardly, to Holden Caulfield life can be a horribly and competative place the likes of which we all struggle to survive in. What a great piece of literature.
Rating: 
Summary: I would have given 5 stars when I was 14.
Review: This used to be my favorite book, when I was a teenager. Not that I am far removed from that now-I am 24, but this book still had a profound effect on me. I first read it when I was 14, and thought it was genius. I re-read it every couple of years, to see how my interpretations of the book change as I get older.At 14, I thought it was the best book I had ever read. At 18, I couldn't get over how angry Holden was. At 24, I see Holden as a teenager, having trouble finding his place in the world. I know he's a fictional character, but he could represent all teenagers and I hope that he will fall in love, find real friends and his niche in the world. For a book famous for being read by teenagers, I wouldn't recommend it to them. I would really recommend this book to a young adult, maybe over 22, who was an angry teenager, to see that they are not alone and how far they have come from that place in their lives.
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Summary: A good book to read but not to study
Review: This book is awesome, there is no doubt about it. The story is one of the best but i get tired of people trying to figure out what the book means and what salinger was trying to say. I hate it when people say " it was a book about reconstructing todays society" well it could have been but the beauty of reading is interpreting everything for yourself and finding the meaning by yourself. There is no wrong answer. I promise you that you never will get tired of this book and you will read it and reread till the pages are worn out. remember its a great book to read not to study.
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Summary: Interesting reviews???
Review: I like the negative reviews better then the positive ones. I think the negative reviews capture Salinger's phony point better then the positive reviews. We all know some "Holdens", most of us never really bother to get to know them. Some of us can't handle even thinking about them (see any really negative review). I knew a "Holden" that killed himself in 10th grade. This book made me really think of him. Too bad he didn't have a sister like Phoebe. Salinger takes you inside his "Holden's" head for a few days. It isn't pleasant. Holden can make George Carlin look like an optimist. Salinger jumps right in - it's raw and has an edge. Very good book. I don't think it captures the same feeling in 2002 as it did in 1951. I can't believe it came out in the 1951. We're talking about 1951, most people couldn't handle Elvis shaking his hips on TV! This book must of caused a massive seizures among the proper(phony) people of the time.
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Summary: The last Three Pages...
Review: The last three pages were the best.
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Summary: Catcher in the Rye
Review: This story is about a troubled teen that had just gotten kicked out of prep school and saw things that no one else had. He never kept on track, if he said one thing about a person he had to say each and every detail about him. He was one of those people that analized a persons way of living, like his roomate and next door neighbor. They would fight almost daily that Holden too became angry and fought back.
Holden Caulfield was a genius in my eyes even though he failed every class. It wasnt't like he was smart in an academic way, but rather in a selective viewpoint. Holden knew how to speak his mind and he did it throughout the whole story. All this kid really wanted was love and respect and I feel you should read this to follow the troubles he faced to get it.
I feel that J.D. Salinger is a great writer and loved how he got into tangins. If you don't read this book, I know you'll miss something real special.
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Summary: Holden is helluva swell guy
Review: What happened in the first place was in high school we were reading Pride And Prejudice with all the phonies in it, but then the guys were complaining and this Englsih teacher her name was Miss Mishka said we can read Catcher In The Rye next. Now you don't want to hear about all that and honestly I don't want to get into it. So now I said I should walk over and pick up the good old book again and you know what I missed it! It's a darn good book for chrissakes. Holden is the main character and you keep looking for him coz he's really real and really cares and he's so genuine. I mean that kills me everytime. You have to feel sorry for him though. He's an outsider and never fits in. He's really a kid. But people think he's insane. But I think he's sane as hell. He has his ups 'n' downs but he's no phoney, if you know what I mean. The book is terrific. It's descriptive as hell and so not pretending. Gee, I miss old Holden Caulfield already if you really want to know the truth.
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Summary: Magic of the Catcher
Review: I have read this book many many times and it is fascinating to read the reviews of the fortunate who are reading it for the first time.
The first time I read The Catcher in the Rye was 40 years ago (I was 14 at the time). I was home pretending I was sick so I could have a day off school, and read it on the recommendation of my English teacher (... one of those rare teachers we somehow connect with). I remember the day vividly. I read it in one sitting. I read it transfixed. I could see myself (or wanted to see myself) in the words and experiences of Holden Caulfield. I remember feeling changed after finishing the book. Holden had parents but they were wonderfully unimportant. Holden talked of phonies and hunting caps in ways that strangely made sense of the people and the things of my teenage years.
I revisit Holden periodically and the magic is still there (though I will never capture the original magic ... thankfully).
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