From the Bookshelf of Catching up on Classics (and lots more!)…

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

Start date: February 1, 2018

Finish date: February 28, 2018

Discussion: New School Classics- 1915-2005

Why we're reading this: Revisit the Shelf Group Read, February 2018

Previous Group Reads:
Book of the Month, November 2010
[close] Revisit the Shelf Group Read, February 2018

Previous Group Reads:
Book of the Month, November 2010

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Showing 2 of 394 topics — 15,550 comments total

New School Classics- 1915-2005

The Stepford Wives - Spoilers
By Lynn , New School Classics · 16 posts · 45 views

last updated Sep 29, 2025 01:54PM

The Stepford Wives - No Spoiler Thread
By Lynn , New School Classics · 18 posts · 60 views

last updated Sep 15, 2025 11:39AM

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What Members Thought

Apr 24, 2010 Kathleen rated it liked it

I think I liked this when I read it in high school, but I'm not sure I'd appreciate it today. It is on my reread list. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2010 Lori rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, classics

So the main character, Holden, chain smokes, drinks, and swears; these seem like poor reasons to ban a book.
Although from a privileged background, Holden is an accurate representation of a 16-year-old boy who is jaded, world-weary, and in pain. He lacks the ability to move beyond the tragic death of his beloved younger brother or his older brother's "betrayal" of giving in to the glitz of Hollywood.
Holden's love for his young sister gives him a hand-hold onto reality and eventually is the one t ...more

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Mar 20, 2010 Adam rated it liked it

Holden Caufield didn't want to grow up. It's not a story of the challenges of lost innocence, or being accepted as part of the real world. For me it was more like Caufield's last act of defiance. He refused to grow up; and found it necessary to keep his little sister from growing up as well. ...more

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