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The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
by J.D. Salinger
Haleema's review
bookshelves: snape-disapproves, thats-not-writing, its-so-stupid-it-hurts, shouldn-t-be-classics, characters-are-half-troll
Aug 01, 12
bookshelves: snape-disapproves, thats-not-writing, its-so-stupid-it-hurts, shouldn-t-be-classics, characters-are-half-troll
Recommended for:
People who have the patience to sit through a dull book like this
Read from May 07 to 29, 2011
Okay, this is just another novel that, in my opinion, never should be considered a "classic." It had no lesson to learn. It has no meaning. There is absolutely nothing remarkable about it. This novel was just such a pain to get through. Now that I'm finally done, I felt like I had just ridden a horrible, bumpy roller coaster ride.
Get me off! Get me off!
Anyway, this book was just horrible. Holden was merely a female version of Bella Swan. Pessimistic, mind-numbingly obvious, idiotic, and just dull. Salinger does not know how dialogue works. Holden swears. Therefore, he has to say goddam in every freaking sentence.
"I went to the goddam store to purchase my goddam red hunting hat because it looked so goddam nice and I just had to goddam get it."
If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.
That is easily one of the saddest, most pathetic introductions to a book.
Holden's also very stupid.
Page 38: "He was also the nicest, in lots of ways. He never got mad at anybody. People with red hair are supposed to get mad very easily, but Allie never did, and he had very red hair. I'll tell you what kind of red hair he had."
- Because I need to know what kind of red hair he had.
Page 38 again: "My brother Allie had this left-handed fielder's mitt. He was left-handed."
- Um, I thought right-handed people used left-handed mitts, Holden.
And why does he say he "sort of" does things? Holden, you either do it. Or ya don't.
"Isort of used to go to Allie's baseball matches."
Page 39: "It was around ten-thirty, I guess , when I finished it."
Ummm... okay?
Oh, yeah!
In Holden's eyes, everyone is either a phony, rude, or a moron. And the only feelings he can grasp are loneliness and misery. Almost every answer to any question on my study guide always has something to do with Holden wanting to talk to someone, or "discovering himself" or the fact that everyone is a freaking phony. Holden, you are hypocritical, moronic, dull, impassive, and just sad.
Get me off! Get me off!
Anyway, this book was just horrible. Holden was merely a female version of Bella Swan. Pessimistic, mind-numbingly obvious, idiotic, and just dull. Salinger does not know how dialogue works. Holden swears. Therefore, he has to say goddam in every freaking sentence.
"I went to the goddam store to purchase my goddam red hunting hat because it looked so goddam nice and I just had to goddam get it."
If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.
That is easily one of the saddest, most pathetic introductions to a book.
Holden's also very stupid.
Page 38: "He was also the nicest, in lots of ways. He never got mad at anybody. People with red hair are supposed to get mad very easily, but Allie never did, and he had very red hair. I'll tell you what kind of red hair he had."
- Because I need to know what kind of red hair he had.
Page 38 again: "My brother Allie had this left-handed fielder's mitt. He was left-handed."
- Um, I thought right-handed people used left-handed mitts, Holden.
And why does he say he "sort of" does things? Holden, you either do it. Or ya don't.
"I
Page 39: "It was around ten-thirty, I guess , when I finished it."
Ummm... okay?
Oh, yeah!
In Holden's eyes, everyone is either a phony, rude, or a moron. And the only feelings he can grasp are loneliness and misery. Almost every answer to any question on my study guide always has something to do with Holden wanting to talk to someone, or "discovering himself" or the fact that everyone is a freaking phony. Holden, you are hypocritical, moronic, dull, impassive, and just sad.
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Reading Progress
| 05/15/2011 | page 1 |
|
0.0% | ""If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth." Really? Ugh..." |
| 05/15/2011 | page 15 |
|
7.0% | "I have to be insane to NOT want to beat the crap out of Holden." |
| 05/15/2011 | page 45 |
|
21.0% | "Holden, you're not pessimistic at all. Go away." |
| 05/19/2011 | page 68 |
|
25.0% | "Holden is autistic. I'm sure Salinger forgot to mention that." 1 comment |
| 05/22/2011 | page 70 |
|
25.0% | "Message: EVERYONE IS A PHONY!" |
| 05/23/2011 | page 100 |
|
36.0% | "Holden is one lonely boy." |
| 05/24/2011 | page 130 |
|
47.0% | "My version isn only 214 pages. Just saying." |
| 05/27/2011 | page 189 |
|
68.0% | "God, I hate this book." |
| 05/27/2011 | page 200 |
|
72.0% | "Must. Finish. Crappy. Book. For. English." |
Comments (showing 1-13 of 13) (13 new)
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Synesthesia
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rated it 4 stars
Jul 31, 2012 01:23pm
On the Road is worse.
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“Classic' - a book which people praise and don't read.” ~Mark TwainAnyway, the only reason it's considered a classic in the eyes of High Schools everywhere is because it's a "Stream of Consciousness" and got banned in many places. The second almost guarantees its place as a "classic." Combined with the first, it clinches it for high schools.
@ Selena well said. I don't know why this is required to read in english classes. I read it along with 24 of my other classmates and I felt like I'd rather sit through chinese water torture than this. Only reason why people think this is a classic is because it's considered by others as such. In reality, this book is poorly written, Holden is a terrible character....I could go on and on and on.
YAY. Someone else who does not understand why idiotic, pessimistic books are considered everybody-has-to-read-this CLASSICS.
Normally I understand when people hate this book, but what I don't like is that you've compared him to Bella Swan.We can all agree that Twilight is the epitome of indulgent fantasy, with the girl being whisked away by a fairy tale hero. Salinger isn't writing fantasy, in fact he writes the opposite. (Nothing good happens to Holden) You can't compare both because Salinger didn't write Holden to live out his own fantasies, he just wrote the story through Holden eyes, to portray the world through his rose tinted glasses.
Also, just an extra note, but Salinger was a pioneer in first person narrative. Maybe it didn't work for you but Salinger has this ability to write prose that flows and synthesizes with thoughts. You said he was unrealistic in using "goddamn" and repeating certain lines to himself. Its psychologically plausible that an emotionally charged young man would make use of multiple expletives in his own thought, its also psychologically plausible for that man to constantly remind himself of certain things.
When reading any kind of book and watching any kind of media there's always the offchance that a miniature critic will subconsciously pick at every single small point that we don't like about the work we're watching. Its especially so for books we're forced to read (which is one of the reasons I feel that Lit classes are lacking) or books which we hear considerable hype about. It's best to try and purge those cynical self-riffing when reading Salinger because he writes prose that requires getting rid of your inner cynic. (Other writers that adopts a self conscious stream is David Foster Wallace) This flow is also present in his other book Franny and Zooey (in the form of flowing dialogue, not thought).
tl;dr Holden is different from Bella Swan. If you can (though you probably wouldn't listen to the words of a slightly emotionally charged fan like me) try rereading the text while purging your mind of that little imp that likes to criticize things (not saying eliminate all thought, but try to minimize nitpicky thoughts while reading) or try to read Franny and Zooey first.
I agree - Holden the vile, spoilt little brat - classic? I think not. Very one dimensional, no depth at all.
