Catcher in the Rye

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Summary: The Best Reading Experience You'll Ever Have!
Review: J.D. Salinger's A CATCHER IN THE RYE is a remarkable yet painful tale of the angst of a disillusioned young man named Holden Caulfield. Salinger's use of imagery and few words adds to the confusion and passionate yearning of Holden. In the end Holden has earned our compassion, yet the reader has no problem identifying with him. The reader unwillingly leaves A CATCHER IN THE RYE breathless and forever changed, having been inside Holden's head far too long, yet not long enough. Along with CATCHER, may I also suggest --> THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez, [e-mail] by Tom Grimes. I agree with the former reviewer who mentioned these titles. Two odd ball loner books purchased through Amazon that made me smile this gloomy holiday season.

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Summary: Spellbinding...a timeless classic
Review: J.D. Salinger's A CATCHER IN THE RYE is remarkable yet painful tale of the angst of a young, disillusioned youth named Holden Caulfield. Salinger's use of imagery and few words adds to the confusion and passionate yearning of Holden. In the end you are compassionate towards him, yet the reader has no problem identifying with Holden. You unwillingly leave A CATCHER IN THE RYE breathless and forever changed, having been inside Holden's head far too long, yet not long enough.

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Summary: Catcher Review
Review: J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is a timeless American classic because it exemplifies the effect of corruption in the world on youthful innocence. Through the eyes and mind of a teenager in the late 1940s Salinger offers insights as to why adolescents rebel, but offers no solution to stop it. The hypocritical and dubious values set by the adult world cause Salinger's main character, Holden Caulfield, to have a nervous breakdown. During rehabilitation in a Western infirmary Caulfield has time to reflect on many experiences and people from his past. This results in a wise-beyond-his-years understanding of the human condition. The teenager had a moral disgust towards everything cruel, hypocritical, and evil (what Holden called "phony") in the world. Holden's reaction however, was not one of anger or bitterness, but instead sadness at the current society. Random, all-consuming waves of depression were the result of his self-chosen isolation and uncertainty of where to go in life.
Salinger used a stream of consciousness style when writing, weaving slang and adolescent satire, with incomplete thought processes to show Holden's inability to smoothly transition from boy to adulthood, and frustrating immaturity. Caulfield exemplifies the thought processes of many youths when he understandably avoids his parents when expelled from his third pricey boarding school he attended, attempted to use his height to allow him to buy alcohol and drink with adult men, and naively thinks that he has an understanding of love and sex as a 16 year old virgin. However, his ability to see the shallowness of media, and the often insincere actions of men, shows his deeper, more profound side. Holden is in limbo, no longer a child, but no yet a man. A lost soul- wishing to delay the inevitable repulsive "real world" and responsibilities of adulthood, but intellectually craving more than adolescence can provide.

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Summary: The most important novel of my adolescence
Review: J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is believed to be one of the most honest and stunning books of the 20th century. The journey of Holden Caulfield through his departure of prep school and the events that follow, is one that teenagers and young adults have been able to identify with since the books publication. Holden represents the journey of wanting to change the future, but not knowing what the future should bring, a question that lingers in the mind of most who are Holden's age. Basically, the story follows our main character through one of the most defining times of his life up to this point. He describes his dislike of the school that he has been attending, the disinterest he takes in his classmates, and the general alienation he feels from those around him. Realizing that his presence there is utterly pointless both to those around him and to himself, he leaves the school for New York City. Though the story is clear, much of it is spent looking back upon Caulfield's life, the various mistakes he has felt he made, and the memories that are brought up by mere conversations. What is so remarkable about Catcher in the Rye, is that the main character not only shows what many see in themselves, but his journey is one that is both plausible and almost eerie in the readers ability to relate. Most certainly a book that will stay with me my entire life.

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Summary: Only a MORON would hate this book!
Review: J.D. Salinger's classic novel about the adventures of a cynical, depressed teenager is nothing short of brilliant. The dialogue, though written a while ago, speaks as human as today. The message gets across because we can all feel for the character, Holden. We were all at that stage of uncertainty and madness and it [stunk]! "The Catcher in the Rye" is the most honest and thought-provoking I have had the pleasure of reading. It remains one of my all-time favorite novels. It's a must for any fan of fiction, anxious teenage boy, or anyone.

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Summary: Stream of Consciousness in the Catcher in the Rye
Review: J.D. Salinger's controversial The Catcher in the Rye, told from the perspective of 17 year-old Holden Caulfield, explores the clouded worlds that many "lost" young men face bitterly every day. Caulfield's journey is not merely physical but also emotional, as it touches ideas burnt into the minds of many but expressed only by those few brave enough to confess them. Salinger's stream of consciousness take the reader directly into the mind of Caulfield, making him see the world through his eyes, strained with emotional tension.

Caulfield's train of thought serves as a link to his character. Salinger's diction is that of a teenager in the 1950's, complete with broken grammar and frequent slang with swearing. Caulfield's narration does more than show what happens in the novel, it shows the action through his eyes-the eyes of a self-justified teenager, trying to do the right thing in a crazy world. Almost everything Caulfield says is backed up with a short comment on what he thinks about it, from kids to life in general, giving a bit more depth into what kind of person he is each time he says something, no matter how insignificant it may look at times. This constant manner of speech reminds the reader that the Caulfield is not a learned scholar nor an accomplished grown man, but an everyday teenager trying to get by.

The stream of consciousness in The Catcher in the Rye illustrates Caulfield's awakened, yet somewhat tainted view of the world. Caulfield represents the many young men that few dared to write about at a time where many themes common today were considered inappropriate.

Rating:
Summary: A pleasure to read
Review: J.D. Salinger's lively narrative makes "Catcher in the Rye" irresistably funny and fascinating, as well as troubling. Salinger shows a terrific ear for dialogue -- not just spoken conversation, but also the fast-spinning thoughts of Holden Caulfield, the book's 16-year-old protagonist.

Caulfied is a teenager overflowing with negativity, sarcasm and cynicism. He seems to hate almost everything, including movies, actors, cheap luggage, guys who shake hands too hard, friends who yawn when asking for a favor, and people who say "good luck."

It might seem that such relentless negativity would drag a book down, but Salinger offers just enough glimpses beneath Holden's bitter exterior for the reader to discover an endearing, but troubled, boy underneath. For example, he takes a curious interest in what happens to Central Park's ducks when winter comes. Though this book was written in the 1940s, you can't help thinking -- in light of the Columbine shootings and other teen violence -- about how it can help us understand today's troubled youths.

There are two things that keep me from giving this five stars. First, despite all he experiences in the course of the story I'm not sure Holden changes much. Sure, his sister and a teacher both challenge his attitudes in the latter part of the book, but he still hates the "stupid questions" everyone asks. Second, while Holden's comments and observations are so often funny and insightful, he sometimes seems far too wise for his years. I know I wasn't this introspective and people-smart at age 16, nor do I know anyone who was.

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Summary: Adolescence
Review: J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye is a psychological examination of Holden's attempt to preserve the innocence and authenticity of youth. As Holden becomes exposed to the fatal rituals of pretence and all of adulthood's injustice and narcissism he assumes the role of protector of all youth in an attempt to save them from an awakening into this culpable world. The genius of the book however, lies in its sheer pertinence; the ease with which one can identify with Holden. Holden epitomize a time we all face. Thus reading this book will not only provide you with many entertaining hours of captivating reading but also with many hours of introspective and worthwhile reflection. The Catcher in the Rye is one of the crowning achievements of American literature and a must read.

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Summary: A Modern Classic by J.D. Salinger
Review: J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is an excellent book. It talks about a troubled kid named Holden Caulfield and he talks about his life in High School. I thought it was interesting to read because it is written like Holden is talking to you personally. I have read the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and they are both very similiar.

It's a good book, but certain people might not like it because it just kind of talks about this kid and what his life is like and what happens to him over a few days. So if that kind of thing interests you, then it's a great book to read.

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Summary: The Catcher in the Rye
Review: J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye portrays Holden Caulfield as a sixteen-year old, white, upper class, New Yorker in the 1950s. The book shows Holden's unwillingness to grow up and his struggle with loneliness. Salinger does a good job of describing how Holden feels about people and things. For example, when he is talking about a young man he met that went to a good college, he says "The jerk had one of those very phony, Ivy League voices, one of those very tired, snobby voices. He sounded just like a girl." This helps you understand that Holden doesn't like phony people. He uses language that convinces readers that Holden is a young man from New York in the mid-twentieth century. This book is easy for teenagers to relate to because they can associate with his stupid actions and propensity for deception, along with his adolescent silliness and his genuine care for innocence. I think the book is provocative and well written.