The Catcher in the Rye
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Catcher in the rye - should I read it?
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I know there are some conspiracy theories about famous killers that had this book. will it make me go berserk? :-)
PSDDude wrote: "I know there are some conspiracy theories about famous killers that had this book. will it make me go berserk? :-)"i don't think so, actually i never understood why mark chapman (lennon's killer) said he thought he was 50% holden caulfield (the main character) and 50% the devil. Also i don't understand why it used to be such a controversial book, when i read it i thought it was an amazing book and not at all dark.
You should totally read it! I had to read it for my English Literature class two years ago and I LOVED IT. If it feels too heavy, you can try reading it along with the audio book; but I promise you won't regret it :)
I am a non-native English speaker, and I menaged to understand the book very well - so I guess that won't really be the problem to you. I am very indifferent when it comes to this book. Even though it's classic, the expressions of the author are quite, well in my opinion, not as decent as it should be in a so called classic. Some phrases and words are constanly being repeated and it really bothered me. I understand that could be because author is trying to portray a character who doesn't know how to express himself, but yet I struggled with it. I expected this book to be as good as "The picture of Dorian Gray" and that's what probably led to my dissapointment. I would recommend you reading it just so you can get into the complex psychology of the characters, but for me there was not anything more interesting than that. Anyway if you decide to read it please inform us how you liked it! :)
Don’t bother! Pick anything but this garbage!
Jeffrey wrote: "Don’t bother! Pick anything but this garbage!"haha! nice summary :-)
I really liked the book by the end but I found the constant meandering thoughts of the protagonist to be very annoying to plow through. I had started the book a number of times in my life but couldn't get past the rambling. But eventually, after reading everywhere that this was such a good book, I decided to keep at it until finished. Eventually, the protagonist started to make better sense and by the end of the book I had a very satisfied feeling and was glad I read it.But I don't know if people growing up in different countries/cultures would appreciate the viewpoint. I feel it's a completely American book.
It was fairly decent to be honest. It felt like someone read my teenage mind and wrote a book about it. Would not say its the worst thing ever but definitely not for everyone.
Xolanotas wrote: "It was fairly decent to be honest. It felt like someone read my teenage mind and wrote a book about it. Would not say its the worst thing ever but definitely not for everyone."I have to agree with Xolanotas, since I read this when I was a teenager it was my favorite book for years. Although, I don't know how I would feel reading it at this age but I have very good memories of it and I would totally recommend. I guess it's one of those books you have to be in the mood for it.
It is a good book and I was really touched by the ending but I also found Holden very annoying at times which maybe is also the point in a way but sometimes it moves very slowly and you feel like you're listening to an angsty teenager's inner monologue for hours. I've heard a lot of people say that if you find Holden relatable, that makes you very problematic. I don't necessarily agree with that but I think it caters to a very specific type of people to feel understood by the book, especially when you're an adult.
It's great because on the surface it seems like complete garbage, but that is exactly what it's like having to grow up and become self-aware. It's like someone having an adolescent crisis instead of a mid-life crisis. The main character is a failure at life who desperately wants to feel like he has something unique to offer the world, like he is the first person to ever grow up and become self-aware. People have so many emotions during adolescence and feel like they are the first person to ever feel them, at least so strongly. It is probably the crappiest book you will ever read, but I believe that is the whole point like others have said. Life is a crappy story if you have no purpose or dedication, like the main character.
Yes! I think this book is worth the risk. The main character is whiny and unreliable. But that's what makes this book interesting. The inauthenticity or the narrator makes this book authentic. It feels true. It feels relatable, maybe not who you are right now but how you were as a teenager. Everyone went through that time when they hated everyone and everything around them. We all decided to run away at least once in our life. This book will make you relive those times.
The times when we were mostly ungrateful. The time when we believed everything our brain told us.
No, no, no, noooo! It's one of the most awful books I've ever read. The main character is thoroughly dislike-able and the "journey" he goes on is utterly unappealing.I know lots will disagree with me. The only other person with whom I've discussed Catcher in the Rye was my late mother and she felt the same way me.
Jeffrey wrote: "Don’t bother! Pick anything but this garbage!"I usually thought that this kind of message is just trolling...
Then, I read half the book and just gave up. I have to say, you were right: how this novel is considered a masterpiece is beyond me...
Andrew wrote: "It's great because on the surface it seems like complete garbage, but that is exactly what it's like having to grow up and become self-aware. It's like someone having an adolescent crisis instead o..."Holy s... the book is crap and I have to appreciate it because life is crappy? Sorry, had to give up after reading half of it.
It left me with a bitter taste
Sanskriti wrote: "Yes! I think this book is worth the risk. The main character is whiny and unreliable. But that's what makes this book interesting. The inauthenticity or the narrator makes this book authentic. It f..."I dropped the book halfway. I honestly think that the main character had some mental issues.
About the running away part... I actually ran away from home when I was 7. It was only for 2 days and one night, but it was a traumatic experience for me and my parents
I could not identify at all with the character, maybe because I was in a country that was the opposite of the US in every way. Also, I did not run away because I was too rich and bored...
I'm still trying to understand why this book is considered a masterpiece
PSDDude wrote: "I'm a non-native English speaker. I know that in the US they study Catcher in the rye in school.Is this a heavy book? Or does it make an interesting read even for a non-native English speaker"
See, it's really a matter of opinion and interpretation. Some find Holden (the main character) to be insufferable and privalged-- which he is to a degree. Though he isn't the typical protagonist "hero" type there are still messages within the piece that are relatable and worth your time. For me, the discussion of mental illness was particularly provoking. The ways depression and grief swallow Holden's every action (without him even being aware) makes for an engaging story and storyline.
Athina wrote: "It is a good book and I was really touched by the ending but I also found Holden very annoying at times which maybe is also the point in a way but sometimes it moves very slowly and you feel like y..."These are my thoughts exactly! The catcher in the rye has a special place in my heart and I have read it multiple times by now, if only by randomly leaving through the pages sometimes. I like how we see the author's critique on society through this lense of Holden's depression and wonky understanding of the world. So in that sense I do agree with other people's opinion: Holden is definitely not easy to like and oftentimes a real pain in the behind.. But this circles back to what you have said, I don't think Holden is meant to have this great character arc or any redeaming qualities in that sense; that's not the intention.
Anxiety and fear of not fitting in are such important factors when discussing how a society should move forward and in this story we meet a young adult who shows signs of both because he feels things in his surroundings are fundamentally wrong and at odds with how they should be from his perspective.
It isn't for everyone, the primary reason being that if you don't identify with it it doesn't really make sense. It's a beautiful story, but it deals with matters of the mind rather than matters of the heart. Its apparent lack of plot, a turn-off to a lot of readers, is made up for in its artful metaphors and life lessons. Holden Caulfield is an analytical teenager, afraid to grow up and become another part of the "phony" machine that is society. His fear is backed by the passing of his younger brother, which caused him to equate growing up with death. The title symbol, the "Catcher in the Rye" could be easily overlooked as some 50's jargon that lost its relevance, but for some, it means much more than that. If you've never experienced the death of a young person chances are you won't grasp the complete depth of the novel, but even so, it could be understood on many different levels. Most highschoolers are just like Holden; struggling to find their own way in the world and desperate to connect with people they feel aren't phony. Though many highschoolers assigned to read this in their English class found it boring, anyone who feels as though they live inside their mind would certainly benefit from giving it a chance.
I really liked it. It was slightly confusing to see where it was going at first but I found the character of Holden Caulfield really real and relatable- I am a teenager myself and can resonate with his 'depressing' feelings.
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Is this a heavy book? Or does it make an interesting read even for a non-native English speaker