J.D. Salinger: The Catcher In The Rye

Diba said:

Of course that would have been the best, but I got this task today [i.e. months ago] and it needs to be done by tomorrow.

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Isn't that always the way?

I find it extremely hard to believe that any educational establishment would set questions on a book and expect the answers the following day. What if the person hasn't read the book?

Stewart said:

Isn't that always the way?

I find it extremely hard to believe that any educational establishment would set questions on a book and expect the answers the following day. What if the person hasn't read the book?

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Ok, let me be honest... We got this task 5 days ago, but I haven't got the time to do it yet.

Well, how about rather than waste time sitting on the internet hoping someone gives you the answers you use that time to read the book? It's only about 160 pages, or something, and should only take a few hours to read again. Then you can answer the questions. Expecting others to help is only cheating yourself.

It was a task which we could choose if we wanted to complete or not...
I'm actually done with it now anyway.

Even if you're done with the assignment, I still would recommend the book. It's a good book, and I find I have different reactions to it each time I read it.

I loathe this book.

veggiedog said:

Holden is a difficult character. He is difficult to like because he tends to get himself into situations...and complain about them. He is difficult to hate because he has that innocence and vulnerability and fear that many of us have felt, or at least understood. He is difficult to sympathize with and difficult to respect, but is someone who needs both sympathy and respect. He is immature, but knows and sees more than many adults do.

I don't think that Holden is a brat. He is lost and confused. He doesn't understand life. There have been two events in his past that have made him: the death of his brother and the suicide of a classmate. His problem is his attitude. Some people are bothered by the fact that he is pathetic, selfish, and insecure at the beginning of the novel and pathetic, selfish, and insecure at the end. But it's not as though he doesn't change. It's not as though he doesn't learn anything.

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I completely agree, but plenty of people hate him. I loved the book when I was 12. I was nonchalant about it when i reread it for high school when i was 15. Most of the people that I could think of hating it are girls who have a obscure image of wealthy kids. (basically think that they are all spoiled brats who don't appreciate their academic opportunities)

veggiedog said:

To have him have learned his lesson like a good little boy and earn a Boy Scout patch for good citizenship would be unrealistic. That's not the way the real world operates

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I also agree, and I feel that the people who hate this book fail to see this. The same people that I am thinking of never faced death. There have been suicides in my school, but none of their friends committed suicide, let alone wore their clothes while jumping from their room. Since when do teenagers respond positively to these events?

veggiedog said:

He also changes his attitude of towards the world by at least deciding to try harder at school and being more accepting of his position in life.

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People tend to ignore this and just focus on his whining. What teenager doesn't whine?

veggiedog said:

Holden represents, in many ways, all teens and what they have to go through to grow up and accept the adult world.:

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Its probably why every freshmen in America reads this, as a message that they are not alone. I wish this book wasn't so hated because it reveals the annoying but true side of adolescence

i hate this book, haatted it.

Question about The Catcher in the Rye.

Hi there,

I have a question about The Catcher in the Rye.

I just found out about the book and pretty interested in it.
I'm 18 years old, Am I to old to read it?
I don't live in the US and don't know much about the book, so therefore my question.

Thanks,
Ian

I don't think you're too old for it. I read it when I was 32 and I am still alive to tell the tale.

Oh, and welcome aboard!

sparkchaser said:

I don't think you're too old for it. I read it when I was 32 and I am still alive to tell the tale.

Oh, and welcome aboard!

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Thanks.
To Ebay I go!

I did not enjoy this book at all. It gave me a headache. The slow decay until nervous breakdown. Too heavy for me, I guess.

I really liked the book, although I'm not too far off being a teenager myself, so I found the narrative slightly irritating as it reminded me of the teenage boys that I know!
Catcher in the Rye is an awesome book that deals with the very essence of teenage angst.
Can anyone recommend any other Salinger books?

Smallville said:

Hi there,

I have a question about The Catcher in the Rye.

I just found out about the book and pretty interested in it.
I'm 18 years old, Am I to old to read it?
I don't live in the US and don't know much about the book, so therefore my question.

Thanks,
Ian

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I think you're probably the perfect age to read this book because you have the maturity to understand the underlying themes and issues but you can still relate to the agonies of being a teenager!

The Catcher in the Rye is a modern classic, one of the greatest works of 20th Century literature. The only problem is, it's usually loved for the wrong reasons and has become - unfairly - a bible for misguided youths.

It's a one of a kind book. No, it's not a blind rebellion and hatred against adults and society. That's saying nothing of its nuance and its powerful depiction of a troubled, confused, gifted and self-defeating individual trying to come to terms with a perplexing and hypocritical world.

Holden Caulfield is one of the most intricate characters of literature. It seems people either love him or loathe him. Either way, he is a great character, the protagonist of a truly great and admirably unique, funny, sad and moving novel.

Finished it last night, reading it in three days. As a teenager I could sympathise with Holden however I consider myself cynical on quite a high level but I am nowhere near as bad as Holden. Basically, he is lonely obviously and scared of reaching adulthood. Great book though.

The Catcher in the Rye: J.D.Salinger

The Catcher has Caught some Eye

Written in the 1950s by J.D.Salinger, comes the well renown 'Catcher in the Rye'.

The book follows the nights of a teenage boy, named Holden Caulfield, that had been spent after being expelled from his former school, Pencey High. Attempting to avoid his parents and avoid confronting them with the news yet again, Holden Caulfield wonders the streets of New York, coming across encounters with people new and old, and experiencing depression and emotional instabilities.

Catcher in the Rye would be far more appropriate to teenage and young adult audiences. Audiences such as these can relate to the emotions experienced by Holden and the actions performed in certain situations. Holdens' thoughts and views on the personality of people and certain issues, such as sex and former girlfriends, can greatly appeal to teenage audiences, as they would be experiencing the same emotions and issues covered in the book.

J.D.Salinger has covered the emotions and reactions experienced towards adolescents. Emotions such as depression and inner insecurity can be the reaction towards adolescents and maturity. This key issue has been well informed through Holden Caulfields' thoughts towards certain experiences, such as having sexual urges, and having negative thoughts towards ageing and maturity. He also covers how people can feel insecure with themselves, and can be living a fantasy as they are afraid to face the reality. This is evident through Holden Caulfields' ridiculous ideas of how he is going to live the rest of his life, with a girl he hardly likes.

The events and emotions covered in this novel are quite realistic and have been written in an appropriate manner. The characteristics and caliber of Holden Caulfield have not been described to seem unrealistic or over exaggerated, which makes audiences feel as if they can relate more to such a character. Actions performed by the protagonist in certain events fit appropriately with his emotional state at the time which allows the story to seem more practical. J.D.Salinger had written the novel in monologue /first person to allow audiences to feel as if they are obtaining the views and emotions directly from the protagonist.

J.D.Salinger has done a marvellous job writing Catcher in the Rye. Though there have been many controversies and challenges concerning the novels content, this is still a novel worth reading. The novel being quite short gets straight into the main events and complications experienced by the protagonist. This novel is sure to engage any teenage audience.

Rating: 5/5

Please message below if this review has been helpful.

I have had this book so long,I have not read it yet.

I first read Catcher in the Rye a few years ago. There is a chance I'd have liked it better if I'd been a young person, reading it for the first time, but as it is, I disliked the book, even while appreciating the talent of Salinger.

You have caught the angst of the book though, and very skillfully brought out the aspects of depression that Holden suffers, which I've found many people miss in their reading.

Very nice review.

I read that book as a teenager.