The Catcher in the Rye
Ratings1,998
Average rating3.6
“I can't explain what I mean. And even if I could, I'm not sure I'd feel like it.”
“The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody'd move. . . . Nobody'd be different. The only thing that would be different would be you.”
“I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy.”
In honor of Salinger, I'm adding Catcher in the Rye to my currently reading shelf.
Holden Caulfield is a marvel - I did not relate to him one but when I read the novel even though we would've been the same age. There's something about Catcher in the Rye that made me turn up my nose at it for some reason. It could've been the chaotic writing style or Holden's character that often made me question my own sanity.
Overall, I think people should read this book because it is great (it's a classic for a reason), but I'd just say to not expect anything absolutely amazing if you're not interested in analysis or in studying the novel.
Remind me again why this is considered a classic?
Having studied through the British education system, my reference of classic literature were the literary greats: Shakespeare, Dickens, the Brontë sisters, the list goes on and on... so I guess I'd always been curious as to what the perceived 'classics' were on the other side of the Atlantic. Thought I'd give it a shot with Catcher in the Rye, knowing this was studied in schools. And maybe that was my problem. I maybe would have given this a higher rating if I'd read this whilst being in my early teens.
Will definitely give other American classics a go, but this was nothing special.
This was an interesting read. I don't know how I feel about the main character because he so unpredictable in what he does or thinks. It was a journey.
Summary: When Holden Caulfield is set to get kicked out of his private school at the end of the semester, he leaves a few days early to wander around New York City. He spends his days thinking and cussing to himself. His scattered, teenage-boy thought patterns reveal that this lost young man is something of an accidental lay philosopher with some deep thoughts and surprising past events on which to reflect.
Holden definitely isn't a good person, but he is one of the most interesting characters in literature - every page is dedicated to making this lost, deeply lonely soul feel real. Can definitely see why this is life changing for so many people; your enjoyment of the book is heavily contingent on your enjoyment of Holden though
First thoughts that come into my head....
Holden, probably as annoying as any character in any book I've ever read.
So many annoying ticks in the prose that I nearly threw the book out the window, I REALLY DID
Holden manages to complete the three stages of annoying man in just 48 hours....
* Annoying aloof Teenager
* Annoyingly obnoxious young adult
* Annoyingly loud willy waving drunk grownup
And yet, despite all this, I was strangely compelled to finish it. I am glad we didn't read this at school, if we did I think I would have become a nun and lived on raw turnip for all eternity.
A book that took me multiple reads to truly appreciate, perhaps from reading it at too young an age originally.
It's really a nice, and very casual one. Could relate to most of the things stated in the book. Although I don't agree with most of the things, it was nice going with Holden throughout his journey till the end.
crazy how some of you bitches hate holden caulfield but then preach about mental health awareness
Read in college. May try reading again sometime, but it just felt like it went nowhere.
