Catcher in the Rye

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Summary: This book changes lives...
Review: 'A Catcher in the Rye' isn't about being a perfect person. It is about what teens are really like...then & now. I've read this book quite a few times. I treat it as a sanctuary to where I retreat when things get rough. A place of comfort, if you will, that will always be there when need be. Everyone who has not only read but understands this brilliant work of literary art should know what I mean. A definite masterpiece.

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Summary: What scares me most...
Review: 'And indeed we see it ever falleth out that the forbidden writing is thought to be certain sparks of a truth that fly up in the faces of those that seek to choke it, and tread it out.'
-- Francis Bacon

It has often been commented upon that the best way for an author to achieve fame (and, if still alive, fortune) is to have his or her book banned. Of course, one has to play it right. Part of Galileo's initial fame came from the efforts of the Church to suppress his writings--as he stayed in Church-dominated areas, he didn't achieve much fortune.

Controversy worked well also for J.D. Salinger (Jerome David Salinger). He was an American-born (actually, New York City-born) author whose only enduringly popular piece has been 'Catcher in the Rye', which continues to sell a quarter-million copies annually.

'Catcher in the Rye' follows the tale of Holden Caulfield, a boarding-school truant who critiques society and himself in the course of trying to achieve adulthood, most expressly typified by the typical American rite of passage, that of losing one's virginity. Caulfield is in many ways a typical male adolescent, both naive and worldly in an odd mixture; both passionate and violent without mature ways of expression; sullen, withdrawn, yet yearning for acceptance and love.

In many ways it has become an anthem or manifesto of violence against a phoney system. The man who shot John Lennon was influenced by this book, as was the man who shot Ronald Reagan. 'What scares me most is the other guy's face...'

Of course, to ban this book is to admit that there is something that needs to be considered and dealt with about youthful, and particularly male youthful, drives and desires. So much of society seems inadequate to the task of giving a framework for this. Lest you think I am decrying modern society in favour of a 'Father Knows Best' world, remember -- 'Catcher in the Rye' was published in 1951. There is something timeless about the struggles of adolescence. There is likewise something timeless about the overall difficulty of dealing with society which is simultaneously moralising and falling from grace.

This is no case of banning Edmund Crull's treatise on the curing of venereal diseases (circa 1708, a quack treatise that always advocated cures that, not surprisingly, could always be procured in Crull's shop); it really isn't even of the calibre of a banning a la D.H. Lawrence, which could have a more prurient element as the focus of the bans -- 'Catcher in the Rye' is in issues of language and sexual expression in no way untypical of many unbanned books. But, it espouses a critique of society that is uncomfortable while using a base language and subject to do so -- this is a combination, a pile of straws with one straw too many, for many jurisdictions to bear.

So, as D.H. Lawrence would perhaps pen, the 'censor-moron is on the loose'.

In John Guare's recent play/film, 'Six Degrees of Separation', the character Paul states that his thesis in college had been on 'Catcher in the Rye'. He launches into his own analysis of the text with his own critique of society, made all the more ironic as the play progresses by the fact that Paul is every bit as phony as the society which both he and Caulfield blast with scathing observation. In essence, they are right at home, save for the fact that they both make the more comfortable set less comfortable.

A book worthy of being banned is worthy of being read! I don't know, in point of fact, that I would recommend the book (not really my kind of literature), save for the banning. And thus, the censors lose again.

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Summary: ADOLESCENCE CONFUSION
Review: 'Catcher in the rhy', was written by J.D Salinger, published in 1951.

It explores into an insecurities and vunerablity of a seventeen year old, 'Holden Caulfield'. Holden, has experienced a tragic event, where his brother Allie died at the age of ten. "He got leukemia and died when we where up in Maine, on July the 18th 1946. This occurance has had a major negative impact on Holden. He views the world, focusing on the negative aspects {Obsessive behaviour}. "Its phoney, I could puke everytime I hear it" {33}} That guy had just about everything. Sinus trouble, pimples, lousy teeth, halitosis, crumby fingernails. You had to feel sorry for the crazy sonvubitch" {34}

Holden is from a rich upperclass family, "Hotshot lawyer" {Father}. He has recently been removed from "Pencey" {Highschool}, as his work standard is low {Only passing English}

Holden is forced into the adult world, which he believes to be phony. He feels responsiblity to protect the younger generation of children {especially Phoebe - His sister} from entering the adult world, where all innocence is lost. He is figuratively like the "catcher In the rhy" {aiming to stop them from growing up and entering the adult world - catching them before they fall}

Holden suffers from a mental illness, where he is constantly deteriating downhill. He cannot cope with the challenges which face him and tries to escape though fantasy.

Holden realises in the end, that he can't save children growing up, they have to find there own way in life. "The thing with kids is if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it and not say anything".

Holden desperately needs guidance and help, as he is finding life extremely difficult. Though the end of the novel Holden finally accepts and adapts to the changes in his life. He becomes physically ill {TB} and is sent to Hollywood where he is treated. His attitude changes dramatically and positive comments seap in! Holden is accepting life and facing the challenges!

Rating:
Summary: Don't read the book!
Review: 'The catcher in the Rye' is a boring, uninteresting book. Holden Caulfield is not someone I feel related to at all. Everybody feels depressed once in a while. But that doesn't mean you think and feel like Holden does. He criticises everything he keeps calling peoples phoneys just he can't imagine being like them. When somebody's positive about life Holden thinks it is because they didn't live in reality. I think Holden himself has no idea what life is about, he is just a scared messed-up teenager, that tries to loose his frustrations by criticising others. He behaves like a brat because he doesn't want to admit the good things n life. When his little sister Phoebe asks m to list the things he loved he couldn't think of anything at all. I kept hoping the book would get better but it didn't, the whole story was about nothing. Normally I can find at least one thing in a book that made it worth reading but I didn't this time. I don't understand that it is considered to be literature. Maybe it was a very modern book in the fifties but that is the only good thing I can say about it.

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Summary: BLAST OF A BOOK DUDE
Review: 'The Catcher in The Rye' is an especially good book.... one of the best I ever read.

In this fabulous book by J D Salinger, there is this hell of a crazy guy called Holden Caulfield. He is kicked out of his school because he had failed in every subject except English. He has two older brothers... one of them died and the other is working in Hollywood. He's also got a younger sister who's his favourite.

As I said before Holden Caulfield is a 'close to crazy' guy. He is the narrator of the story. Mr. Salinger uses slangs and very informal writing to describe vividly what is going on and what are Holden's feelings.

What happens is that after Holden is kicked out of school, he goes to live in a hotel, and then goes to his teacher's house... but does not like either of them. In parts of the story he talks about his love life... how he gone out and made time with his girlfriends and all.

After all that stuff, Holden goes to his own home and talks to his favourite little sister Phoebe about his situation secretly... because he didn't want his parents to know that he's been kicked out. He decides to go away somewhere far away from his living place because he hates his present home. But Phoebe wants to go too... and for her sake Holden stays and that's the end of the book.

It is named 'The Catcher in The Rye' because of a very small reason inside the book. Once when Phoebe asks Holden what he wants to be when he grows up, this crazy guy answers that he wants to be at the edge of a cliff where all little girls are playing and he just wants to catch whoever is in the verge of falling off. He names this dumb occupation as the 'catcher in the rye'.

In all, this is a fabulous creation by J D Salinger. There is very good humour and descriptiveness, and it didn't take me long to list 'The Cathcer in The Rye' as one of my favourite books.

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Summary: A fantastic book
Review: 'The Catcher in the Rye' is truely a magnificant book. Salinger has created a wonderful character out of Holden, a critical yet kind person towards others. Salinger has also created a whole mastermind of ideas that link back to the main theme/s of the book, the catcher in the rye, being a metaphor as the passive of rights. This is a wonderful book and I have enjoyed it everytime I have read it.

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Summary: Is my book edited?
Review: ( )Okay, I am now stating that I am not any kind of English buff or literary critic of any kind. I am a high school student and read The Catcher for an English assignment. I have to say that I really enjoyed the novel. I actually read the book "cover to cover". I bore through Arms of the Man and Scarlet Letter. Note: ( ), I really enjoyed The Great Gatsby (There are some brownie points).

The Catcher provided a style that was realistic and complex. Many find this difficult that Holden comments on several situations at the same moment, but when you think about it, that is exactly the way that humans function. Come on, you can not tell me that when you were talking to someone and never find yourself thinking about that time when... ANYWAY, The style and the graphic dialogue create a dislike for the Catcher. When people found out that I chose the Catcher, they would say all this stuff about the language and how bad it was and how they could only get through the first page. After talking to all these people I could have sworn I had the edited version. The abrupt language provided a break from the classic style and made the novel realistic. Have you ever seen Good Will Hunting? Any they are complaining about the Catcher?

I will say that on the way through the novel that I skipped over the symbolism/ extended metaphors and did not find any, but going back over the symbolism is very coherent. So you can find them, look for the comparison of ducks on the frozen pond to Holden's personality frozen to the world and the Catcher in the Rye saving the child from the cliff of adulthood. (Just a little help. These are not found in Cliff Notes.)

I love Holden's character. Holden is a gentleman at heart and does not present himself as anything he is not. He provides an interlude from the society of "phonies". To Holden, phonies are everywhere. A phony is anyone who presents a different personality according to the audience whom they are presented with. Being a phony is typically an adult trait. Please do not get bitter on me, but let me explain. It is typically an adult trait, because the child idealism does not include the need to impress people. Holden engulfs himself in the ideal of innocence mostly found in children especially Holden's younger siblings and Jane whom he places on an angelic pedestal. Holden explains that such innocence can be discovered in adults through his example of the drummer. Holden admires the drummer, because the drummer's job consists of a few miniscule notes and the drummer never bores and plays every performance with pride. Holden finds honor in the drummer.

Holden provides an extraordinary character and a change in pace from the American literature found on the English department bookshelf. I fell in love with Holden and by the end I felt like I really knew him. By the end, I felt sorry for him and all I wanted to do was to give Holden the gift of a really good friend and a fake ID. If you enjoy more psychological kind of novels and preferably on the younger side, because of the subject matter (and plus if our parents knew how we think then what would we do then?) then The Catcher in the Rye is a good bet. If you like the action packed thrills then save your money. ( )Nuff said.

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Summary: The catcher in the Rye (stien)
Review: (...) The Catcher in the Rye: by J.D. Salinger.
My opinion:
I rather find it a good book because it is not boring to read and it is also written in a fluent way. There is a lot of vartiation in this story.
The story is told by a boy, who’s name is Holden and he tells about his own life, what he has been through and about his feelings. While he is telling his story you get to know the other characters.
The story is told in a very pleasant manner. There aren’t many difficult words. So when you start reading the book you want to read it in one breath.
The persons in the book are discribed very clear because you also get to know what they think and who they really are. For examle: you get a lot of infortmation about Holden’s little sister Phoebe, who likes Holden very much.
The story is also very interresting because the main character is a 17 year old boy, so he has almost the same age as me. We are in the same position, for examle we have the same age like I said already and we are both students. So I can imagine what he wants to tell and that it isn’t always so easy to make friends and that the lessons can be very boring.
This story goes about daily events. It’s a non-fiction story because there are so many students who struggle with themselves and with there studies at this age. There are also many student who are repeaters just like Holden.
I like the main character as well because he is not such a boring person but he makes sometimes jokes and he has also a good sense of humour.
My final conclusion is that I first thaught it would be rather difficult to read an englisch book for the first time, but finally I’m glad I read it !!!!

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Summary: (...) opnion of Catcher in the Rye
Review: (...)
I find it a very good novel because it learns the reader about American schools and the reader is exposed to the American tradition. The main character, Holden Caulfield, is a very good frog because he can mislead everybody he wants to (the three women around thirty in the hotel at New York, for instance). Holden is very independent of people and he can take care of himself very well. I admire him because he has the guts to kid with Stradlater (I would never have challenged that tough guy). This book has a few tiny little bad points: it has to many chapters, to many characters and it's typed so small that's even difficult to read if your eyes are all right. There's more but this you will hear in class.

(...)

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Summary: Get caught with this one!
Review: ... Catcher in the Rye is a wonderful piece of literature that is easy to read, funny and wise. I loved it!

While not very plot-driven, Catcher in the Rye tells the story of 16-year-old Holden Caulfield, a cynical, jaded teenager who is expelled from boarding school for his bad grades and lack of classroom attendance. The story spans the two days after leaving his school and follows Holden on his journey home via hotels, bars, and bus stations. And while the premise of the story doesn't sound like much, reading this book was a lot of fun and some may even being able to identify with Holden's attitude toward life.

Having read this for the sheer pleasure of it, I'm now pondering the reasons Catcher in the Rye has reached its "classic" status. Possibly it broke new ground with all of its cursing and sex-talk, which was most likely unheard of in the 40s, much less from a novel written through the point of view of a teenager. Whatever the reason is, undoubtedly readers will have fun with this novel and will find intelligent topics of discussion regarding its contents. A must read for every book fanatic. One of the best classics I've read.