Catcher in the rye
The Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D. Salinger
Year: 1991
Publisher: Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316769487
This is one of those historical books that everyone keeps talking about (right there with Fountainhead, for instance). Unfortunately, I hadn’t realized this when I read the book. It was only after I finished reading it did I truly grasp the history and the context behind the book.
Anyways, my first impression of the book wasn’t all that good. I think the book is very open to interpretation, and depending on what kind of outlook you have towards life, you may find the book a little or a lot depressing. So far I’ve yet to find someone who found the book not depressing at all. But then it was meant to be that way, so its not really a point against the book.
The book doesn’t make a lot of sense in the first reading. I think I’ll have to go back and re-read parts of it. I don’t/can’t relate much to the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. I was never that insecure during my teenage. Life was simple in those days, I was content and busy with the things happening in my immediate vicinity. I was far from bothered about the world at large, let alone feel discontentment at human behavior.
Wikipedia has lots and lots of interesting information on [[wp>Catcher_in_the_rye|the book]], so I’ll defer you to it if you’re looking for more facts and/or interpretations and spoilers. I just want to say a couple of things about the book: it was written //more than 50 years ago//, and it is still one of the most argued and challenged books; you would probably find it depressing to read, but you’ll come out more appreciative of the things you are grateful for in your life; you might shrug the book off, but it will come back to haunt you later.
I think it deserves a read.
Very refreshing !!! This is not so often that geeks talk about books they have read and appreciate – or not -.
‘The Catcher in the rye’ is a book I personnaly found incredibly deep and insightful. Obviously, the question is not about it to be good or not, but how you feel wehn you read it. This is like a mirror, as you mentionned in your post (‘…I was never that insecure during my teenage…’). It makes you remember your youth. I must admit that I never felt that insecure too, but I share some of these feelings. This is the way the book works (IMHO).
It definitively deserves a read, like it or hate it, but at least make your own opinion !
*@emmanuel*: well, I talk about them a LOT [1] :-)
Yeah, the book is quite remarkable. I was reading up some more of its history on Wikipedia, and it seems the book has this reputation because it has been portrayed by the media that way. Psychopaths and serial killers shown to be carrying the book around or influenced by it in movies and so on.
[1] http://floatingsun.net/blog/tags/books/
aha!!! one of my all time favs…. good that u read it too…
abt the analysis…would love to discuss it at length!!!!
Good work, there!
*@chandni*: well, clearly it wasn’t anything like a review if I compare with the reviews you write ;-) This book can only spawn those endless discussions, which never end with anything specific. :-)
Well, as you seems to be very found of books, I engage you to try “Too loud a solitude”, from Bohumil Hrabal (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0156904586/104-3324359-0747910?v=glance&n=283155)
Hrabal is one of the best czech writer, and this book is his masterpiece.
Simply great.
*@emmanuel*: Thanks for the pointer, I’ve added it to my “to read” list :-)
You are very fortunate to have gone through teenage years without the insecurities Holden Caulfield had. I’ve just finished reading the book, it took me about 3-4 months, which is ridiculous. At times I hated it and had to put it down because it just seemed to be the bitching of a teenage middle class wealthy kid. But at other times it had moments that shone through as important. Salinger has without doubt fully caught the introspection of a self centred teenage boy. But he has also caught the view of the world from that same boys eyes. A cynical, depressive, ignorance but at the same time because Holden just doesn’t have a someone he can talk to. He appears to be suffering from depression, paranoia and deep rooted insecurities because of the lost of his brother Allie, and later the witnessing of a boy at his school committing suicide. Fortunately, other characters provide Holden with a crutch but not enough. He doesn’t know what he is doing with himself, where he will go in his life or what he will become. This is something I can sympathise with, I’ve never known what I’ll grow up to be. But of course his self examination leads him to see the phonys of the world, perhaps unfortunately true or perhaps all in his mind. If I get round to reading it again I hope I can do it in less than 3 months lol.
*@peter*: Hey! Agree with most of what you’ve said. I’ve definitely been quite fortunate and Salinger has indeed done a great job (otherwise the book wouldn’t be as insanely popular as it is, even half a century after publication). All of us have our moments of doubts, and I didn’t mean to imply that I could _never_ related to Holden. I guess all of us at some level probably do, its just that Holden is an extreme caricature, to accentuate the protagonist.
I definitely agree with most of what all have said. I completely agree with the idea that what Holden sees in those around him is truly what he sees in himself that he’s so afraid to admit and accept -some kind of mirror effect of sort. I think that what some of you have said about not actually relating to his teenage years, is probably due to this incredible and freakish uniqueness of his as an outcast adolescent, seemingly way ahead of his time who suffers of emotional ups and dows and desperately whished to return to his innocent childhood years. I as some of you am not loving the book, but have come to slowly understand its true meaning and insight on life – Holden’s insight on life. As some of you said as well, the book as head its ups and downs in relation to my liking of it as well -there are parts in it that deeply frustrate me through Holden’s harsh judgemental character, negative perspective of life and incredibly cynical attitude; however others have really opened my eyes and helped me understand his point of view as one who strives to find innocence in a world that no londer holds it.
Definitely a book worth reading, whether it’s of your liking or not =)