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Summary: Engrossing atmosphere
Review: Once a year, during the summertime, I read this book. This ritual has gone on for five years now, and I cant wait to read it again. I feel his solitude and despair with society. I find it quite atmospheric, especially when he hits new york. Hanging out in the bars, talking to the prostitute in a seedy hotel room. It is a really easy read and I enjoy every second of it.
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Summary: The Most AMAZING Book I've Ever Read!
Review: One can't sum up what kind of book this is by words alone. There's really no way to describe how 'The Catcher in the Rye' made me feel. It takes 3 days out of 16 year old Holden Caulfied's troublesome life and inscribes it on paper. This timeless classic left me yearning to know not only what happened moment for moment after that, but it also left me dying to know second by second what exactly had occurred in the first 16 years of his life that had lead up to the moment when Holden was kicked out of Pencey Prep. Holden's negative outlook on life is familiar to each readers thoughts, feelings, values and morals at one point or another. Everyone can relate to this book no matter what age, ethnic background, religion etc. A true masterpiece in my eyes (and in the eyes of millions more)
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Summary: Why the bad reviews?
Review: One cannot fail to notice that the positive reviews on Amazon for 'Catcher' are longer, and display a superior quality of literary criticism.
Strangely enough, many of the finer European critics have been unwilling to deem Salinger much worth as a writer. For example, George Steiner, uncomfortably aware of the book's vitality, cannot bring himself to consider it a modern classic; Salinger is secondhand Dostoyevsky.
American literature has fought a long battle to gain due respect from the European 'literati'; even in Britain, with it's supreme tradition, many are now looking to the American novel as more dynamic, healthy and wideranging.
On a personal note let me mention my favourite line from Catcher, viz "I'm sort of an atheist".
A statement that does not permit qualification, succintly reflective of Holden's confusion! (I agree with view of howardstaunton (below), that Holden should not be viewed uncritically as hero figure) And typical of the care and craft Salinger took on the book's style; this is no pulp fiction!
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Summary: read this book
Review: One of my all time favorite books and I was suppose to read it for school this summer. I just might read it again it is that good.
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Summary: One of the best ever...
Review: One of the best books I've ever read. Hilarious and poignant. It is everything that an excellent book should be. Those who haven't read it - are missing out on one of the best books of the century.
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Summary: A Breath of Fresh Air
Review: One of the most fabulous books I have ever read. It is sad and depressing but brilliantly so, because IT WASN'T WRITTEN MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, that's not the point, and thank god that it isn't. Because of that, it's real. The character here is so strong you live with him at all times and grow to care about him. I can't recommend a book more, it is truly fantastic.
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Summary: The most famous book of our time
Review: One of the most famous books of our time that you can read over and over again. The Catcher in the Rye is about a young boy nmed Holden Caulfield who isn't quite the best student at school. He gives you his views on phonies, who are the majority of people on this planet, groupies and school. Holden takes you through an adventure, in which he gets kicked out of school and travels to New York to go home and face his parents. On the way there he meets and talks to moms, prostitutes, teachers, phonies and his sister Phoebe. He acts in most instances like normal teenagers would act. Kids like lying to parents about thier own kids, telling them stories about how goodie goodie their son or daughter is even though you hate them. Kids also like to act as if they were older, kids love to run away and go do something sparatic and giving support to thier siblings is another thing kids do. This book is really easy to read and the description of characters is outstanding. When you read this you think it really happened in real life. Salinger did an excellent job describing events that you feel you have personally experienced. This is a definite read.
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Summary: Utterly Amazing
Review: One of the most well written 'adolescent experiences' I've read. Reminds me much of a boy I once loved - if that ain't sappy and pathetic.
I recommend everyone purchase two hardcover copies of this book - one to read and keep, one to give to their children.
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Summary: Misunderstood
Review: Only is the Bible as misunderstood. "The Catcher in the Rye" is not about American schools or adolescence. The wounded soul Holden Cauffield is an Outsider. He is to society the "inessential other." And this will continue for him in the years to come. His relation to the world is hard, awkward, incommunicable. Holden himself cannot even be introduced. This is why there is no preface to the book, no afterward, no introduction. Holden struggles to introduce himself, hence the book.But we have a problem. This book should not be popular: it "condemns the masses." Yet people everywhere love Holden. How can they, really? Since when are "losers" payed attention to? Since when are the Holdens in real life given a chance? That this book is popular is proof enough that Holden was right all along. Its success shows that people pretend to care. Is it not obvious that Holden is a deeply lonely person? He is too unique to be "one of the guys." Only 5% of the world can relate to him, truly. Yet everyone says "I can relate to Holden." If you have a boyfriend, you cannot relate to him. If you have a girlfriend, you cannot relate to him. If you have real friends, you cannot relate to him. If people listen to you, when you talk, you cannot relate to him. If you know how to have a good time, you cannot relate to him. If you can relate your problems with sentences, you cannot relate to him. If you are an extrovert, you cannot relate to him. If you like loud music and big concerts, you cannot relate to him. Let's be honest. I've known some Holdens. They were neglected or made fun of constantly. But the "cool kids" in class said "I think Holden is cool." When class was out, they'd go to their parties and forget to invite the actual Holdens in the school.
Let's be honest. No social climber can say "I relate to Holden, I was an outcast once." That is the point. Holden's problem has a sense of duration.
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Summary: Sixteen forever
Review: Oooh, if Holden Caulfield could hear all these people calling this book a "masterpiece" or a "classic," he'd puke. The book is still very fresh after all these years, and awfully funny. After rereading it recently, I realized how many of our good writers of the past twenty years, people like Raymond Carver, Don Delillo, Lorrie Moore, Thom Jones, and Gish Jen, owe a debt to J.D. Salinger. I also realized how sweet he is, Holden Caulfield, and how lonely. He breaks my heart. What do you imagine becomes of him? He won't be happy, will he?
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