The Catcher in the Rye
discussion
Did you hate this book in high school?
I read this book just last year (now I am a Senior :)) and I absolutely loved it. I had to analyze Holden's character and he was so interesting to me. He is one of the few characters whose abrasiveness made me like him even more. In my opinion, most of his actions were a cry for help. I found that he had a softer layer underneath all of his bravado. I strongly believe that hurting people tend to show that hurt through anger/acting out and I think Holden was a prime example of this. I am curious to see if I will still like this novel in the future. I have noticed that many people have said their feelings have changed after they have read the novel again. I related to Holden when I read it so I wonder if an older me will still find something to relate to...
This book was the reason I became an author. I had an epiphany moment thinking, "Oh! So THIS is literature."
Hello Amanda,I appreciate your comments so very much. You most certainly understand Holden. I think many people who read the book just don't get Holden. You said it, he is hurting. People do and say strange things when they hurt. They're looking for comfort from people and maybe we just don't know what to do or how to give it. Even the nuns in the story didn't understand. We say that kids and teens "bounce back." Well, I'm sorry that people really think that. You can look around you at your adult friends and easily see that there is no "bouncing back." So, it doesn't surprise me to see that lack of understanding. Your understanding of people will make you a good novelist writing about people.
Holden is the emodiment of teen angst. I think people see a little more than they'd like of themselves in Holden. Maybe he's so repulsive because so many of us can find our basest selves unchanged in his character. So what made everyone so phony. Well here's a start. The 1950s in America was a great time of hypocrisy. We had "won the war," and all American's were proud to have conquered evil. The Russian's who had been heroes of the war, became the new enemy. Because once you start up arms production, it's expensive to stop.
And while most "patriotic Americans," blithely went along, some people just couldn't do it. The papers were lies. We didn't win the war. Russia had won the war. What we had actually done was helped Britian to further our own interests. We made a mad dash for Germany to prevent Russia from taking the whole thing. It wasn't about liberation for the US. It was about retaining oil interests. It was the Great Game all over again fighting for control of natural resources and territory. This time we were the other key Player of the Game. And it was a game Russia was reluctant to play.
More Russian's died than in all of the Jews, Germans, Americans, and most of Europe (including Poland. Only China knew the level of suffering that the Russian's did. Stalin won this war. The German army was destroyed by the Russians. The West did very little in the great scheme of the war except use the most deadly weapon until then ever conceived on human beings who would have negotiated terms of surrender gladly had the Allies not insisted on unconditional surrender. The Japanese revered the Emperor. The only guarantee they really wanted was that the Emperor be able to maintain power, and not even an informal deal could be made.
And after all the bombing, all the death, and destruction caused in the name of "saving lives," the Emperor was left to rule.
What we had was two little kids (A General and a President) excited to play with their new toys.
And afterwards we faced Red Scare, McCarthyism, Blacklists, horrible persecutions of American Citizens for holding beliefs that they had all the right in the world to hold. The Cold War, it was all phony. It was all lies government pundits persisted with to ensure a cockfight that they would win. Russia did not pass us in nuclear weapons until the late 70s.
The Us had the arms race locked up, and began waging economic war on Russia. We knew people in the Soviet Union were poor We knew the state of the Russian Military (which was horribly unprepared. Still we kept on this charade of a horrible race between democracy and communism. The funny thing is that we fought to keep more despots in office, or overthrow elected governments than Russia could possibly conceive. But we insisted that Russia was spreading Communism all over the world and were ahead of us in so many ways. What wasn’t a bold face lie, was generally an exaggeration or outright obfuscation of the truth. There were many times peace was sought, but the hard right refused peace. They wanted victory.
America is phony. People who pretend to be happy all their live long day are phony. God is phony.
I love this novel. Yes he is a white boy who goes to a private school. Yes, he is privileged and spoiled and whiny. That doesn't exclude him from being a normal teenager with the normal issues of realizing that the world is not what he thought it was. Feeling pain and angst in his own unique way.
Maybe you never faced such challenges in high school. Bully for you. I can understand your emotional detachment from the book better now.
Is the book depressing? Hell yes it's depressing. Does it make you feel? Yes! Any book that can make you feel the character's pain is a great book in my... book. If you've never experienced Depression in your life, you're a luckier person than I am.
I felt like I was reading Clockwork Orange over and over, because Salinger hurts me just like Burgess
I'm currently in high school and unfortunately this isn't in our curriculum. I recently read it on my free-time, though. I really do have to re-read it, though. Some things completely slipped past me (Not exactly that, it's just I didn't fully try to take in what it was). I did enjoy it, though. Holden really does remind me of myself in some ways, take that as you wish.
I stubbled with Holden, didn't really like him, but I understood him and sympathized with him. Really I think that was the main point so I liked the book quite a lot though it was depressing. Holden was a sad kid though, I felt bad for him rather than hating him.
I first read this book when I was 13 and I must say I didn't like it very much then. But I suppose I might have been too young for it at the time.I picked it up again when I was 15-16 (so around Holden's age) and I was surprised that I liked it very much.
I have re-read it few times since and I have bought a copy in English (my native language is Slovak) to practice. Actually, it was one of the first books I have read in English. :)
I probably should re-read it again to see how I feel about it now when I am older (29) and possibly fall into the category of boring and not understanding adults. :)
I read this book during spring break my senior year in high school and became fully absorbed in it. Up to that point, I was only a random reader, but "Catcher" really launched me; I completely identified with his rebellious view of things. Talk about attitude!
I actually sought this book out as a teenager in high school. I enjoyed reading how the narrator spoke in a way that felt to be from another time and place. No one i knew really talks like this and i had a connection to this character in a way that i felt that no one i knew would understand this person just like i felt at the time that i was very much misunderstood.
I've been saying this for years! Yes, I read it in school (middle school, actually, not high school) and yes, I hated it. I loved just about all the other books in our curriculum. I went to a public school with a private school curriculum, so we had some very testy novels on our lists that other schools wouldn't dare include in their students' reading material.
Cyokie wrote: "I don't mind angst. In fact, it's one of my main genres, both when writing and reading. But this? This was something else. "I felt the same way the first time I read it. Maybe this will help: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My literature teacher had us read the book in high school and I loved it. Actually, that teacher recommended me some of my all time favourite books. Most of the people in my class hated it though.
I read this book when I was thirteen and found Holden relatable, but thirteen year old me was...not psychologically grounded. Now I realize that Holden is meant to be unlikable in some ways and I like the book all the more for it. I think it became one of my favorite books when I learned more about the life of J. D, Salinger. I'd recommend the Crash Course episodes on this book to anyone who's read it/wants to read it - it'll definitely change your perspective at least a little.
I'm currently a high school freshman, and I love this book.
I adored this book in high school, I recommend it to all my friends. I think it is such an important read. I don't know, it was just incredibly relatable in odd ways and I felt not alone.
I read it just after high school, and loathed it. I didn't like Holden at all. I've never understood all the hoopla over this book.
Ronnie wrote: "I read it just after high school, and loathed it. I didn't like Holden at all. I've never understood all the hoopla over this book."Perhaps this will help: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is the type of book you want to read at the right age. We didn't have to read this at school(i don,t go to school in the USA) but i was very interested in reading this. I read the book by the age of 15/16, bought it at the airport and didnt stop until i lend home 16h later. I got very attached to this book and i really really liked it.
Actually, no. Everyone that I knew hated this book but I actually loved it. I found Holden remarkably easy to relate to (aside from, you know, being batshit crazy) and I found his way of thinking intriguing. This book taught me a lot to be honest, and I'm honestly glad that they made us read this in high school because otherwise I probably never would have picked up what is now one of my all time favorite books.
I love this book. I actually barely read any books in high school because I was a trouble child, but once I became an adult, I started reading much more and was gifted this book. I read it little by little over a month span and absolutely loved the character and his dilema with everything. I'd like to read it again some other time.
I read this book and loved it. I think Holden was hilarious because of the way he spoke.
hated it. I read it after high school. I thought JD was a very weak character. I can relate to his feeling of everyone being a phony to the point of the disgust but he did nothing to make himself stand out as a better person. He tried to buy a hooker for one. He got beat up by his roomate which was a confrontation that couldve been avoided. He was constantly a victim of his own choice
I only hated it because part of the way through, we had a substitute teacher, who taught AP Literature across the hall, read it to us over an entire week even though we were Freshmen in English 1H. She refused to use curse words which was 20% of the book and she replaced them with "fudge" and "darn" and "golly". She can go to hell.
I have a memory of liking this book, in high school. Yet, on rereading it, now, I'm wondering if I understood it. I certainly wouldn't have known what a "cocktail" was... Now, I was able to read part of it, but it was too far fetched, for me, to continue. The character could, maybe fit in, more today, but not from my memories...
I still hate this book... never found the reason that this book was made such a cult..
I particularly enjoyed this novel in high school. I have recently purchased a copy for myself and intend to read it again. Has anyone read it more than once and gotten different things out of it?
Yes, I realized that the author probably had no experience with some of the problems he was bringing up. Which made the protagonist hard to believe. Also, I've come to the conclusion that prep school education is very different than public education and the issues being dealt with don't have the same relevance.
I loved this book! Holden may have been a little annoying at times, but Salinger found away to teach the readers lessons despite his crazy. Holden criticized issues in his society that still exist in people today. There were so many symbols and motifs that allowed the reader to create what they thought it represented, not what the author told you it had to be, I admired Holden's honesty and his ability to just not care what others thought of him. Why is it such a hated book? Without some of the unpleasant profane aspects, the book wouldn't be honest, and removing it would make Holden a "phony". I really enjoyed this book, and I would suggest if you read it in school with tests and packets to complete, read it again. Books are definitely more enjoyable when you don't have to worry about passing a class.
I haven't read it at school....really. My teacher decided that we are not adult enough for it. So I read it when I was 21 and it was fantastic desicion - it is not suitable for kids as for me
Robert wrote: "I haven't read it at school....really. My teacher decided that we are not adult enough for it. So I read it when I was 21 and it was fantastic decision - it is not suitable for kids as for me"I agree with you, Robert!
Hated it in High School. Hell, I hate it now!
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I actually read this after I graduated. It was never used as an assignment. But I was excited to read it because it had been recommended to me multiple times, and I was going through an "American classics" phase for a long time (Brave New World, Lord of Flies, Catcher in the Rye, Les Miserables, Fahrenheit 451...)I absolutely despise this book.
It is, without a doubt, the most excruciatingly boring book I've ever read. It's less than 300 pages and this literally took me about a year to read because I would just put it down for months at a time.
The man needed to do a bit of research. Even the bloody nose bit rings false.
I read this in high school and I am not going to lie, it is still one of my favorite books of all times. Holden has a ridiculous sense of humor and the story goes by so smoothly but again, that might just be me lol. :P
I am still in highschool and we are supposed to read it in next year. But I didn´t know about it and I was interested in this book, because it was recommended in The Perks of being a wallflower book. So I read this book few months ago and I really loved it. It is not this happy kind of book which makes you feel good, it´s sort of depressing and you have to think while rreading it. It is a wise book with great thoughts and gosh I love Holden haha.
Charlee wrote: "I loved this book! Holden may have been a little annoying at times, but Salinger found away to teach the readers lessons despite his crazy. Holden criticized issues in his society that still exist ..."Totally agree. Holden is brutally honest and open and that is why he might seem annoying but...he is real and that is why I admire this book.
Cassandra wrote: "...but he did nothing to make himself stand out as a better person."The whole point of Holden checking into a hotel instead of going straight home was so he could do some soul searching beforing facing his parents after getting kicked out at Pencey. He was floundering, flunking out of his third boarding school despite obviously being highly intelligent. You can't expect someone who's falling apart to just magically "pull themselves together."
His brother had recently died and one of his dorm mates had committed suicide wearing his sweater. He was suffering from emotional shock. Try losing someone who's close to you at a young age and see how well you perform.
Holden needed professional help, which he eventually got, after collapsing.
I you're always this judgmental about people who are struggling, maybe you need a disaster or two of your own to gain a better perspective. I'm not wishing that on anyone, but for some people, that's what it takes.
"He tried to buy a hooker for one."
He was depressed and lonely. All he wanted was someone to talk to. And besides, he didn't go looking for a hooker, her pimp made the proposal in the elevator, then later punched him when the girl tried to shake him down for more money after not doing anything.
"He got beat up by his roomate which was a confrontation that could've been avoided."
What Holden did was heroic. He knew Stradlater had molested a girl before during a double date with him. He punched Stradlater because he'd kept Jane Gallagher out too late and was afraid this sexually aggressive narcissist had perpetrated date rape that night. Holden cared about Jane Gallagher because she was a former neighbor whom he knew had been molested by her stepfather.
"He was constantly a victim of his own choices."
And who in this world isn't? That's how we learn.
Prateek wrote: "I still hate this book... never found the reason that this book was made such a cult.."Perhaps this will help...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Brock wrote: "I actually read this after I graduated. It was never used as an assignment. But I was excited to read it because it had been recommended to me multiple times, and I was going through an "American classics" phase for a long time (Brave New World, Lord of Flies, Catcher in the Rye, Les Miserables, Fahrenheit 451...)I absolutely despise this book..."
Perhaps this will help...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I really did not like this book. It's a very dry story. One of the worst books I've had to read in high school (Lord of the Flies was by far the worst book). Although, I actually liked Holden. I found his conversations with strangers very amusing. That's about it though.
Does anyone else find it ironic how some people hate on Holden? How they assume from his telling of the story, the type of person he is, without knowing or understanding what made him this way?
While I was not assigned the book for a course, I did read it while I was a freshman (currently a high school sophomore) and I absolutely loved it. I was so captivated by the story that I finished it in two days and wanted to do nothing but read it. I also vaguely remember being severely annoyed by everything and everyone around me while being under the influence of Holden's thoughts (thank you, Salinger, for turning me into the callous teen I am today!), and found myself using the word "phony" more often than usual, haha. Rereading it soon.
It is unfortunate that students are coerced into reading The Catcher in the Rye. It's a book that should be stumbled upon and read with great joy. I taught English for close to thirty years and never assigned it. I didn't want to ruin it for those that might discover it later in life.
Paul wrote: "It is unfortunate that students are coerced into reading The Catcher in the Rye. It's a book that should be stumbled upon and read with great joy. I taught English for close to thirty years and nev..."That's exactly the way I discovered this book; I simply came upon it, and it swept me away. Might have felt differently if it was "required reading." What fun is that?
Are students coerced into reading? As a high school teacher, I taught the book to my students. As I have read the comments in this feed, some students who are too young have been asked to read that novel. Due to their level of immaturity, many middle school students would not understand the motivation behind Holden's actions. The manner in which the topics are handled in the novel, make them more appropriate reading for high school students. No one would enjoy anything they don't understand and students would feel coerced having to read a book they don't understand.
I have to say I'm among the minority in my friend group because I loved Catcher. I read it first my freshman year and greatly enjoyed it, then re-read it for classwork my sophomore (current) year. It surprised me how many of my classmates hated the book, I'd loved it since I first read it. I guess it's Holden, if you can't deal with him as a character the book must be intolerable since it's mostly character-driven.
This is one of my favorite books. I didn’t like it very much after reading it but after a week I realized I missed Holden and Salinger’s writing and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’m planning on rereading it soon.
Calvin wrote: "Yes I hate Holden Caulfield, I read Catcher in the Rye during my high school. It was a depressing book indeed. Salinger's language was quite annoying. However, the book does help show a unique pers..."I completely agree. I don't like to use the word hate but I definitely think that Holden wasn't likable nor relatable. I don't know I really hope that when I read it again a few years from now I'll like it better :)
What does the title "Catcher in the Rye" mean and how does it relate to the novel? What do the ducks symbolize? Do they have anything to do with the title?