The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Catcher in the Rye
Book Review: ...
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm a book critic, and this was the worst book I've ever read,and I'm a book junkie. What's with the double negatives? The plot lacked an awful lot. The whole book was a waste of my time and money. I wish someone had warned me about it before I purchased it. My old journals make better reading than this novel, and that's not saying much. If you hear me, skip this one! SNOOZE !...
Book Review: ...if you want to know the truth
Summary: 5 Stars
If you really want to hear about it, I'll tell you what I think about this book. I don't really want to go into all that much goddam detail and all, if you want to know the truth, but I'll tell you what I think anyway.You might think this book is funnier than hell or depressing as hell. I don't know about you, but boy, I thought it was funnier than hell. I really mean it. I mean, I was laughing out loud at some of the parts. Boy, my dog must have thought I was half crazy when he heard me laugh, if you know what I mean. But if you had a childhood like old Holden did, then you might think it was depressing as hell or something.
This title, though. Boy, that's really strange. I mean, something about catching people in rye fields before they go over a cliff or something. But you have to have a title like this so all the phonies will buy it and talk about it at their goddam cocktail parties and all. I mean, what if it was called The Holden Caulfield Story or something. All those phonies wouldn't buy it so I guess it's OK even though it is kind of a stupid thing to call a book.
Really, I liked this book a lot. I mean, old Holden is a great guy and he can really spot those phonies. But he does get a little annoying and all. But when you think about it, he's so goddam funny that I like him a lot. That's how I feel about it, if you want to know the truth.
Book Review: 15 Years Latter
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book as a sophomore in High School and didn't think too much of it. But 15 years latter the book name still pops up in references all over so I decided to give it another read. Well it is defiently worth the reread if your in the same boat. So much of the book makes a lot more sense today and I see it's words in action today better than I did back then. The greatest thing I find about the book is it's simplicity in story and words showing the shallowness of people and life yet it still brings out the bright spots out there that make it all worth while when you look deep down.Book Review: 2 stars for entertainment value, none for actual substance
Summary: 2 Stars
I had to write a book report for school on this book, so that follows, but lemme first say something. Books are a form of entertainment, just as TV and movies are. There have been a lot of movies that were very entertaining, yet extremely stupid. Most books, however, tend to be more focused on story and plot than on entertainment. However, anything without sufficient plot to go along with it's entertainment value, whether it be movies or books, is gonna suck. This book fits into that category. Forget the critics who blow smoke and say The Catcher in the Rye is wonderful just because they dont wanna feel stupid or be the black sheep who says it's awful, in a crowd of folks saying it's terrific - American Beauty movie critics were the same way - this book has little substance, and is just a lot of fluff. American Beauty was entertaining and "different" and new and uncliched - but really, it was about stupid people doing stupid things. The author tried to pass it off as something "deep" and that we should be in awe of, but it wasnt and it stunk, much like this book. Here's my high-school book review:"If you really want to hear about it...what my lousy childhood was like...and all that David Copperfield kind of crap...I don't feel like getting into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me." J.D. Salinger sets the tone of this story right from the get-go. Salinger captures the life of a 1940's teenager, using brutal irreverence and raw emotions in an attempt to bring a sense of realism to an otherwise worthless story. I must admit, Salinger almost pulls it off. The story, essentially, is about three days in the life of a teenager who habitually screws up and get kicks kicked out of private school. I'm sorry if I'm not not enthusiastic, but (at the beginning) the storyline sounded lame and boring. But that's what is so odd about The Catcher in the Rye. It actually IS interesting.
Holden Caulfield, our afore mentioned subject, is a jerk. He's self-centered, smart-mouthed, and completely dreadful to read about. But for some reason, I found myself liking him and almost rooting for him. He comes from a middle classed, joe-average family. He's confused, frustrated, and seemingly annoyed by every little thing in life. He hates "phonies" and he hates people who play mind games. He finds both the arrogant and the painfully insecure to be irritating. He mouths off to people he should respect, and he hurts people who don't let him have his way. Sadly, I can relate to him. I found myself thinking a lot of the same things Caulfield did. I even found myself nodding in agreement when he ranted about certain topics. I could even relate to Caulfield putting his foot in his mouth when he was with Sally. I think we're all a bit like Holden Caulfield in one way or another. I believe that simple fact is why this book has gotten such high acclaim. Caulfield is an average person with many faults and failures. He's not the super-strong hero or the smooth talking ulra-suave gentleman we see in the movies and read about in other books. There's no sappy romances or thrilling action scenes. There's not even an "underdog surprises everyone and saves the day" ending, either. Bottom line, there are relatively few cliches in this book, which is awesome and great, but still not enough to cover the fact that Salinger has no story here. Salinger provides us with a nice change of pace, but little else.
Although this story was entertaining and very interesting, I was still unsatisfied. For starters, the amount of four-letter words used throughout this story annoyed me. It just seems so uncharacteristic for a person in the 1940s to be using that kind of language that often. And the idea of a sixteen year old getting a hooker also is a bit odd. But I think the thing that most annoyed me about The Catcher in the Rye is that it lacked any real substance. Overall, a story about a day in the life of an ungrateful, snot nosed teenager just does not cut it. I need more than that. Sure I can relate to Holden Caulfield as Salinger intends...but the question that BEGS to be answered is this: why should I care? Why should I care or root for someone who aspires to be a rebelling loser all his life?
Book Review: 2 thumbs up___
Summary: 4 Stars
i liked this book a lot. i like the story of Holden and i think its pretty neat. Holden is a little crazy at times and i liked all of the stories that he went through. I just liked the whole thing how holden is talking to the pyscaitrist and hes telling the story from his past.I didnt like the ending to much though but besides that i thnk it was a great book