The Catcher in the Rye
by J. D. Salinger
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Book Reviews of The Catcher in the Rye
Book Review: If a body catch a body coming through the rye
Summary: 5 Stars
"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff (...)"
J. D. Salinger is an American novelist and best known for this very book, The Catcher in the Rye, which is considered a classic of USA's literature, being in Times list of 100 best books since 1923.
This book tells a rather uninteresting story of this sixteen-year-old character Holden Caulfield and his wanders through New York for a couple days, after his expulsion from his boarding school, exposing the real face of teenager's life, in which the main character is also the narrator. What is perhaps more interesting is that he has such a depressed and lonely way of life that it is almost impossible not to have anything in common with this global character, who is supposed to represent the transition from childhood to adult life.
When I started reading this book, I found out that I was addicted to it, even though it had no plot at all. It really doesn't, it's just a dude telling about his life. But it is Holden who you are actually reading. I have never read, in my whole life, such a descriptive and well-developed character. You actually feel that you are reading a teenager's book who has failed in about four schools, not an intellectual like J. D. Salinger. That's probably why the book is so addictive: it's a clean and straightforward writing, which makes it feel real, a very real account. I do have a lot against writers and philosophers who are claimed to be wonderful and swell, but they can't write clearly such as Salinger does. This book may be read by anyone - in fact, it is aimed to teenagers and I do recommend them to read - and anyone who reads this book will understand what it is talking about. Some of them may not like, but they will surely get the least of it.
Holden Caulfield is this teenager that wanders around New York and lives a very teenager life - don't forget this book was written in the 50's - and finds himself in the transition from child to adulthood; facing problems like an adult - and that's probably why Salinger set him alone in NY - but still with a mind of a kid. While he tries to evolve, starts to find out that everybody looks fake and lousy, but he turns out to be a complete hypocrite, which is probably the main purpose of the book.
The title deserves five stars just for itself. Although you read the book until about the middle without getting where the author is trying to get you to, when Holden hears a little boy singing this song about a catcher in the rye - which he actually misspelled -, everything starts making sense. Holden flies through the book trying to find a shoulder to lean on, someone that will hold him while he's passing through his puberty, sexual life and depressing times of adolescence; and that's what he searches, even unaware of what's actually happening.
While he's not getting anything that's valuable from his current relationships - which are represented by his Pencey school and his friends in there -, he goes way back to the innocence of childhood and brings back his old memories and relationships in attempt to survive the hard times that is entering the adulthood. But when he actually gets to those memories, he is not a kid anymore and his mind has changed. In this quest of finding "a catcher in the rye", Holden even unburies his dead brother Allie and contacts people who are still in their innocent times - such as his sister - and people who are really in the adulthood, like his old teachers.
This transition is easily seen in every sense. From trying to drink being a minor to a massive change of his views on the world, contrasted by what he remembered things to be and what they really are right now. I highly recommend this book to anyone. This is surely one of the best - if not the best - novels I have ever read in my entire life. Although aimed to teenagers, this story is surely universal.
100/100
Book Review: Phony?
Summary: 4 Stars
JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, known most famously in the hands of John Lennon's murderer, holds a paradoxical message. The story fully embodies the concept of a coming of age novel. The characterization, setting and writing style all further the theme of preservation of innocence. The Catcher in the Rye is a must read for every individual who finds themselves in a corrupt, phony world.
The Catcher in the Rye is set in 1950's New York City, covering the few days proceeding Holden Caulfield's flunking out of Pencey Prep. Holden's personal history is relayed throughout the novel. His past appears scarred and his psyche damaged by various events both within and out of his control. The most significant of these events is his thirteen year old brother, Allie's death. Throughout the story, Holden keeps this brother's baseball mitt; a symbol of lost youth.
Many characters appear in The Catcher in the Rye. Holden seems to analyze each individual with more than a little distortion. The only characters free of his hypercriticism are children. In fact, every time Holden sees an innocent, happy child, Holden claims to feel, "less depressed." This exposes Holden's desire for innocence and his loathing of the adult world. Two characters truly realize this notion namely, Phoebe and Allie, Holden's younger sister and brother. Holden seems to love these two above any in his life. He greaves Allie and he claims Phoebe is the only person in the world with whom he perpetually yearns to speak. His relationship with every character further distinguishes his drive for innocence.
The novel's setting additionally relates to the theme. Several places secure symbolic importance to Holden. The first of these revealed is the Central Park Lagoon. Holden ponders the effects of winter. He wonders if the ducks migrate when the lagoon freezes. Symbolically, this mirrors Holden's life. As external factors in his life change, he must choose whether to stay or to "migrate" himself, running from the problem.
The second symbolic place for Holden, is the Museum of Natural History. Holden explains the exhibits in the museum. He notices with a hint of sadness, how those pieces never change, unlike himself, as he claims to feel altered every time. Here, Holden again explores his growing and maturing as a regrettable happening drawing him from innocence.
The third place discussed, is Holden's old elementary school. When he attended classes there, he felt sheltered and innocent. He holds the image of this school as walls of protection surrounding the children attending. Thus it follows, Holden is enraged by profanity written on the walls of the building. He is so hurt that the corruption of the world has managed to slip into the school, he takes time to clear the words from the wall. This action is his symbolic atoning for his sins. He wishes to "clean" himself from his corrupt maturity.
Salinger's writing style is far from conventional. He uses profanity throughout the novel to clarify his points. In addition, the use of vulgar language acts as Holden's personal proof of maturity. This is another symbol of Holden's fear of maturity. He faces growing with harsh words, superficies covering his desire to stay a child forever.
The Catcher in the Rye is so named for a motif in the novel. The Robert Burn's song "Comin' Thro the Rye" reappears several times for Holden. The correct lyrics read, "...if a body meet a body coming through the rye" but Holden has distorted (once again) the lyrics to read, "if a body catch a body coming through the rye." This line reflects his great sorrow of losing his brother, as he replaces "meet" with "catch," the symbol of his brother's catcher's mitt. It also forms Holden's stated life goal. ". . . I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all."
Book Review: The Catcher in the Rye: Really?
Summary: 2 Stars
Title: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Pages: 214
Time spent on the "to read" shelf: 4 or 5 months I think.
Days spent reading it: 4 days.
Why I read it: The Catcher in the Rye is an American classic and very controversial. I honestly wanted to see what was so controversial. Also, it was one of those "classics" that I did not read while in high school. In researching about it later I read that in 1981 it was the most censored book in US high schools and the second most taught book in high schools. It was one of the 10 most challenged books in 2005, but it came off the list in 2006. Those are some fun facts for you.
Brief review:
This book frankly annoyed me. The writing has very repetitive and had many aggravating sayings in it. The word "really" is used almost as much as the curse words that are prevalent throughout the book (one reason it is often censored--I would guess that gd appears 2-3 times a page at minimum, sometimes significantly more). And I assure you, both appear more than they need to, I really mean it.
Holden Caulfield is the main character. He is the epitome of teenage angst. His world is utterly pessimistic. He sees only the bad in everything except his sister and his deceased younger brother. He is bright, but is failing out of school. He is obsessed with sex, but cannot develop a relationship with a girl. He is active and pursues all the pleasure trappings that a big city have, but has no defining meaning to his life.
The book covers three days between him being kicked out of school and his untimely return home. Holden is depressed, hates everyone, exaggerates EVERYTHING (annoyingly so), and seems to have few people skills. In short, he is the perfect anti-hero and irritating enough that I did not like him one bit while reading this book.
I suppose this book speaks to the hearts of some disaffected youth, but they would have to be interested in drudging through 200 pages of dribble in order to find the voice that Holden ultimately gives them.
I found little redeeming quality in this book. I felt like I was being attacked as a reader throughout the book. The curse words were prevalent. Holden's judgmental attitude and disquieting assessment that everyone was fake simply unnerved me. The last 20 pages or so bring a little clarity to the book, but even that is not satisfying. I read this article in wikipedia and found a little more clarity on the book, but not enough to ever allow me to suggest this to a friend. I understand why people have tried to censor it (and sympathize with them even if I disagree with them), but honestly if it was not so controversial I think few people would ever pick it up and think "Hey, that's a great book! Everyone should read this."
In short, I'm glad I am not Holden Caulfield. I respect those who relate to him and his story, but his life is from such a different perspective from mine that I never sympathized with the character and ultimately never connect to the book.
Oddly, in reflecting on the book some--the tone, the overall message, the anxiety it produced in me, perhaps I give J.D. Salinger too little credit. He probably got the exact response that he wanted out of me. I hate it when that happens. This is probably one of those books you mull over for a long time and never really like it, because its not fun. But you can respect it because of the emotions and conflict it produces in the reader. How interesting--actually reviewing the book in writing has changed my mind regarding my final critique of the book.
Favorite quote: "Girls. You never know what they are going to think."
Stars: 2 out of 5 (I originally was going to give it 1, but its moving up based on my reflections).
Final Word: Really?
Book Review: A powerful, gripping, honest novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Somehow I, a quite literate person, managed to live 31 years without reading this book. I never really took the time to see what it was about; I just pictured some guy out in a rye field, and the notion did not strike me as interesting. I hope no one else has such an idea because this book is inherently honest, gripping, and interesting. This is really a story of young angst , and it should really appeal to young people. I actually see a lot of Holden Caulfield in myself, which is not necessarily a good thing. However, I think there is some of Holden in almost everyone because Holden thinks and says the things that many people think (but perhaps will not admit). This guy hates everything and everybody at some point. One minute, he does something he doesn't want to do because he is afraid of looking foolish. The next minute, he rushes headlong into a conversation full of tall tales and impassioned statements and requests he may or may not even mean. Ironically, such maniacal conversations often reveal the deepest truths about himself. Through it all, he questions why he does certain things, and repeatedly asserts that he is crazy. What struck me most is the way seemingly small and arbitrary things depressed him. The same thing happens to me, and such little things can actually be more depressing than major traumas. These are feelings I have never been able to really explain, nor have I attempted to do so, yet Holden seems to express my own strange feelings clearly and eloquently. He is just a confused young man, scarred by the death of his younger brother. As he is away at school(s) so often, he is left quite lonely, yet he does not really know how to relate to other people. The guy is to some degree a typical teenager, it seems to me, searching for a direction in life. In his own mind, bothersome things happen to him all the time, and he is constantly disgusted by the action of phonies all around him. Like him or not, Holden is no phony.
In a way, I'm not sure why this book is such a critical success. It doesn't read like a traditional classic of literature, especially with the abundant cursing. I consider this to be a painfully real and honest story, reflecting a very important viewpoint on life and society. It pulls no punches, and it offers no apologies. As a result, Holden Caulfield is one of the most "real" fictional characters in all of literature. While some readers may not like him, almost everyone can understand him, sympathize with him, and even learn from him. This book is one to be read and read again. I wish the story had gone on, that some of my questions had been answered. Part of the point, though, seems to be that there really are no answers to be found.
I would recommend this book to anyone. It should especially appeal to young people. It's relatively short, and it is realistic and gripping from start to finish. While he is not a hero, Holden will become a soul mate of sorts to folks who are lonely and confused about their places in life. If for no other reason, read it because it is a perpetual target of the banned books crowd. There is a lot of cursing in these pages, but it is nothing extreme or unfamiliar to anyone out there who doesn't live in a convent. I believe the cursing is actually necessary in terms of truly bringing Holden to life. Concentrate on the story, not the words. I have an old copy of this book, and on the cover are these words: "This unusual book may shock you, will make you laugh, and may break your heart--but you will never forget it." That pretty much says it all.
Book Review: A One Hit Wonder That Plundered My Hours
Summary: 1 Stars
The problem with this book is that J.D. Salinger gets really repetitious about his character 'Holden'. Look, I don't care if Holden is selfish and opinionated and thinks like an immature brat. It actually made him a compelling character to read and is artfully done sometimes. What I do care about is how his thoughts are reflected by the author. He utilizes Holden's thoughts in the same variation or thought process on EVERY PAGE. Perhaps I need to be more detailed in my description about this.
Seems like every other paragraph Salinger runs through this same process:
1) An event happens, and is described by Holden/Salinger
2) Holden talks about the event particularly
3) Holden generalizes this event to include most of the world
OR:
6) First person's viewpoint
7) Second person's viewpoint (the same as the first)
8) Holden/Salinger's viewpoint (often the same as both)
The problem is, there's nothing brilliant about this. Whether Salinger is thought brilliant by expressing a cynical view of the world in 1950s through the eyes of a 16-year old boy, he gets to be repetitious. Within nearly every page you will find this guideline to his literary writing once, if not twice per page. Example:
Page 85:
1) "I was surrounded by jerks"
2) "On my right there was this very Joe Yale looking guy, in a gray flannel suit and one of those flitty-looking Tattersall vests"
3) "All those Ivy League bastards look alike"
Page 87:
6) "You could tell the waiter didn't like her much"
7) "You could tell the Navy guy didn't like her much"
8) "I didn't like her very much"
The brilliance dissipates, leaving you with a character going about, commenting about his experiences utilizing the same handful of explicits. You know what "kills me" all the time Holden/Salinger? The way every page is also riddled with these EXACT words, along with: "I hate that stuff", "He was one of those guys", "She was one of those types" or some equally cliché pronouncement.
Pronouncements. That's all this book seems to be. A collection of complaints about the world, seemingly through the eyes of a 16-year old boy, when in actuality it's the complaints of the world from an author that's as mentally mature as a 16-year old boy. This hardly qualifies as prose. It's such a shallow storyline, devoid of any distinguishable hooks or climaxes. The character goes from one location to the next, complaining every step of the way.
Had Holden been a better constructed character, who wasn't spotting out the same smug lines, I'd be alright with him being THE ONLY protagonist in this book. However, he's fails to do so. His character cannot withstand the burden of holding up this entire book.
I will give you this. There is wit. Some things Holden says is so incredibly witty, and the amazing part is how well it still translates even after fifty years.
But that's its only strongest point. And it doesn't offset the amount of failures of design in nearly any other area. This is not literature. It's teenage smut from the 40s.