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Summary: The Search For One's Self
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is one of the most moving books I have ever read. With that said, I have not given the novel 5 stars, because it does have some flaws, and with that, comes some disappointment. None of that comes from the novel's main character though. Holden Caulfield is one of the most intruging and lost souls ever created. The way he searches for himself in this novel is unbelievable. We feel sorry for him, and sympathise with him, and the weird thing is, we don't even realize that we're doing it. He is so hypnotic that by the end of the novel, we are just like him, and actually want to be like him. We wish we could be as courageous as he was. It's amazing that a novel could have that much power on you, but The Catcher in the Rye actually does.
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Summary: The Catcher in the Rye
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is one of those books that can easily be over analyzed, but is never understood. Some see that as part of its intrigue, but I simply find it ridiculous. The Catcher in the Rye, while not a horrible book by any means, does not live up to its widespread fame and appeal. It is a staple on school reading lists and is considered to be a "must-read" for all educated people. Why? Good question.I've come across many people who claim to love The Catcher in the Rye, who say that it is full of deeper meaning and symbolism. Unfortunetly, when I ask them to elaborate and explain what it means, there is silence. I think that a lot of people say that they like the Catcher in the Rye because that's what you are supposed to say - you're supposed to like it. I just don't see what its appeal is.
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Summary: More Than Meets the Eye
Review: THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is simply the best book ever written. It has layers to it that would be trivialized to try and explain, but for the sake of righting some of the unfair and horribly hollow reviews this novel has received, I'll try. To begin with, the book is about the kind of teenager who is so deep and insightful it just hurts you to read his thoughts. Anyone who has ever truly appreciated something seemingly inconsequential will connect with Holden Caulfield, because he is the epitome of that type of person: someone who hasn't got it all figured out, but wishes to, and who's got a shining soul as straight as a sword. In the book, the reader is left to decide if Holden is actually crazy (or on his way there) or not. Even a few *good* reviews of this book said he had a few screws loose. In my own opinion, that is not the case. Holden wasn't going crazy. He just printed everything he thought. Truth be told, if each of us typed down everything WE thought and got it published for others to scan, they'd think we were crazy too. I don't even think Holden is a true pessimist. Yes, he can be cynical, albeit often, and seems to have a "half empty" kind of few on life and things in general, but that is NOT the case. In actuality, Holden is an idealist; he just covers it up with pessimism to protect himself. Many "cynicists" do. You see, Holden wants everything to be perfect and lovely so badly, it depresses him to see anything fall short of its full potential. I won't go any more into it for fear of giving too much away (I probably already have), but the fact is that Holden's innermost, true self is everything all of us should try to be: a seeker of that which is solely good and right, one who can appreciate every little thing that manages to have no significance yet mean all the world, a champion of everything true, and an empath to the last.
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Summary: The Best Book Ever Written
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is so realistic...down-to-earth...the way JD Salinger tells the tale of this boy is so real, I just don't know what to say. It's just so human. The feelings of Holden about human nature.....he's just like me. I swear by this book. All of my friends that have read it agree with me that it is the best book ever written. It makes you think...about life...about family...about everything....Read this book and see what I mean.
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Summary: The Catcher in the Rye
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is supposed to describe the universal teenager and reveal all the problems a teenager faces. However, the book fails miserably. Holden is not a typical teenager, but rather a deluded child. The central images of death, sex, and innocence do not combine well. Salinger attempted to write a novel giving insight to every teenager's life, but all he does is focus on the phoniness of society, and the breakdown of Holden Caufield. Holden Caufield is portrayed as a typical teenage male, obsessed with death and sex. He wants to devote his life to protecting the innocent, yet he is far from being pure. Holden's younger brother died two years ago, but Holden still talks to him. Holden remembers anything that has to deal with death or sickness because he fears death. Salinger saturates the book with references to Holden's fixation on death. Holden is also haunted by his sexuality. He describes himself as a sex maniac, but he can not bring himself to actually use a prostitute. Salinger again gives the reader detail after detail proving how much Holden thinks about sex, but he never quite gets there. Holden does not like "phony" people or "phony" things, but Holden is the phoniest person in the book. Holden acts like he is the best person to stand on the cliff and catch the children playing in the rye, but he is not innocent. Holden, as the narrator, gives a skewed view of society that is not very accurate. Phoebe should have been the narrator of the story because she has control of her feelings and she thinks things through. Also, she represents the innocence Holden is trying to protected. She can be influenced, like any normal human being, but she gives a more accurate view of society than Holden. Phoebe is the person who keeps Holden in check because she has not been corrupted. Salinger's style makes this book easy to read, but the constant cussing makes the book a struggle. Also, Salinger uses the same phrase, "that kills me", in so many different ways it is sometimes difficult to catch the meaning. Salinger is not realistic in describing his characters. Phoebe and Allie are too perfect. They are portrayed that way because of the way Holden sees them, but Holden is disillusioned. Holden himself is not an accurate portrayal of a teenager. I sympathize with Holden because he is so confused, but I do not agree with Salinger's description on the "normal" teenager. Overall, I think The Catcher in the Rye was a well-written novel with lots of symbolism to connect its major themes, but the themes did not mesh and the book was not realistic, so I did not like it.
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Summary: If you like CATCHER, read BLU'S HANGING
Review: THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is the best American novel of the century. I am biased; I love books with first-person narrators that sound more real than real people. Other favorites are Huck Finn (of course), Scout Finch, and newcomer Ivah Ogata, narrator of Lois-Ann Yamanaka's BLU'S HANGING. Try it
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Summary: The best story ever told.
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is the best book I have ever read in my short 17 years. I don't doubt that I'll read more amazing or truthful books, but this one really hit home with me. Holden Caulfield thinks and talks like any cynical, insecure, complex teenager, even now in the year 2000. This book made me laugh so hard I cried, and made me relate so much that I could've cried. JD Salinger has created, to me, one of the most potent and memorable characters in literature. Holden represents discovery, change, and acceptance in a world full of phonies and cynics. This book is so good. Don't even buy the paperback, just go straight for the hardcover so it'll last longer.
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Summary: "The classic to live by"
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is the best book I have ever read. I can relate to Holden but I still look apon him as a stranger. This book flows really easily and the dialoge is addicting so it literally is a book that you can't put down. If you haven't read this "bible" yet, you're missing so much inspiration that is nessesary to create meaning. Do yourself a favor a buy this book on the spot.
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Summary: The Catcher in The Rye
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is the best book I've read in a long time. It really makes you think about the world and the "phonies" in it. Holden brings up a lot of good points about society and how people act. Sometimes, the way Holden keeps on repeating everything gets annoying, but I think it's done purposely. He was mentally unstable, due to the death of Allie. Some people say that Holden is incredibly self-centered. But the book is written in stream of consciousness. I don't know about you, but my thoughts are mainly focused around myself. Salinger really uses this writing style to give the book a deeper meaning and greater impact. Holden is like any other teenager I know. He looks at the world and wonders why everything is like it is. Why people act so dumb and lie all the time. The Catcher in the Rye really gives you a lot to think about.
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Summary: A funny and entertaining novel you will enjoy.
Review: The Catcher in the Rye is the best book that I've read so far. It's very entertaining and very funny. When reading this novel, you can really relate to the protagonist, a high school boy named Holden Caulfield. You can actually feel what he feels and think what he thinks. It's great because not only do you understand what is going on, but you get the sense that you are in the book. This book is and "adaptation to life" novel. What you will read about is how Holden lives his high school years in pain and discomfort. You will encounter many obstacles that he and yourself has faced as a young adult. Once you begin to adart, you won't stop!
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