The Catcher in the Rye
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"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger is written in first person. Holden Caulfield tells the story of his expulsion from Pencey, a college preparatory school and of his experiences in New York City while he is missing in action. It is evident from the beginning of the book that Holden is about to crash and burn. Holden looks at everything as being phoney and has a negative outlook of his friends and teachers, but he does have a soft spot for his younger sister Phoebe, for a friend named Jane and for his family.
Phoebe, Holden's younger sister has a power over Holden, and she is able to understand him in ways others are not; I love it when Phoebe tells Holden to stop swearing (I often felt like telling him myself). Holden's main reason for finally seeking the help he needs is Phoebe, though younger she is more mature than Holden in a number of areas and she rescues him from himself.
By the end of the book, Holden is in a psychiatric hospital, which is a relief because it was painful to read about him falling apart and no one was smart enough to get him the help he needed.
As much as I loathed Holden and his foul mouth and his hypocrisy, everything he hated in others was mirrored by his own actions and he was blind to it, I found I liked him and I wanted him to make things work out in the end. Kids unfortunately grow up and face situations that can no longer be blocked out by adults and the kids either survive them (some scarred) or they do not survive. Holden in the end does survive, but is scarred and his attitude seems little changed, but he is still breathing and I guess that is something.
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That's how I experienced it.
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I have a divided opinion about the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger. On the one hand I have to admit that it gives the reader a very good insight into the world of a depressed teenager living in a world he doesn't want to accept. Holden Caulfield is a very sensitive boy and there are parts of the novel in which I can understand him very well. most of these parts are at the beginning of the novel. On the other hand I didn't like the book too much, because after I read half of it I started to hate Holden Caulfiel and as he is the main character, this was a real problem. I regard Holden as very naive: He judges almost everybody in his environment by calling them phony. For him this is the most negative quality a person can have, but he also behaves phony in so many situations. Furthermore Holden is such a pessimist that I could hardly bear it. And because Holden always repeats himself the novel was a bit boring in some parts. Summing up I can say that The Catcher in the Rye is probably a book that one should have read to be able to have a say in a discussion about it. And maybe with this novel it is like with very depressing songs: It depends on your own mood whether you like it. If the reader is in a good mood while reading it, Holden's emotions seem to be so far away that it is not very interesting to read on.
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Is the world really this bad?
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Are people really as fake, dishonest, and downright nasty as Holden seems to think they are? I suppose the answer lies in the eye of the beholder, but Holden sure uses a lot of cuss words in telling you his opinion! Basically, the book is a long diatribe of an angst-filled teenager against the perceived woes of the world, and I actually agree with a good deal of what Holden has to say. Holden is an especially insightful and perceptive teenager as well, adding to the story and making it relevant to readers of all ages. An obvious point is that the book is most likely autobiographical in many ways, as most novels are. Many people are indeed phonies, Holden, especially through your eyes. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.
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Fantastic read
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I never read this book in high school because it was not part of our novel study. I wish I had read this book earlier. My sister bought it home one day and I took it from her so I could have something to read on the bus. I really thought I would not enjoy it because it was read in schools.
The first page got me hooked. The story is written in plain old English and written from the point of view of the main character, he is narrating his life to the reader. This book was truly a page turner and I felt that I really knew and understood the main character and where he was coming from. It was extremly witty and funny, I even found myself laughing to myself in the bus. It's one of those books that you would say that you could have written. This book is officially part of my "top five must read books". For anyone that wants a quick read and a real page turner I would so reccomend this book. Simply a fantastic read!
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Too psychotic
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This book was way too crazy a read. I was dissapointed because I felt, after reading it, distirbed. I you want to read a book about a crazy person's life than this is the one. If not I suggust you look elsewhere.
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