Rating: 
Summary: Captures a feeling which, apparently, many of you have lost
Review: While reading all of these reviews, I began to wonder if anyone who reviewed this book had actually read it. The people who gave the book one star I can understand: they haven't "gotten it" yet and will probably need to reread it five to ten fifteen years down the road. Those who criticized the swearing, to you I say get a life. Criticizing The Catcher in the Rye for its use of profanity is like saying the Godfather should not be shown because of the violence: the profanity used is part of Holden's diction; it reveals more about him as a character than merely what he thinks about something. If you have a problem reading books with profanity, then many 20th century classics must bother you. For those out there who gave TCITR five stars but went off on its perfect portrayal of teenage angst, I question whether the book itself or the reputation preceding the book influenced your review. I am a 16 year old female who just finished the book for an advanced english 11 class. I do not consider myself cynical, have never drank, smoked, run away, or considered hiring a prostitute, yet I find this book THE most influential book I have ever read. Holden's perception of the world as a bunch of phonies is more dead-on than most people would care to believe. I don't see angst the driving force as much as growing up (or lack thereof). Whether you can relate to this book or not, it is an important read if only to see the world perspective from someone other than yourself. Although I am not an adult yet, it's been my observation that as adults get older, they dislodge more and more from the person they were as a teenager; a reasonable and natural progression. However, when these same adults have children, they are so out of touch with being a teenager that they cannot relate, and therefore write off teenagers as troublemakers. Teenagers haven't changed as much as adults have. While this diatribe will undoubtably offend many people, and I will probably be written off as a teenager who does not understand the world as a whole, I would like to say that I stand by my opinions and wrote this review because I saw a void in the other reviews. Instead of attacking me, I suggest you reread the book or at least think about your motives for disliking it. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Rating:
Summary: A Great, Misunderstood Novel
Review: While reading other reviews on this site, I find myself saddened by two problems people have with this book: 1) nothing exciting ever happens 2) Holden Caulfield is merely a cynical whiner In response to those who hold the first as a fault of the Catcher in the Rye, perhaps you should learn a greater appreciation for literature and the human soul. In this age of shallow films and pulp Stephen Kingesque fiction, people seem more concerned with cheap, "action-packed" thrills, and (not to sound like Holden or anything) it is depressing to see that people are unable to be moved by a book unless it involves a homicidal clown or a rebellious Soviet submarine. In response to those who feel that Holden is just a mindless cynic, I feel as if you have failed to see what lied beneath his very blunt (though often true) observations of the numerous rituals that are plentiful in American society. After finishing the book, Holden did not seem to be a cynic, but rather a figure of both youthful desperation and enlightened sympathy. He was by no means just an ass for he saw beauty in such innocent things as his little sister's joy while riding a carousel and the strange excitement felt by a humble drummer as he prepares to play a few, almost meaningless notes, and reflecting upon such things, one is lead to the belief that Holden, deep within his heart, wishes not to merely criticize but to help others by showing them the pointless suffering caused by their own arrogance (a self-glorifying form of cynicism) and self-centered attitudes. Thus, it can be concluded that it is not Holden who is insane, but the world itself. Holden sees through their insanity, and criticizes the disease, not the diseased.
Rating:
Summary: Another Phony Review.
Review: While reading this book, I, being a teenager myself, came to understand Holden, the main character. He isn't so different from some friends I know. It is my wish that there be more teacher who are willing to to love their students, and help them bestow meaning to their own lives. Holden, when expelled from his prep school Pencey, leaves it as soon as he can. Taking care not to tell the news to his parents sooner than necessary, he lingers in New York. He encounters a series of incidents --- cab drivers, a prostitute, the two nuns... --- as he dives deeper into his "phony" world. Troubled adolescents like Holden are not rare these days. I realized that the source of such repugnance towards one's surroundings is lack of care. No one, atleast it seemed so for Holden, cared enough to give attention to what was going on in his mind. The place, other than his home, that should take the blame more than anywhere else is Pencey. The school was full of phonies, because the curriculum was not so focused on making the students "find the idea that fits one's mind best." Finally, Phobe, the only person in the story that is capable of giving Holden the much needed affection and care, saves Holden from his deep fall and sets him straight. This story, written in first-person narrative and conversational tone, ends with an happy ending. But I keep asking myself: Will every troubled boy find his Phoebe, The Catcher in the Rye? It depresses the hell outta me when I think about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Reality
Review: While the actual writing was a little lacking, the story and the reality make up for it amazingly. Holden is such a real character; if anything, he's a little on the extremes, but the elements that compose his extremes exist within every one of us.
Rating:
Summary: Hold on to Holden!
Review: While this book needs no further accolades, it was a report in today's Washington Post that prompted me to add one more to the great list of positive reviews. The report mentioned that "the Catcher" gets removed from more and more required reading lists for high school students, because it no longer fits the curriculum's multicultural agenda. This, in despite of the fact that it is one of the few books that teachers have little difficulty with to get students to read. In addition, it was praised by students of a variety of cultural backgrounds, to whom the story about this white prep school kid was very appealing. I greatly sympathize with the idea of integration, but can't understand why one of the few books that so many have described as meaningful, and has been so instrumental in teaching appreciation for literature, needs to get such a bad rap. So "the Catcher" gets replaced. In many cases with books that are at best described as "a little far fetched". One of the books that was mentioned among the replacement was Marquez' "100 years of loneliness" , chosen because it represents the Hispanic heritage. This is certainly a master piece, I am even willing to concede that I prefer it over "the Catcher", but a vehicle to awaken interest in literature in the "post-x" generation? I don't think so. Although familiar with the book for quite a while it was not until hitting 30 that I read "the Catcher" in one sitting. It is a great read at any age. And while I still can not understand that people regard reading books like "the Fountainhead", or "Atlas shrugged" as life altering experiences, I am gladly willing to make an exception for Salinger's masterpiece. Hold on to Holden!
Rating:
Summary: a must read
Review: whn i got half way through this book, i didn't want it to end. it is one of those rare books you want to go on forever. it must be a must-read for all teenagers. and also for those adults who can't remember ever being teenagers.
Rating: 
Summary: HOLDEN IS A SPOILED BRAT
Review: Who cares what a rich spoiled brat thinks of the world? Holden should stop whining for a second and wake up to realize the world doesn't revolve around him. If you want real literature, read Steinbeck and Dickens.
Rating: 
Summary: Why do we force children to read this garbage?
Review: Who decides books are classic? What school board comprised of ancient individuals so out of touch with children decided that this book was literature, and therefore had to be forced down the throats of every teenager? This book is TERRIBLE. It is hundreds of pages of mindless garbage about a psycho teenager. Holden Caulfield is a delinquent who decides that the world is full of phonies. Along the way, he decides that he needs to save the innocents, like his sister Phoebe (That's just gross, he's in love with his sister). He also hires a prostitue, then decides that he just wants to "talk" with her. (I thought this book was supposed to be realistic and "in touch" with what children are like. You tell me what teenage boy wants to talk with a prostitute). The rest of the book is the rantings and ravings of a lunatic, and it is a waste of paper, and truly an insult to the trees that were cut down to print it.
Avoid this book at all costs!
Rating:
Summary: find-and-discover-yourself type of book
Review: Why is The Catcher in the Rye so amazing? Because we've all been there. I have never met a person who can't somehow identify with Holden Caulfield. The brink of adulthood. We have all been there, but no one captures it quite like Salinger. Even as an adult, there are still those days when no one can relate, things don't seem quite right, and you want to walk around forever and never go home. Holden Caulfield is about being real. He knows no other way. The Catcher in the Rye is a find-and-discover-yourself type of book.
Rating:
Summary: The best protagonist ever?
Review: Why not add another review to the already hundreds in favor of Catcher in the Rye. Why do we all keep adding our opinions even though we know they'll be buried in the abyss? Read this book and you'll see why. Holden Caufield, our protagonist, speaks as honestly and openly as the youth of our culture today. This book could have been written a year ago and you'd likely never know. The satirical bite of the main character rings true to your soul and when you finish the last page, you're either sorry it's over and you go back to page one and start over again. This is one of the original page-turners.
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