Rating: 
Summary: Only for those who believe that "SOCIETY SUCKS!"
Review: If you bring up the name Holden Caulfield in any conversation, you might get a few blanks, but in a lot of cases, it's either "That book saved my life" or "I'm preparing the oven for 451 degrees, it's so bad." I rank under the former.I borrowed the all too common paperback copy from the local library (actually the main branch in downtown Fort Wayne, IN, excellent system there), wondering what all the controversy that still stands was about. I was instantly hooked on it. I just never finished it. I have a common tendency to leave books right at the beginning or at the very middle. There is no real plot, so you could just start where you left off without really caring. The book has gained so much controversy, to my knowledge, there had only been one audiobook of it, meant for the visually-impaired. That's sad, considering I can handle audiobooks better. It's about a rebellious, but respectful in some aspects, teenager who flunked out of prep school, on his trek back to his home in New York. He ends up in predicaments such as getting really drunk and becoming customer to a hooker. Addressing these sort of things were very uncalled for back when this was released, and now we've got Jerry Springer to skip over.
Unfortunately, Mr. Salinger wrote only 2 other books and became reclusive. Once you've become a real fan, you might want to check out Salinger's daughter's memoirs of her father. I haven't read it, but it provides some exclusive insight to Salinger's exiled life.
Rating: 
Summary: youth
Review: I've never been a real big Holden fan like friends of mine were in high school. I do think if I would have read it in the right voice it would have been funnier at least. I never felt exactly that way though. My kind of rebellion came at the same age but against different things. Anyway to this day I am still kind of suspect of anyone who says their favorite book is Catcher. Do they not realize that other books were written and ones more pertinent to their present age and ultimately more satsifying than that one. I sympathized with this character but the reason this book is not taught in schools isn't because it is dirty but because it is just mediocre literature. Salinger is not a great author just a sentimental favorite. Salinger's book is important for being the first to give a kid credit for having insight beyond his years but that is the extent of this books importance. I have to confess that at Holden's age I liked Dumas(imagination!), Rock 'n Roll(passion!), and certain young ladies(....!), and simply ignored parents, teachers and all pretenders to that unoccupied(as far as I was concerned) throne of authority. My advice to youth: put your faith in lasting things like literature, read David Copperfield. And make use of your youthful energy and passion and good cool kid sense, become an interesting person that the generation of kids after you will look up to. Four stars because even though not a fan, Holden just needs an understanding friend after all.
Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking...
Review: This book chronicles the mental breakdown of its main character, Holden Caulfield. Written in the first person, we gain access to the cynical and sardonic attitude of a youth who is unable to synthesize his emotions and mores into a cogent view of the world. Young readers of this work may find much in common with Holden. Older readers may simply find him petulant and immature. I decided to read this book for the first time at age 43, mainly to see what all the hubbub was about (Lennon/Hinckley, etc). The book did help reacquaint me with the unrealistic idealism and haphazard thought processes that plagued me during adolescence. At the same time, I have to wonder about the mental health of anyone who can fully relate to the main character. Salinger's "stream of consciousness" style makes for a difficult and often frustrating read. I spent much of the first half of the book seeking a plot that didn't exist. The book has no beginning, middle, or end; and is more of a psychological profile than a novel. If your goal is to be entertained, this isn't the book for you. If you want to get in touch with another part of your psyche, it might be. Either way, I suspect it's not the kind of book you'll want to crack open more than once.
Rating:
Summary: SWEEEEETTTTT!
Review: This book is not your basic tale of growing up, it shows the harshness (and the hailarious) characteristics New York has on a free adolescent. A very funny book, the only bad part is that he uses "phoney" way to much! (but who really cares?) Salinger's excellent discriptions give you a good picture without over crowding it wiht minor details. ***** for me and thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: A good book
Review: I read the review of someone else's on this page, who said you like Holden less as you get older. I don't agree with that statement. I think the older you get, the more you like Holden, because you realize how perceptive he is, and yet there is still that young innocence about him. I've also read "At Home in the World", a memoir by Joyce Maynard, the Author who had somewhat of an affair with him when she was 18, and he was 53. And if you are an avid J.D. fan, it's strange once you read her book. Apparently, J.D., or, "Jerome David Salinger" was very much like all the characters in his books. Smart, strange, confused; looking for more out of life than what life could ever give you. Even in her recount of their year long correspondance-turned romance, you never doubt once that what she is saying isn't true.
And so, even with all his seclusion, his hatred for most of the "real-world" characters, and his private collection of writings that were probably brilliant, you have to respect him for creating Holden. It's always nice to read that book and take a deep breath, because you are reading about a character who has real flaws, real insecurities, and seems pretty genuine.
Rating:
Summary: Salinger is right on the mark...even today
Review: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a captivating coming of age story. The novel's protagonist, Holden Caulfield, ia an immature and naive teenager whose witty, pessimistic narration has captured readers of all ages for decades.
Throughout the novel, Holden is alienated by both child and adult world, for his failure to meet the standards of either. His childlike and derogatory outlook on life seperates Holden from his peers. Salinger captures the true essence of teenage angst and confusion in this revolutionary story.
Rating:
Summary: Great peice of American Literature
Review: By far one of the best books I have ever read. Part my of my continuing quest to read as many books as I can on the NY Times "Top 100 Best Novels Ever Written."
It is the simple story of a youth who has not exactly found his direction in life just yet. A classic story of a young man looking for direction, regardless of the era in which it was written, all young people have gone through this stage in their life.
This is part of what makes it so fun to read, his style flows very well and although the whole book takes place over a matter of a few days, you feel like you are with the character every minute of every day and can visualize his whole surroundings and his thoughts and how and why he sees everything how he does.
Truly a fun book to read.
Rating:
Summary: I liked it more at 24, then when I was 15
Review: I first read this book when I was a sophomore in high school. I remember myself drawn into it then but after I finished it I thought it was fun but didn't quite think it a classic. Recently, I had felt a need to escape my everyday life and the idea of taking off from my job, roommates, life really appealed to me so I picked up this book again. I read it little bits and pieces and treasured each moment. I really identify with Holden a lot mre now after being in the world for a little bit. Salinger's observations through Holden are interesting and his digressions make for great reads. But what I noticed this time around almost above everything else is the intense and sharp humor of the book. I found myself several times laughing out loud. The book is really funny. Holden's observations are so true, it's just funny. The humor relies on behavior instead of jokes and I think at 24, I've observed more behavior and appreciate the humor. The relationships Holden has a very touching and interesting too. I felt that he was more similar in this regard to an early twenty something than a high schooler, but I think early twenty-somethings are a lot more "phony" than holden so he works better as a high schooler. It's a good book. I want to read it again.
Rating:
Summary: Doing this for a class
Review: I read Catcher in the Rye at the end of the last academic school year in my english class my senior year. The novel was a good piece of literature. There was language that was harsh in it and my teacher warned us about that before we started, but the value of the novel as a historical piece was great and more students should be made to read it. The symbolism was incrediable and I enjoyed J.D. Salinger's style of writing. I honestly dont remember as much of the novel as I would like, but I remember that it was a good piece of literature and I would recommend it to any avid reader.
Rating: 
Summary: catcher in the rye-a voyage of monsterous proportions
Review: catcher in the rye, a book, a lengend. the book to me was like a devil hell ride. It boiled my skin like 83 pots of boiling hash oil. the raven cries... laissez-faire! the lights, the carnage.. who wilt cry last when the world shares it horrage with the world. not a story, the CATCHER IN THE RYE is no book, it is a way of life. It engrips your being with the hold of 1 million lumberjacks
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