The Catcher in the Rye
by J. D. Salinger
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Book Summary Information
Author: J. D. SalingerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-01-30
ISBN: 0316769177
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780316769174
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Catcher in the Rye
Book Review: "People never give your message to anybody"..
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me start by saying that I can see why a lot of people wouldn't like this book, especially a lot of people who have to read it for school. To many people, it seems like the typical "teenage angst" kind of book, and it's very easy to think that the whole way through the book. If you learn nothing from this book then you didn't get the meaning behind it - it's a blunt statement, either you agree or you don't. And if you *do* get the meaning behind it, but found it to be boring or repetitive anyway, then that is your opinion. Some people just simply don't like the same books.
I have to admit, when I first started reading Catcher in the Rye I was a bit struck at why it was considered a classic in literature. With me, I started seeing something deeper when I got to the middle of the book. It isn't until you start seeing the same things being repeated that you start to notice. The title of my review is a great example. Holden Caulfield is a prime example of questioning youth. Most teenagers aren't focused on morals, nor do many of them think deeply about what goes on in the world. And the few that do are like Holden; they're confused, lonely, and scared as hell. So the more I read and the deeper I delved into the meanings behind Holden's thoughts and ideas, the more I began to understand. Holden Caulfield isn't just the average 16-year old. He is, yet he isn't. He *thinks* deeper than the average teenager. He's still immature in a lot of his thinking throughout the book but overall his character is just this mass of confusion. He seems confused at a lot of things, at why a lot of people are the way they are, yet he himself isn't perfect. That is what shapes his character. He isn't flawless, and the author, Salinger, clearly brings that out to the reader. Sometimes Holden contradicts himself - a flaw within himself that is telling the readers that he is human. By developing his character in this way, I saw it as a way to make you both like and dislike him. If you liked him too much, you'd have sympathy for him, but if you disliked him enough too, it evens out to where you really just don't feel bad for him. Rather, you're just following along with him. If I felt any kind of sympathy for Holden throughout the book it was when he tried to talk about things but no one seemed to understand where he was coming from, or what he was talking about. With Holden, what he said didn't have to understand. He just wanted to talk. And he never really felt like he was listened to. This is evident every single time he gives a waiter or waitress a message for a musician playing - "People never give your message to anybody". Holden not only is insecure about people not delivering his messages, he *knows* that people won't deliver them. And that is why I feel like Holden repeats a lot of sentences in the book. I feel like the author wanted Holden to keep repeating things, even when he was going "I mean.." because Holden never felt like anyone listened to him to begin with. If he doesn't think waiters or any of the people he talked with listened to him then why would he think his readers would listen to?
One of the things that I noticed, that really brought out an important issue for today, is how neglected Holden seemed to be. The whole time you're reading the book, it's easily clear to see that Holden just wants someone to talk to. The first example was with Ackley, and then with Stradlater, the woman on the subway, to Faith Cavendish, to the three women at the hotel, to cab drivers, to the prostitute, to the nuns, to Sally, to Luce, to his sister Phoebe, and to Mr. Antolini. And the only time that Holden ever felt that anyone was listening to him was when he talked with Antolini. The way that I took it, by the time he had finally gotten to Antolini, he was so burned out and tired from everything - drinking, poor rest, getting sick - but I also felt that he was finally give out mentally too. It's obvious that Holden was tired of the life that is "expected" of humans, of adults, and wanted to find his own way, but people kept pointing out how important things like school really were. When you're a teenager you feel that way, and when others don't listen to you or try to understand, the whole world comes crashing down on you. I can understand why some readers would say that Holden is just another "whiny, rich kid" but even "wealthy" people can have a hard time, mentally. The thing is, BECAUSE he such a well off kid helps this story flow. Because it isn't told from a poor person's point of view, or someone who is considered dumb. It's told from a teenager's point of view that, though he may be well off, is still struggling with the same exact problems that we all face sometime in our life. With Holden, he experienced it when he was young, and that's why this story is so important to society. Because many teenagers still continue to feel this way, and it's up to us to make them feel important and worth something. Another thing I noticed was that Holden is a very anxious person, and he is easily bothered by the smallest gesture if it is given by the same sex. This was the case with Mr. Antolini. Holden literally freaked out and left his house when he woke up to feeling his old teacher's hand on his head. I don't blame him for leaving either, but this tells us something about Holden's character. That he really is "yellow" and that he is quite anxious when it comes to people rubbing him the wrong way.
What I walked away from this book thinking was this: As humans, we seem to be in such a hurry for everything. That we focus so much on media and entertainment and trying to impress others, that we miss the bigger picture, and that's life. We forget that there are others who need help, others that just want to talk, to not be lonely, how Holden was, how a lot of people are. The great thing about this story, is everyone can come away with a slightly different interpretation. For me, it's about direction, it's about finding yourself. It's about helping others, it's about a cry for attention. I think Holden said it best in my favorite part of the book, when he was telling his sister Phoebe about what he wanted to do in life - "I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all..and I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff..I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff..that's what I'd do all day..I'd just be the catcher in the rye..".
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