Rating: Summary: I don't get it.... Review: Okay, "Catcher in the Rye" is supposed to be the classic book and everyone supposedly loves it but come on! I almost fell asleep. I kept waiting for something to happen and yet nothing really did. I tried to finish this book but didn't because every time I picked it up I knew that it was going to be a total waste of my time and brain capacity. The author had no word choice and the sentences were flat and dull. I may be missing something but I didn't get the point.
Rating: Summary: Catcher In The Rye - Not As Great As Everyone Says Review: Okay, I just finished reading this book, on my own, not as a school assignment or anything, and honestly - I have no idea why this book is so popular. First of all, all this guy does is complain. I mean sure, there is at least one thing that people hate about everyone they know. But Holden, the main character in the book, he seems to hate everyone for the wrong reasons. I mean sure, I can relate with him because I know what depression is like and I know what it's like to run away. But he hates so many people for common behavior and all he does is complain about it. Not only that, but he's also extremely shallow. He doesn't like ugly people, especially girls. He just doesn't like people for being people. And that's all there is about this book.. just some college kid who's depressed, runs away, and complains about every stupid flaw!! I just do not understand why this book is so loved, so popular. Won't ever make sense to me.
Rating: Summary: Re-reading the Classics? Review: Okay, I'm an avid reader, an adult, a mother, and have a college education, but I never read this book. In an effort to improve myself, I often pick up a classic and dive in. It was a little difficult to "dive in" to this one, however. I can understand the literary value of this stream of consciousness-style writing, but I didn't like Holden, the main character. I found myself wondering if I didn't like him because of his actions and thoughts, or if I struggled with him because his thoughts were so random and realistic. Haven't we all had a few drinks and thought the rest of the world was a bunch of phonies? I guess I'm a better person for having read another classic, but if you're looking for a life-changing classic, read To Kill a Mockingbird.
Rating: Summary: Why is this book considered a classic? Review: Okay, okay, so Salinger made a great depiction of a little loser, but is that enough to consider a book a classic? I can think of a few authors that have done more or less the same thing and have gone unnoticed. Yes, I found the writing to be quite brilliant, it does a great job introducing the reader into the world of Holden Caulfield, but no amount of brilliancy can make me feel even a bit simpathetic towards Holden, he's one of those people that I would instantly detest if I happened to meet him in the real world, he's so whiny and stupid, he can't stop complaining about everything that doesn't sit well with him, but instead of showing some backbone and trying either to do something to change at least a bit the stuff he doesn't like, or to adapt himself to the situation, he sulks and cusses, and dreams of running away and hiding in the wilderness, where he won't have to cope with the cold cruel world. I can appreciate his idealistic cynicism, but that's about the extent of my charity. I don't share other reviewer's feelings that the plot is uninteresting and/or inexistent; I'll admit is not a wild ride, but it is engaging, and it is quite interesting to witness Caulfield's teen angst (I hate that expression, I never was like that at that age or at any age, and I'm nineteen, so don't think I have forgotten). I'll concede that, all in all, J.D. Salinger managed to pull off a good story, and that is no small accomplishment in this case; I would give another of his books a try.
Rating: Summary: To all Fantasy Lovers Review: Okay, so you love fantasy, but can't read it this year because your crumby teacher is making you read some crumby realistic fiction book. Well, don't get to upset. Please don't. I never read anything but fantasy, and liked it, until this. It kills me. It really does. So if you're some lost soul who could use some diversity, you should read this. You really should.
Rating: Summary: Extremely Depressing Review: Okay, some day when I'm old and gray, maybe I will get why this book is an all-time master peice. (I doubt it! But I might.) I seriously disliked this book. I know what you are thinking, "what about the symbolism?" What about it? I did catch the under lying things in the book. Like for starters, what "The Catcher in the Rye" means. Holden was so feed up with people dying, that he wished that he could wait by the edge of a cliff, and when a kid comes running out of a rye feild, Hoden would "swoop down" out of nowhere and catch the kids. To me this book seemed entirly too whinny and used too much compulsive slang. "Crumby" and "Phoney" were seriously over used to the point that it made you sick in the stomach. I'm not denying that it was a humourous book at times it was just too "loose".(The topic swayed from thought to thought). But it did make me laugh sometimes, I'll give it that. But I just don't understand why people think it so great.
Rating: Summary: Would make a better short story Review: Okay, we'll do the good stuff first. "Catcher" has an easy to read style that is quite unique. The reader really gets into Holden's head. And Holden is a truly believable person. However, he is not at all a typical teenager. He's a teenager on the brink of an emotional breakdown. And Salinger really convinces you of that.What's annoying about this book is the complete lack of a plot. Modern readers expect a book to have a beginning, a middle and an end. I understand that not every great book has to have a well-defined plot, but this one doesn't even have a loosely defined plot. Holden leaves school and wanders around New York for a few days, slowly getting crazier and crazier. The style of the book is wonderful, but it would have made a much better short story.
Rating: Summary: This book is insane! Review: Okay. This book is crazy. It's weird and funny, but not really. I guess it gives you perspective. You should read it just for that. It's just very, very odd.
Rating: Summary: Huge Disappointment Review: Old Holden kid is about as interesting as a toothache. Personally, I've read cereal boxes that were more compelling and enlightening than this novel.
Rating: Summary: Great book, a little dissapointing Review: On one hand, this book was written fantastically, and really showed a lot about a teenage boy's life in a duration of just a few days. On the other hand, I was a bit dissapointed with the book. I hear everyone rave on and on about the book, like teachers, librarians, even my parents. The Catcher in the Rye just wasn't holding me down to my seat, or glueing my eyes to the book like other novels due. All in all, good book, overrated.
|