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This Catcher in the Rye is one book I wish I never read. If you want to read a great coming of age book, read A Separate Peace or A Prayer for Owen Meany. In my opinion, the hype is all this book has. Actually I didn't even bother to finish it, because it is such a waste of paper and time. If you want to read about a real hero, read The Real George Washington. I have spent my life reading most of the classics, along with best sellers, biographies, etc. I stopped counting when I got to 10,000 books read, about 13 years ago, so I consider myself to be a book connoisseur.
My guess is Salinger had a issue with authority figures all his life and let it all out in this book. I do think society will be shown as the cause if they ever make a movie or Holden will be shown as some misguided saint. I have read some of the reviews and I think they are giving Salenger way to much credit.
If you took all that out, the story would be the same but it would be much more readable to a larger audiance. Kind of reminds me of the teenage boy shooters that we have seen over the last few years. Holden has some real mental issues going but I don't think society is the cause as my guess Salinger would like us to think.
I just read the book, now I am 47 and this is what I got out of it: All the adults are not dealing with a troubled youth in a constructive way. There is lots of cussing for no really good reason in the book. I wonder if any one of them have read this book.
This is a book where the adults are dumb and the only smart one is the kid sister. I can say that I have read it so I can at least discuss it with others but I got no insite into my life from it and neither did Holden by the way.
I glanced at it again over my daughter's shoulder on a long plane ride a few years ago and couldn't wait for her to finish so I could read it again. His parents and his sister are all too damaged by their own grief to help him, and he's struggling to feel something while avoiding feeling anything. Like most people, I was required to read this book in the late 60s. I was shocked to see that I had completely missed the point: it's about Holden's vertiginous fall into depression after the death of his little brother. These are familiar demons, beautifully evoked. I don't have any recollection of being touched by it at all. I read it again in college, and either I thought it was all about disaffection and rejecting middle class values or I was told that by my teachers.
The book was in excellent condition as well. Very quick shipment of Catcher in the Rye. I had it shipped to my brother for a birthday present and I can't wait for him to read it.
catcher, a prayer for owen meany and live like a fruit fly - my favs of all time.
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