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Summary: can read it again and again
Review: I first read this book my sophmore year in high school, and have read it once every couple years since then. It is a quick, and entertaining read, and arguably THE classic American novel. Perfect for road trips, lazy Sundays, or any time - the book does not cease to be enjoyable.
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Summary: Pure Brilliance!!! As relevant today as it was 40 years ago.
Review: I first read this book two years ago when I was still in high school. Since then I've read it about twenty times and I just never get bored with it. Several authors over the years have tried to duplicate this milestone in American literature, but none have been comparable to Salinger. Close matches in the same genre are such novels as FAR FROM NOWHERE, GENERATION X, and BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY, but CATCHER is still the best.
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Summary: I wish I could be Holden's friend in real life
Review: I first read this book when I was 16, went through it really fast, and thought Holden was a spoiled rich kid. I read it for the second time today 4 years later, after having gone to a private boarding school myself, having some more life experiences, and reading the book with more attention. I had completely missed the first time around a huge life-altering event Holden goes through which made me understand why he is so depressed with humanity. Now this is one of my favorite books because of Holden. He is so sweet, funny, and relatable you can't help but love him. In the book Holden says he knows a book is good if he wants to have the author as a friend he can call up anytime. I wish I could call Holden. Read it!
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Summary: the most fulfillimg and uniquely inspiring book
Review: I first read this book when i was 9. I think that my life would not be half as wonderful had I not read this book at such a young age. I truly feel that those people who do not bother to read the book or who consider it to be "boring" or "wierd", are those people who best fit into our society. For our society is as pretentious and superficial as the one portrayed in Holden's life. I am only 16, but I am sure that I will spent the rest of my life searching for Holden Caulfield.
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Summary: I liked it more at 24, then when I was 15
Review: I first read this book when I was a sophomore in high school. I remember myself drawn into it then but after I finished it I thought it was fun but didn't quite think it a classic. Recently, I had felt a need to escape my everyday life and the idea of taking off from my job, roommates, life really appealed to me so I picked up this book again. I read it little bits and pieces and treasured each moment. I really identify with Holden a lot mre now after being in the world for a little bit. Salinger's observations through Holden are interesting and his digressions make for great reads. But what I noticed this time around almost above everything else is the intense and sharp humor of the book. I found myself several times laughing out loud. The book is really funny. Holden's observations are so true, it's just funny. The humor relies on behavior instead of jokes and I think at 24, I've observed more behavior and appreciate the humor. The relationships Holden has a very touching and interesting too. I felt that he was more similar in this regard to an early twenty something than a high schooler, but I think early twenty-somethings are a lot more "phony" than holden so he works better as a high schooler. It's a good book. I want to read it again.
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Summary: Moving and easy to relate to...
Review: I first read this book when I was fairly young, during my pre-teens. I really didn't get it, but now, I understand. I could now understand how he feels and the J.D. Salinger did such an outstanding job and impressed me so much, this is the only book I really consider a teen classic.
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Summary: The best book ever
Review: I first read this book when I was in eighth grade. My boyfriend had recommended it to me. I asked my parents to get me a copy, and they seemed impressed, telling me how it was such a great book. I started reading it and I loved it instantly.
I took it to school as I continued reading. My English teacher noticed this. He walked up to me and said, "The Catcher in the Rye? Excellent book. Excellent." Next period, my science teacher talked to me about how she loved it too. After all of this, I finally was able to finish reading it within one day. I'm usually a slow reader unless I really love the book, and I did.
The next day, my English teacher and his friend, another English teacher, talked to me about the book. The other English teacher began telling me how he first read it when he was 18 and that it was the best book in the world. He told me he really wished he could teach it in school, but the kids were just too immature for that.
I must agree - this book is not for kids. I see some people think this is just a plotless book filled with cussing. That is not true. This book is quite beautiful, actually.. it teaches you about life, growing up, relationships, change, and mostly, the transition from childhood to adulthood. Salinger does a great job giving Holden the personality of a teenager, one that we all can relate to, somehow. This book isn't like others.. I mean, whose mind is on the same subject all the time? If you ask me, that's rather phony. Holden tells it like it is and has rather amusing thoughts. He's also a loveable, admirable character in many ways, such as how no means no to him and how he wants to save children. Just read it. It will change the way you see everything.
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Summary: The Difference Between This Book and Other Books
Review: I first read this novel in college. That was forty years ago. Ever since, I have always had a copy of Salinger's novel in my library. I think about it every so often. The difference between this book and other books is the immediacy of the writing. From the famous first sentence, Holden Caulfield talks to you as a real confidant. You are immediately his best friend. He confidies his private thoughts to you without any hesitation as to your relationship to him. There is an unspoken conclusion that he needs you to talk to. And he needs you now. David Copperfield, which opens with that other famous first sentence, addresses you formally. His verbs are properly conjugated. and his diction is polished. David does not get close to you. He tells you his story from the podium. Holden sits right next to you, leans against you, and talks to you. He language is informal and his diction is not so great. You don't care. Suddenly, someone is confiding in you. You want to hear him out. That is why the novel works. Holden immediately accepts you, blemishes and all, as his best friend. He tells you his story even though he just met you. He is a stranger confiding in you. Thomas Hardy tells a good story. He converses plainly and directly to the reader. Dickens addresses the reader. Salinger confides in the reader. This is the immediacy of the novel. That is the difference between this book and the others. We all want to be someone's confidant.
Rating: 
Summary: Ermerher it was ok
Review: I first saw this book I thought it was going to be a very boring book. It seemed like it was very pointless but when I started reading I thought it wasn't that bad I actually somewhat got in to the book and thought it wasn't that bad. I thought that it was wicked cool that Holden wasn't afraid when he got fed up with everything that he just got up and left on his own to New York. I would love sometimes to just leave and go to dance clubs in New York City. I recommend this to most people except for people who will get obsessed with this book and try to shoot someone the day the patriots are playing Miami in a playoff game. But then again you can't shoot John Lennon again. Other than that I think most people will enjoy this book. Also I liked the random characters that if they didn't come it wouldn't have been an interesting story. Like his best friend wasn't in the book much but he was in it enough to make the book about forty pages longer because of the stress and conflict that Holden went through. There was also that prostitute and her pimp that added like twenty more pages and Holden wanted to commit suicide, which is never a healthy thing. Holden was a cool kid since it seemed that he never had anyone not to cool he always had someone to call. It's wicked cool.
Rating:
Summary: entertaining classic
Review: I found Catcher in the Rye to be very creative and well written. It was one book that held my interest. Though at times depressing,the outlook on life and Holden's antihero attitude humored me at times. Phoebe was a brilliant character. Many times I felt the feelings holden felt. Especially with the vivid first person. I can't say enough other than I wish it was longer. A must read.
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