The Catcher in the Rye

I had to read this book for my independent study in English last year and I found it to be more relatable then the other books our schools suggest/ force us into reading. I got to choose what book I wanted to read and I chose this book due to the hype & my curiousity surrounding the blank covers. I found that the book has a overhype surrounding it but still a very good read. I would love to read it again in the near future.

Check out my review of Salinger's book on my blog at:
http://8bookcases.blogspot.com/2011/08/catcher-in-rye-by-jd-salinger.html

This book undoubtedly had plenty of hype over the past couple decades, which is why I thought I was sinking my teeth into a very interesting read. This book is taught in schools across the world because for some reason people think that teenagers will be able to relate to themes of the book (which include teen angst, rebellion, confusion, and search for identity) and will be drawn to reading. I think this book would do the opposite and turn teenagers OFF reading! I did not like it at all! I was actually extremely frustrated with the main character and the entire book in general, even though I am a male teenager myself. I don’t think this book represented “teen confusion”, but mere stupid immaturity experienced by a spoiled teenager with too much time on his hands. Firstly, I would say that this book is devoid of an actual plot as literally nothing happens in the entire novel. It’s 280 pages of non-stop mindless droning. The only reason I kept reading was because I thought it would pick up at the end, but it doesn’t. There was about one or two quotes that I liked but beyond that, it was incredibly boring and just not the book for me. I know a couple of people that adore this book though, so it honestly depends on your taste. The style of writing was a little interesting (very subjective first person), but it was overshadowed by the bad things in the book. The main character was frustrating, the plot was mind numbing, and it didn’t hit on any interesting ideas or controversial topics whatsoever. It was an incredible bore. I hope you can see this book in a different light that I did!

So many people absolutely hate Holden Caulfield, and I don't really understand it. To me, he is a lost and confused teenager, and I felt more bad for him than anything because he really didn't seem to know what he was doing and was just looking for some sort of answers in the people around him, but wasn't receiving them.

I love Holden, I find the more I read the book, the more I empathize and wish to embrace him adoringly. He is just so sad, so lost. Wonderful book, in my opinion. If you couldn't find the story, you're not looking in right places. You're not feeling his character, I guess. I found that the plot was a pivotal movement in what I thought a story could be. Lovely book.

I've noticed, reading other reviews, that 50% of people LOVED IT and 50% DID NOT LOVE IT.... and I'm one that didn't. I thought there was absolutely no plot... I felt like I was reading some drunk's attempt at a short story for college. I was disappointed in this book. I wish I had something good to say but I felt this to be a waste of time. Sorry.

This book is BRILLIANT!

I've never encountered this style of writing before and it took me by surprise! I couldn't stop giggling all throughout the book because the writing style was refreshing and funny although the subject matter that it tackled was not funny at all.

This book talks about a 17 year boy who is having trouble adapting to life and mostly to his brothers death and thus keeps getting kicked out from school after school. All throughout the book he questions life and the purpose of it all.

The book starts by him getting kicked out of school again and it follows him for the next three days where he leaves school early and instead of going home wanders New York City.

The readers see what's going through this teenage boys mind ; how he hates everything because it all seems "phony" to him. His college friends are "phony" , his teachers are "phony" , his girlfriend is "phony", life is "phony". The only person he really likes who he thinks is real is his 10 year old sister who just "kills him" and his dead brother who he considers as his favorite person ever.

I hardly ever get inspired to read aloud to someone but this book made me read many paragraphs to my husband, it makes you want to quote it all the time. I honestly could quote it forever. And the phrases the author uses in the book are cool. I feel like I want to say "it kills me" or " I am not kidding" or " I am serious" or " if you want to know the truth" at the end of every sentence because the main character says these phrases all the time.

This book kills me!

I really felt as if a 17 year kid was talking all throughout the book. The confused thoughts, hating people one second and wanting to marry them the next, the crazy hormones all teenagers suffer from, the uncertainty of life and what he wants out of life.The angst and alienation that comes with being a teenager.

No wonder "The novel was included on a 2005 Time Magazine list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923,[8] and it was named by Modern Library and its readers as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century"

This book is brilliant and it is a classic because even 59 years after it's inception it still manages to be fresh and current.

Love it. Give it the 2 thumbs up and I would love to read it again!

The death of J. D. Salinger is sure to evoke a familiar reaction in mainstream readers. These readers have read Catcher, forgotten it, and chosen to read it again in light of the death of its author. Or, the book has been recommended and ignored, but everyone else is reading it (in light of the author's death) which is reason enough to break your abstinence. And why not? Oprah hasn't recommended a book in ages and you need something to read. Phonies! Are you reading the book because it is a timeless classic? Or, are you reading the book because the author died, because everyone else is, because you want to follow the crowd? Hypocrites! Do you think this is what the author wants? "Sure, people are reading his books..." Wrong! People are reading for the wrong reason. The message is lost on the blind! "Sure, people are buying his book..." Wrong! Money is worthless to the dead! Is Salinger dead? NO! He is alive in these pages, and the pages of every published work. This isn't his only story, but it is the most obvious. Do you want to be obvious? Buy this book, you Fake!

DO NOT read this book.
it was the worst book i've ever read. it took me four month to finish it. And i've finished books in two hours.
Boring and pointless. Don't read.

I read this book in English class years ago and I'll admit the first time I read through it I didn't really think much of it. But - because I had to write a paper on Holden's nature and the symbolism the author uses to further describe Holden and his state of mind, I re-read it and it really is an amazing story about perception and Holden's unwillingness to mentality and emotionally mature into an adult. Some people argue that the plot is boring or whatnot but in all fairness the story in it's self is about Holden and the way he views the world.
It's not for everyone but to each their own.

In all honesty, i didn't think much of this book. I could sometimes relate to the main character, but most often i found him unrealiable and unconsistent.

First time reading this classic and couldn't put it down at times. Slow to get into for the first few chapters or so, but well worth the wait. Story about a young man who's coming to the climax of an emotional breakdown, and reminds oneself of past troubles at times. Must read for any fan of classic literature.. :)

The book was alright, but I found it a bit boring at times. A male gets kicked out of school and lives in hotels to avoid telling his parents the truth. The ending, I found, did not have a very good conclusion. Even though this book is a "classic", I found there was a lack of events within the plot.

This book is quite good. I would recommend it towards the teen and Young adult section. I wouldn't recommend this towards a younger crowd mostly because of the language used in most pages.

The book is truly a classic tale, where the reader will be able to relate with the main character, Holden Caulfield.
I found this book to have little to no plot, but the character development of the main character made this book much more enjoyable.
Without the relation to the character, I wouldn't recommend this book. It's one of those "You hate it, or you love it" kind-of books.

"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger is written in first person. Holden Caulfield tells the story of his expulsion from Pencey, a college preparatory school and of his experiences in New York City while he is missing in action. It is evident from the beginning of the book that Holden is about to crash and burn. Holden looks at everything as being phoney and has a negative outlook of his friends and teachers, but he does have a soft spot for his younger sister Phoebe, for a friend named Jane and for his family.

Phoebe, Holden's younger sister has a power over Holden, and she is able to understand him in ways others are not; I love it when Phoebe tells Holden to stop swearing (I often felt like telling him myself). Holden's main reason for finally seeking the help he needs is Phoebe, though younger she is more mature than Holden in a number of areas and she rescues him from himself.

By the end of the book, Holden is in a psychiatric hospital, which is a relief because it was painful to read about him falling apart and no one was smart enough to get him the help he needed.

As much as I loathed Holden and his foul mouth and his hypocrisy, everything he hated in others was mirrored by his own actions and he was blind to it, I found I liked him and I wanted him to make things work out in the end. Kids unfortunately grow up and face situations that can no longer be blocked out by adults and the kids either survive them (some scarred) or they do not survive. Holden in the end does survive, but is scarred and his attitude seems little changed, but he is still breathing and I guess that is something.

I started out reading this book with high expectation and was tremendously let down. This book came highly recommended from an English teacher at my school and my friend who hates reading and loved it. I was extremely let down beyond all belief! This story really had no plot but was really only about the wanderings of a teenaged boy after his expulsion from a prep school and how much he hates to see changes everywhere he goes. I don't recommend this book. The only good thing about the book is the end... where you are finally done reading it and can actually move onto something interesting! I love reading but was always putting it off because I really hated this book which I was reading... it took me three weeks to read this! That is ridiculous!

I can see why at the time it was published that it was something special. It has good characterization; it is very well written and has an interesting style. The story on the other hand is offensive in places and very pedestrian. If it weren't for the writing style and fame I would not have finished it. By todays standards it is almost a childrens book though. Especially when you take into account the desensitization by todays media.

I picked up this book a couple years ago, red a few chapters then put it back on my bookshelf. Last week, i took it out and started reading it again. I absolutely love it! Its a great story about the struggles of an academically challenged kid scared what his parents would think if they would have found that he got kicked out of school for the second time. The author does drag on situations but they do end up aiding in the development of Holden's character.
I was in high school when I first picked it up. I put it back on the shelf because it was written years ago and I wanted tor read new books. Big mistake there. This is a timeless classic that people will relate to generations into the future. Many of us can say that we have come across characters like Ackley and Stradlater, and I don't think that will ever change.
PICK IT UP AND READ IT!!!

I've recently red this classic, it is a story about a sixteen year old young man who is kicked out of school. To avoid letting his parents know, he must stay away from home for a few days, so he decides to spend his time in New York City. This book follows the time that this young man spends away from home. I thought this book was good. The story line was interesting and quite humorous, although I thought the plot could have been a bit more exciting. None the less, I enjoyed reading this book, and I recomend it to anyone wanting to read a thought provoking novel.