Catcher in the Rye

Rating:
Summary: quasi-autobiographical depiction of depression in a teenager
Review: I have not read all the reviews listed here, and so my comments may be redundant, but I feel that most of the customer reviewers have missed the mark. This book is a brilliant study (probably quasi-autobiographical from what I know of J.D. Salinger's life) of a teenage boy who suffers from severe depression, and barely hangs on through his odyssey from the time he leaves school until he is rescued by his younger sister. There are clear parallels between this book and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, except that she found nothing to anchor her to life. As he travels along, Holden tempts fate on a number of occasions, any one of which could have resulted in his death or serious injury- a vulnerable teenage boy staying in a flophouse of a hotel, engaging a prostitute and taking on her pimp, walking through Central Park after dark, and generally roaming around a usually unforgiving city. His salvation is his sister, who is the only one who can cut through his cynicism, and self-destructiveness. She is truly the "catcher in the rye," standing at the edge of the cliff, guardian and protector, keeping all the children from falling off the edge. In this case, she keeps her brother from the abyss, as he finally agrees to go home, and to not follow his fantasy to go out west, which I think is a metaphor for the great unknown, and probably his own ultimate destruction. Why he honors her so is not entirely clear, but it could be because she is truly pre-egoic; innocent, caring, displaying unconditional love and concern for Holden, and no facade that he can disparage with his cynicism and wit. The "epilogue" final chapter shows Holden acknowledging that he is in some institution, probably as a psychiatric inpatient, who is letting a psychotherapist into his world. He seems to have lost his severe cynical edge, and one gets the hint that he is going to make it, to recover from an illness which almost destroyed him. The novel leaves us on a hopeful note, although, interestingly enough, I dont get the impression that the author ever similarly extricated himself from the reclusive life which he has lived. All in all, I think that we bear witness to a brilliantly-crafted case study of adolescent depression, with all of the contrasting anguish and humorous cynicism expected in such a pathetic figure. The irony here, of course, is that the world and its inhabitants are indeed phony, and to cure Holden is to allow him to become everything he so incisively rails against. Do we do him- and any other beings who see the world for what it really is- a true service by trying to change them??

Rating:
Summary: Definitely a classic
Review: I have only recently read this book and I must say that I couldnt believe it was written in 1945. The language and the characters are so today that it feels like a story of todays adolescent youth rather than that of 4 decades ago, Also the other characters that Caulfield encounters during the course of the book are so well defined and real that it feels like a part of ones own life - The strange thing about this book is that when you finish it it feels like a very light book but it stays with you, the characters stay with you and it makes a deep impression, but you'll only know it after some time has passed.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Book
Review: I have read and reread this brillant book so many times that I have lost count. Holden Caulfield is a character that I can relate to. I fell in love with him by the fourth chapter just by the actions that he was doing (turning the facuets on and off). It's the small things that I appreicated. When Holden asked Sally to run off with him, I wanted to go. I felt like I was right there watching the whole scene. This is my favorite book.

Rating:
Summary: No obvious messages here....
Review: I have read Catcher in the Rye completely about 10 times, and parts of it many more times. But each time I read it I realize I didn't truly understand what was going on. I suspect it is because I do some growing up in-between readings; I was 14 when I first read it, and I am currently 20.

The story is about an adolescent who goes through a traumatic period in which he grows up and learns who he is. Holden is not a person to be admired, praised, or emulated; he is a rather whiny,pathetic, and confused boy. But what makes the character remarkable is that most people have a little Holden ranting inside them. For those who can't relate and find him disturbing, perhaps they should ask why he is so annoying. And maybe they'll learn something.

Holden is above all, a hypocrite; he is the biggest phony. I can relate; the person who is easiest to deceive is him/herself. He has trouble reconciling his beliefs with his actions; his goal is to protect children from the big, bad phonies in the world yet he is a fraud himself. But in the end he realizes that you have to let things go. Nobody can be the Catcher in the Rye.

Rating:
Summary: Honest? I think not...
Review: I have read some of the reviews that say that this book was honest and is about a teenager trying not to lose his innocence and trying to stay away form all the phonies in his life. Maybe I am not as deep as some people reading this book but I think the biggest phony in the entire book is Holden. He keeps saying how he hates it when people pretend to be nice or being phoney as he calls it, but he does it all the time more than anyone else in the book. And if he wants to keep his innocense so bad why does he always wish he were older so he could drink and smoke and not get a lecture? He probably gets along better with kids because they never tell him he is too young to do something. The book was not all bad though, in fact the only part of the book i wasn't too fond of was Holden's character. He said things over and over and over. There were glimpses of humor on his part but i don't know why everyone in the book put up with him. I am on Stradlater's side for punching the hell out of him, I would have done the same thing.

Rating:
Summary: Good- but not good enough to change your life
Review: I have read some of the reviews written here before, and I have to admit that I think this is a good book. I do want to point out that no matter how vulgar, "phony", or realistic you found this book to be, you should not be living by the words of Salinger. People read books for enjoyment, and this is definitely one that can be read for that purpose. Just do not think that this is some kind of a self help book... it's fiction. For those of you who acted upon feelings you had when you read this book, I send you my humble apologies. You should not read books if you are going to act on every feeling that the character or plot brings to you.

Rating:
Summary: Changing views on The Catcher in the Rye
Review: I have read the Catcher on the Rye on two seperate occasions. The first time I read the novel several years ago I was swept up by the character Holden Caulfield and the way in which I could relate to him as a fifteen year old boy, but my opinions regarding The Catcher in the Rye changed somewhat when I read the book more recently as a college undergraduate. I can still see the way in which the book could be appealing to a teenage male filled with angst regarding that society that he lives in, but now I think that this novel could have been written in a much better way.

The Catcher in the Rye only loosely follows a plotline and therefore the events in the novel lack any noticeable connection or continuity except in the most general of ways. The novel, the it addresses serious issues, was not masterfully crafted on any literary level other than its characterization of Holden Caulfield as a teenager rejecting the "phony" society he is being forced to join as he grows older. Despite all of it's faults however, The Catcher in the Rye did start my interest in literature and showed me that things that I cared about could be addressed in literature. The Catcher in the Rye isn't a flawless novel, but it is a must read for any teenager. Hopefully future generations will be inspired by Salinger's wonderful use of the teenage character.

Rating:
Summary: Catcher In The Rye:All time Greatest Novel
Review: I have read the Greatest Novel known to man, The Catcher in the Rye By The Legendary J.D Salinger. I have read this Exceptional Novel 5 times(I am only 13) I first read the book when i was Just 11. I was Hooked from the Get-Go. I was drawn in by the Lively First Paragraph. cause Holden acted the way i am, I hate Phoneys as well through the whole novel each page got better and better. If You See This Novel I Strongly Advise You grab a copy!

Rating:
Summary: Teens and phonies
Review: I have read this book and I love it. A lot of people had told me about it and how good it was. The story is about Holden Caulfield, a troubled teenager who just got thrown out of high school. The story is about his experiences and thoughts. I think a lot of teens, even now, can relate. It's about feeling alienated and having every one against you. Holden keeps talking about all the phonies and there's a good point in what he's saying. The book is inspirational and eye opening. You should read it.

Rating:
Summary: Great book for teenagers
Review: I Have read this book and I think that it is a great book for teenagers. It is well written, it describes Holden Caulfield's life in great detail, and it is extremely funny. It is written to show the slang that Holden uses in his writing, but does not make you think that the author too is using slang. Highly recommended!