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Summary: The Greatest Book Ever Written
Review: I, unlike a whole shlew of people, never had to read this as a class assignment. I don't know whether it would have changed my life back then, the way it has today. That I can never be certain of, but what I can be certain of, is that this book is glorious.J.D Salinger has written an account of every human beings fears, desires and needs. He not only exemplifies the true meaning of what being seventeen years old is about, but relishes in it. I know that I am not the first person to say this book has changed them in a great way, but I will never forget this book for taking me through one of the most turbulant times in my life. It's funny really, because I never pictured a book 'saving me' from of all things myself. There are too many layers to talk about in this book. Too many stories, too many fears and sub-plots. But what I can tell you is that 'The Catcher In The Rye' is a marvelous book that will, if not change your life, at least enrichen it more... Five Out Of Five....Timeless
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Summary: The single most influential post-WWII American novel
Review: If "Catcher" seems a bit tame by today's jaded standards, it's only because Holden Caufield has, in the 50 years since his debut, become the standard blueprint for countless fictional anti-heros who came after. The deconstruction of American society in popular culture has long since lost its novelty and the power to shock us. But Caufield was the original, and his was the literary shot heard 'round the world. Read it, if only to become aware of how much of contemporary literature derives from it
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Summary: once you pick this up, you won't put it down till the end
Review: if I could pick only one word to describe this book, it would be: wow. I had often heard friends talking about it and how great it is - but never bothered picking it up until I saw it was on a school reading list. I went into the library, picked it up, and didn't put it down. the character isn't even a likable person... but his thoughts are just amazing and make you think about every word he is saying. his attitude is one of many teenagers and I think anyone between the ages of 12 to 99 could understand how he feels. (I'm 15, by the way) if you haven't read this, do! )
Rating:
Summary: "Catcher in the Rye"...Such the great book to grow up with..
Review: If I could write 3,000 words about this book I would!! What can I say about Holden Caufield, except for the fact that he is my personal hero! High school's tough for many kids, and reading about one's angst, and trials is such the stress reliever! Maybe it's the way Holden puts everything into a new light that one may not think of , or maybe it's the way you get so angry at him while you're feeling so incredibly sad for him. Whether you get angry, or feel bad, this dynamic teenage character is one to surely keep you laughing and feeling!
Rating: 
Summary: Holden is a phoney
Review: If I had read this when I was sixteen I would have given it 5 Stars. Instead I was forced by my teachers to read fast paced thrillers like Great Expectations, Silas Marner, The Scarlett Letter and Return of the Native. It took me ten years to discover that books were actually written to be enjoyed rather than endured. Had I read Catcher in the Rye as a teenager I would have seen it as a great adventure by an angry young man. Today I read it as a cry for help from a disturbed young man. If Salinger wrote the book today I can't help but wonder if Holden, rather than taking a road trip to New York, wouldn't just steal his fathers 357 and blow away all the people who he believes wronged him. I also wonder how Holden himself, now in his sixties, would critique his own actions. Would he be ashamed of his behaviour or proud of tell his grandhildren about it? Somehow I believe even though he may look back fondly at his actions, he wouldn't share that with either his children or grandchildren.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad story line but...
Review: If Salinger had a broader vocabulary this book would probably be a worthwhile read. The insight into an adolescent boy's thought and emotion is interesting. Parts of it are pretty humorous. Unfortunately almost every paragraph of the first 5 chapters is rife with unnecessary cursing and swearing. (Yes, I know some kids do talk that way, but the story would have been just as potent without the bad language.) I stuck it out through the ninth chapter, and gave up. I don't want Holden's "edgy" language in my thoughts, or my speech.
Rating: 
Summary: This book changed peoples lives?
Review: If Salinger had eliminated the words "g**damn" and "phonies" from this book I could have cut down the amount of time I wasted by reading it by half. Catcher in the Rye may have been groundbreaking when first published almost five decades ago but today whatever edge it once held is now lost. Teachers who rember this book as a life changing event and assign it to their students would be better off remembering sometimes that what is eyeopening to them may be an eye closer to others. If you want to see true literary greatness read Hugo, the word phonies isn't mentioned once and doesn't need to be.
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Summary: Mediocre book about a pointless life.
Review: If the current take on life is that it's pointless, then this book captures the modern mood. While Dostoyevsky specialized in showing the negation involved in centering one's life on anything other than the Ultimate, Salinger's book is about the pointlessness of it all. He's a master ironist, for the pointless things include his book! I'd never want to spend ten minutes with this guy. Unfortunately, the book is often given to kids to read in their late teens, when they're already at the point of questioning everything. No wonder Turgenev's Bazarov has so much (second-rate) company. A truly malign book.
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Summary: What's with all of these whining kids?
Review: If the purpose of a true book rating system is to effectively display intellectual opinions about a book, then this system is not working. If a kid is required to read Catcher in the Rye for school and is unable understand it, he/she should not be bragging about it. Catcher is a classic and one of the greatest books of our time and if these little kids who cannot grasp its concepts can't bring up any legitimate gripes about the book, they should keep their opinions to themselves.
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Summary: Smells Like Teen Angst
Review: If there ever was a book that should be required reading for adolescents it's The Catcher in the Rye. You know how when you were a teenager you believed you were the first person in recorded history to experience the emotions your hormones were imposing upon you? When I first read this book in high school I was surprised to see that someone understood me and what I was feeling and then incredulous that everyone else around me had the same kinds of feelings. Hmmm... maybe the world didn't revolve around me. This is the kind of book that takes a teenager several days to read and leaves him or her a year or two wiser. Now if only we could do something about those hormones.
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