The Catcher in the Rye in Classics Without All the Class

Aug 13, 2011 Michelle rated it liked it

3.5 stars Quite surprising, I actually am liking this better than the first time read. I still think Holden is annoying in some parts and immature as well as childish for the most of it, but his affection for his sister and late brother promote him in my opinion.

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Aug 02, 2011 Becky Aitchison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001-list-read, bbc-top-200-read, favorites

I decided to review this book, 10 years after I read it for the first time, because I was snooping around Goodreads and found a discussion threat essentially bashing this book. And it is probably hands down my favorite book.

My introduction to this book came in my sophomore year of high school, and I'll never forget it. My teacher walked into the room, held it up and said "When the police found Mark David Chapman (John Lennon's killer), at the scene of the crime, he was reading this book. He told I decided to review this book, 10 years after I read it for the first time, because I was snooping around Goodreads and found a discussion threat essentially bashing this book. And it is probably hands down my favorite book.

My introduction to this book came in my sophomore year of high school, and I'll never forget it. My teacher walked into the room, held it up and said "When the police found Mark David Chapman (John Lennon's killer), at the scene of the crime, he was reading this book. He told others that if Holden had grown up, he would have gone on to kill the biggest phony alive, and in Chapman's mind that phony was John Lennon." I was riveted. I LOVE John Lennon, and just that tidbit of trivia was enough to make me eager to read the book.

The book did not disappoint me. First off, Holden Caufield is one of the most engaging, infuriating albeit endearing, well-developed narrator/characters in all of literature. Yes that's a huge statement to make, and I stand by it. Holden's voice, so vulgar and honest, creates someone so real that it's scary. People love this book, people hate this book, others think it's nothing special. The reason I think this book sparks so much controversy is that Holden is so well-developed. Salinger creates a kid that is an asshole, he's bitter, he's sad, he's funny. But he's complete, a complete, human character. I read like crazy and in the last 10 years have yet to find a book like Catcher in the Rye, or a character like Holden.

Like many of my literary favorites, this book is sad. Not in an obvious way like in books where the character dies (not the case here, don't think this is a spolier), but in a way that just leaves you with this pondering sadness. Salinger gives us this incredible look at the loss of innocence that Holden experiences, and I swear that everytime I read Holden saying that you can never rub all of the "fuck yous" out in the world, this book reels me back in. The metaphor of Holden wanting to a catcher in the rye when he grows up, is still one of the most vivid, symbolic, and powerful metaphors in all of literature.

This book changed my life. And it's the reason I love to read so goddamn much (pun intended). ...more

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