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Summary: The Catcher in the Rye
Review: When one reads The Catcher in the Rye, they must learn to live life in Holden's shoes. Experiencing the book from a 1st person narrative is one of the most enjoyable parts. That way if Holden's intense psychological pain becomes unbearable, one will be able to step back and watch from outside the box. Holden and Salinger set a standard for character, realism, perspective, and style back in 1946. In fact it might be the most influential book in the post-war era, in my opinion. Holden's point of view is troubling due to the fact that such trivial things, like as the phonyness of people, disturb him. If these things don't really matter, then what is Holden running away from? All these questions and more are ultimately realized if one is to approach the book with an open mind. This is personally my favorite book I've read so far in my life. It answers the really interesting questions about life, love, and identity. I highly suggest it is read and studied by any lover of humanity and existence.
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Summary: THE MOST RELEVANT BOOK OF ANYONE'S LIFE!!!
Review: I'm not going to write a book report. I'm just writing for the purpose of a review- to tell you my opinion. This book sets itself apart from all other books in one special way- it's real. No, I'm not saying it's non-fiction. If J.D. Salinger says it's fiction, it is. I'm telling you the emotions are real. The personalities are real, and the situations are real. Everyone at one point in their life has felt themselves caught in a downward spiral, that they can't get out of. Everyone has lost motivation for life, and has felt lost and without a purpose. Salinger took these emotions everyone experiences and put them in a book. And the result is a book that will in one way or another have and impact on your life.
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Summary: Good, but not great.
Review: I believe much of the hype of this book has to do with the time of release. Many things shock us based on our culture at the time. This book would not be a 'blip on the radar screen' if released today. Overall a good piece of work, but not as epic today.
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Summary: This is not a novel!
Review: Catcher in the Rye is one of the best books I've read. It didn't change my life. I don't sleep with it. What it did do was reveal things that I've always known about but have never talked to anyone about. Salinger talks about the little stupid things that people say and do that don't really make any sense. He talks about phonies and how they behave, but more importantly, he also describes some real people. This is a great book, but if you're looking for a plot or suspense, you've got the wrong idea.
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Summary: Holden Caufield's Voice
Review: Holden Caulfield said things I could never say, those things I would never say if I had the chance.How many teenagers felt that way reading "The Catcher in the Rye"? While Holden searches for himself, the meaning of life, he was a younger version of those in the Beat movement, or James Dean. Readers go from "Catcher" to Kerouac's "On the Road," with the same easy-going, streaming thoughts kind of way. "The Catcher in the Rye" grabs at the introspective self. Like so many of the Oprah books are for women, "Catcher" is the for teen male. (Did I offend the teens guys, or the Oprah fans?!) I fully recommend "The Catcher in the Rye." It isn't a literary masterpiece, but will intrigue even the passive reader. Anthony Trendl
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Summary: Stop looking for a point, and just read.
Review: This book is not supposed to have a point. At all. That's why this book is considered a modern classic. J.D. Salinger had no purpose for writing this book, except to write. After reading this book, you really start to think about how trivial things are, like why you care about "phonies", and that life should be lived minute to minute. Holden shows the reader the beauty of life just being lived, with no ambition, and no other reason, except to stay mildly happy. Holden holds high standards for everyone around him, even strangers. And the one person who can keep within the highest of these standards is his sister, Pheobe. Salinger goes beyond petty sibling rivalry, to show the deeper human connection in Holden's shallow world. The person who does not understand the point of this book, understands perfectly. Holden is a hero, living through beating after beating, mild homelessness, dealing with the ignorant, and missing out on an education. Anyone can gain from reading this book. You just have to stop looking for the point, and just read.
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Summary: Jesus Christ!
Review: I have been reading these reviews and I don't think one single person really gets what the hell Salinger was trying to say. I don't know myself! Personally, I think that Holden is bi-polar because his moods fluxuate so rapidly. This is made worse by the death and continued grief of his brother Allie. Also, I think it's important to mention the part where Holden is staying at a former teacher's house and wakes to find the man stroking his hair. Later, Holden says that that sort of perverty thing had happened to him a lot when he was a child. So what I think we have here is a bi-polar teenager who has been molested and has never gotten over his brother's death. That would screw anyone up. Don't you think?
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Summary: You either love this book or you hate it
Review: This is a love it or hate it type book. I for one, loved it. It was a great book because it perfectly captured Holden's teenage angst. This book really reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird because both books deal with loss of innocence. Holden is going through this loss of innocence in the book, and he seems to think that he's alone in the world in this passage from child to adult. Although I would never say this book is as good as To Kill a Mockingbird, it still does a pretty nice job of what I think Salinger was trying to accomplish. And that of course is what helps to make this objectively a "good book," the fact that you as the reader can easily grasp this book and enjoy what the author is trying to tell you. I would reccomend this book to anyone just simply because while I can't say everyone will like this book, it is by an intelligemt peson's standards, a "good book."
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Summary: An admirable voice that couldn't touch this "Phonie"
Review: I had immense expectations for this book before i even flipped open to the first page, due to the fact that one of my best friend absolutely worshipped this book (that already shows how much of a "phony" I am). However, no matter how hard I tried, I simply could not relate with Holden. It wasn't that I didn't hear his message or empathize with him, but it was as if some very subtle but crucial connection was missing between us. I guess the biggest reason I couldn't connect with Holden was because I am one of those children that he failed to catch and fell off the cliff. Unfortunately, as life progresses, it is inevitable that we lose some of our innocence. However, the degree of cynicism expressed by Holden was simply too much for this generally optimistic reader. I probably would have appreciated this book much more if i had read it during my teenage angst years rather than my current stage of my life (one of balance and content). Yes, the world is full of "phonies", but that doesn't mean the end to all innocence. I guess i still feel innocent at heart, and therefore I don't think, as Holden would have put it, the world such a "crumby place".
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Summary: A thoroughly enjoyable book
Review: The catcher in the rye is a rather short yet excellent book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book while reading it. The story basically tells of a rebellious high school student named Holden Caulfield. He gets kicked out of school because of his horrible grades, but he hangs around New York instead of going home so that his mother can get the letter first and calm down before he gets home. He does a few crazy things while staying in New York, but he gets bored and finally decides to go home. The story itself is just talking about a high schoolers time in New York City, but the excellent part about the book is the way it is told. Holden Caulfield is not your typical rebellious teenage high schooler; he is much more than that. The crazy things that he does are so weird that even rebellious teenagers nowadays don't even do them. The funny thing is that whatever crazy thing he does, it sounds normal to the reader. He tells it in a way that makes you agree with what he did. Everybody around him he considers a phony and then he describes why they are stupid. People don't understand him even though he actually is a very bright person, he just doesn't show it. Many things he says are actually worth considering in our world today. The book is very funny and I finished it in just a couple of sittings, but if you are looking for an action packed book, this isn't one for you. Humor is a big key in this book and if you get the humor, you'll enjoy the book. This book is for people who think nobody understands them and that they are all alone in this world, because actually, as Holden learned, there are many people in this world that will actually listen to you if you give them the chance.
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