Rating: 
Summary: Simply The Best
Review: Even though it has been a school work in English classes, when I was in eleventh grade, "The Catcher in the Rye" has
been the best book that I have ever read. I could almost forget that I was supposed to study each word that I was reading, since I was assigned to do so. Instead I could live everthing Holden lives and feel his feelings inside. The language he uses got me closer to his world and him being that straight forward in his attitudes, made me approach certain things with wider perceptions at the end. Since
English is not my native language, as a student at high school in Turkey, I gained the maximum benefit from the piece, both philosophically and academically. As it address
to anyone at any age, I guess everyone needs to take the chance to meet with Holden in order to witness the natural growth of the personality inside one and how he confesses every piece that he keeps inside. Thank You
Rating: 
Summary: "It killed me..."
Review: Even though this book isn't exactly recent, it still is a valid written expression of many teenagers' mood. I read the book last winter and, when I read it, I could feel like Holden. I realised that my thoughts and my way of thinking was pretty similar to Holden's. I could understand his rebellion and almost agree with it. I felt like him very much.I think "The Catcher in the Rye" is an aethernal book. Every teenager, no matter if it'll be in 200 years time, will identify himself with Holden Caulfield. If you're an adolescent and you read that book, as I did, it's like you are reading your diary. That's the way it is. Every one of us, at some point in life, will find himself thinking like Holden. Holden will always be alive in our minds.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless anthem to the lonely
Review: Even though this is a literary classic that almost everyone in America reads before graduating from High School, somehow I missed out on this one and was never required to read it for any class I took, even through college. I've heard numerous references to it through the years. Before killing John Lennon, Mark Chapman, who read and re-read the book many times - to the point of believing it was his own biography, asked Lennon to autograph his copy before gunning down the musician. John Hinckley, attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan, was another devotee of the short novel, as was Robert Bardo, killer of Rebecca Schaeffer (star of "My Sister Sam" on TV). There may be countless other criminals and stalkers who have identified with the book's main character, Holden Caulfield. In Mel Gibson's movie, "Conspiracy Theory," his character has an obsession with the book and must buy a copy every time he sees one. I finally had to pick up a copy and find out what all the fuss was about. Was the book about stalking and murder? Not exactly - but rather the motivating factor behind such heinous crimes of obsession. Caulfield, in his late teens, is a misfit in a world that doesn't tolerate misfits very well. His younger brother, who he dearly admired for being so likeable and genuine, has died of cancer. His older brother, D.B., lives in Hollywood, writing stories for the big screen, which is a loathsome thought for Caulfield. Caulfield is an introspective youth who hates being around fake people (who doesn't?), but doesn't try to get to know people well enough to find out whether they are really phony or not. He stumbles through life with his arms crossed in defiance, believing he's one of the few genuine people in the world. Growing up in an affluent home, being shuttled from one prep school to another, Caulfield finds himself ensconced with phonies and it makes him sick to his stomach. His refusal to acclimate results in him being kicked out of one school after another. The novel opens with his narrative of how he has been kicked out of Pencey, his latest prep school, and how he doesn't want to face his parents until they've gotten the news and calmed down a bit. He heads up to New York, getting a room in a fleabag hotel, then running from bar to bar, trying to find something that won't bore him. He's obsessed with avoiding boredom at all costs. He's constantly finding himself in situations where he fantasizes about killing people, but never defends himself because, he explains, he's "yellow." His inability to focus and attempt to express himself makes him frustrated and angry, finding contempt and hate for just about anyone for any reason, even those he loves. The story takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of 2 and a half days as Holden Caulfield searches for meaning in his life, but finds only emptiness. The only thing he can seem to hold onto is the fantasy of building a cabin out in the middle of nowhere, where he never has to be around phonies again... he'd rather be alone, than lonely in the midst of crowds of phony-baloneys. After reading the book, it's easy to understand how such misfits as Hinckley, Bardo and Chapman used this book as their personal anthem and almost as a proxy, felt the need to act out in ways that Holden Caulfield was unable or unwilling to do. To the sane reader, Caulfield's character is a study in sadness and loneliness, not a character worth admiring - albeit his search for the truth in life is a noble cause. The book doesn't condone or condemn Caulfield, but rather states Caulfield's thoughts as they come to him. The sane reader can't help but want to reassure Caulfield that this is part of growing up and everything is going to be ok, and wonder where such people were in the lives of the famous stalkers who never had anyone reach out to them and slap them with some reality. As someone with ADHD, I found the book a fairly easy read. Parents should know that the book is wrought with foul language and sexually suggestive narratives. As a minor, Caulfield smokes, drinks and attempts to procure the services of a prostitute, among other things... so this is not light reading nor should this be the reading material of a young person not mature enough to separate fact from fiction. Salinger's writing style is interesting - detailed, yet quickly paced, and a good piece of literature as reference for the aspiring writer.
Rating:
Summary: Want to hear all that David Copperfield kind of stuff?
Review: Ever since I was really young, I have been hearing about the "Catcher In The Rye", and what an amazing piece of work it was, how it was going to live forever,how it deserved every prize possible, ect. And when I saw in on my eighth grade reading list, I thought, well, why not? I should read it. Fall in love with it, as everyone told me I would. Well. So I read it. And while "The Catcher In The Rye" is a good book, and a really good book, I must say, I have read better. It really isn't the one of the worlds Wonders, believe it or not. Holden is a cynical guy, charming, nice, open, honest, sweet and funny, a rebal at times, way critcal, and pretty much a liar. And in the book he mentions what phonies everyone are. Yet, he, at times, was phony too. Since I read the book a long while ago it's pretty hard to remember, but let's try. Holden lies at every chance he gets, calls up girls he says he hates, becuase he wants to make out with them, judges people by how their suitcases look and cost, and wants to marry a girl cause she's pretty. But Holden? Phony? Never! Still, you can relate to him. Holden doesn't feel like he belongs, and everyone feels like that sometimes. He feels everyone is phony, and a lot of people think that, too. He feels the stress of trying to fit in, of homones, school, parents... anyone who ever dreamed of being free, going wherever you want, whever you want, being totaly anoyynimas, (sorry,I can't spell that!), can relate to this book. This is a classic because it's about teen angst: once a story like that is written well, and this one is, it really can live forever, because this topic doesn't change. It still exists. You can realte,no matter what your age. So my point? Read it.
Rating:
Summary: Catcher In the Rye: Through the eyes of Holden
Review: Every human in this world is different from one another. Being different from someone else is a unique characteristic. The book "Catcher In The Rye," deals with being different and not being yourself. The book is basically a journey through life of the main character, Holden.
Holden always has trouble with applying himself in school. He has been in many private schools and managed to fail out of each. His last school ends up being Pencey, an all boy's school. He fails to apply himself in his classes except for his English class. He ends up being kicked out of school and has to return home to deal with his parents.
Holden never seems to want to be alone. He gets depressed alot when things don't go his way. When he did get to New York, which is where he is from, he had to hide out for a while. He didn't want to be alone, but he couldn't go home. He was unable to go home due to a letter from the school. He wanted to wait until the letter arrived and then return home. He began calling up old girlfriends and friends and staying out until all hours. He even went so far as to buy the company of a prostitute. He ended up feeling sorry for himself and he lied to get her to go away. He always lied about something to save himself, but that would create depression. This depression led to alcoholism and then thoughts of suicide.
Holden ended up going home to visit his sister. Holden ventured home and got inside the house very quietly. He didn't want his parents to know that he was there, just his sister. He had favoritism towards his little sister Phoebe, and she looked up to him. He figured things would be ok once he saw her.
In the end, Holden wants to leave, saying, "he wants to get away from the phony people." It is funny because Holden was phony himself. He never told the truth and he was always pretending to be someone else. He got so fed up with these people that he wanted to kill someone. He mentioned that "he wanted to be in a peaceful place where phony people can't talk." Phoebe decided that she wanted to leave with him. After talking her out of it, he realized that he wasn't going to leave either. He ended up returning home.
To finish this book, you have to realize where exactly Holden is telling the story from. Just by seeing the type of character that he is, you realize that he is crazy. Holden had to wait a semester to go to school, he ended up staying in the psych ward. His character made the story and symbolized his crazy mind and the moods of his character. Catcher in the Rye deals with mental problems and the reality of living with them.
Rating:
Summary: Catcher In the Rye was an important book for teens to read
Review: Every teen in the USA should read Catcher In The Rye because they can relate to it very well.
It shows people what a real teen goes through and what he/she faces in life each and every day.
This book made me realize that all the phonies in the world are just plain stupid for trying to be someone their not.
Holden portrayed a great character of a teenage guy and what problems he sexual goes through.
unfortunately, there is alot more in this world today that Holden would not have been able to handle and that many teens do not handle.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book for young adolescent readers!
Review: Every teenager should read this book. The change of adolescence into adulthood can be difficult to handle. Teenagers can relate very well to this book. Teenagers have challenges in school just as Holden Caulfield had. Everyone goes through changes in life, but eventually everyone finds their right place in life!
Rating:
Summary: A classic worth reading
Review: Everybody is a big phony--well, at least to Holden Caulfield. "The Catcher in the Rye" is one of those books that it seems everyone dreads having to read in high school but for no understandable reason. I was never forced to read it in high school and now that I am in college and have started reading on my own, I decided to check out this classic work.
Holden, going through what can be considered normal teen emotions, appears to have a real chip on his shoulder. After being kicked out of yet another school, Holden becomes depressed. Wandering around New York until it is safe to go home, he is left to wallow in obscurity. The only people or things he cares deeply for is his little sister, Phoebe, and his dead brother, Allie. Holden's relationship with Phoebe, my favorite aspect of the book, is the only thing managing to keep him sane. Borrowing a phrase that Holden likes to use, Phoebe really "knocked him out." The other characters, such as fellow Pency students Ackley and Stadtler, have limited roles and only further add to Holden's disillusionment. From the beginning of the book it easy to identify with Holden, even though his view of the world is almost exclusively negative. Holden confides in you and it feels very easy to confide in him. At first the ending seemed empty, as it if was lacking a denouement. However, if you read between the lines, the ending is very fitting. This is the theme throughout the rest of the book too--it is an average story when taken at face value but further inspection reveals greatness.
I did enjoy reading this book. The only reasons I didn't give it the final star to signify true excellence was some of the harsh language used and the depressing nature of the book. It really isn't the best book to read if you are feeling down on your luck. Otherwise, if you have never read it or were forced to read it in high school and didn't like it then, I recommend you pick up a copy now.
Rating:
Summary: This book really woke me up
Review: Everybody should read this book. It shows very well the problems teens meet and I saw my self in Holden. It kind of made me see how life can be, and I got kind of disappointed. But I also understood that I am not willing to become a "phony" like so many in the adolt-world. something that seems to be impossible as I grow older. It also is a scary book in a way. Holden` s life is so dark and depressing...
Rating:
Summary: Totally a classic...
Review: Everyone I know had to read this book freshman year in highschool, and for a good reason. Catcher in the Rye is a total classic, and you will be left out of quite a few literary conversations if you haven't read it. Its also scary how much I identify with Holden each time I read the book (phonies! football games! hysterical parents!).
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