Catcher in the Rye - by J.D.Salinger

[mentalbunny]

I bought Catcher in the Rye the other day and today I read the first 6 chapters or so. Who's read it? Who like's it? Even though I haven't read much I'd recommend it to anyone. I love the wrting style, it's like someone's sitting in the room, talking to you, it's so alive and you can relate to Holden even if you aren't similar to him. I guess it's bit easier for me because I'm at boarding school but I think most people will be albe to relate to him and his experiences.

I'd like to know what people think...

[Xvall]

I have it. I got it for Christmas, even though I don't ask for anything on Christmas. It's a great book; although I didn't finish it.

[ArgueEverything]

I read it recently. You're right, the writing style is very conversational and therefore appealing, especially to teenagers. Overall, I liked it but I think the ending is deeply unsatisfying.

[mentalbunny]

I haven't got to the ending yet, I'm only on chapter 11.

[andresG]

I just finished reading The Catcher In The Rye this morning. I agree with ArgueEverything when he says that the writing style is highly conversational. It is written in a way so that we feel we know Holden.

I also think it is a great description of the youth in the late 1940's, which had lost hope in life and humanity. Holden wants to break away from the society of conformity that existed in the U.S. after World War II.

But I was not very pleased with ending. I expected something more. I felt as if Holden was cut short from fully expressing himself.



(Edited by andresG at 6:57 pm on Nov. 28, 2002)

[mentalbunny]

Why don't you try re-writing the ending? It would be interesting to see how people think it should end? I mean this in a purely creative way, not disagreeing or anything. Try it if you have time. When I get to the end of the book I'll let you know what I think.

[Lefty]

possibly my favorite book. It perfectly sums up the classic teenage will to be different and the anti-authoritarian urge that some of the more intellectual people my age feel. J.D. Salinger is great. I also love Franny and Zoey, although that was a little more depressing.

[MJM]

I highly enjoyed the book, but like others felt a little let down after finishing it. Maybe I'll read it again and try and resolve this feeling :)

[ComradeJunichi]

I'm reading it right now. It's pretty good...I'm about halfway through the book.

[Lefty]

finish it now, joon!

[mentalbunny]

I might finish it tonight, I adore it so much, I can really relate to Holden although i don't agree with him in everything he thinks, but I can see his reasoning. He's an incredible character, so real!!

[anti machine]

A great book indeed. It's so powerful that people have gone crazy after reading it (Mark Chapman, John Lennon's assassin). I thought the ending was profound. Sorry to disagree, but throughout the whole book he talks about hating phonies and how people become "goddam phonies" after they reach a certain age and innocence has left them. When he is watching his sister on the merrygoround at the end, he realizes that it is impossible not to become a phony, that everyone falls, no one can reach the golden ring. That subtle change is so great.

Holden is arguably insane, with his impulsive notions of running off with female aquaintances and his disgust for humanity. But I don't think anyone could really analyze the character. SO complex, so strange. A great masterpiece.

[mentalbunny]

Holden is so fucking real, I feel like I could just go out into town and I could walk striaght past him. I finished the book a day or so ago, it's an ok ending but I wish it'd gone further and I could have found out more of what happened to him. He seems very isolated in a world full of upper class americans, anyone know people like that? I only know the English equivlalent and they are pretty bad. I liked it because it made me feel like I wasn't alone, that people have felt like i feel for decades across the West and that comforts me, it's good to know that.

[Santa Clara]

I have read the book so many times, it is falling to bits!! The writing style is fantastic allowing you to enter that bizarre world of literature and feel the awkwardness in so many of Holden's situations.
It is sad and uplifting at the same time, which is the great thing about books, I guess.

[Blackberry]

Quote: from Santa Clara on 12:10 am on Dec. 6, 2002
I have read the book so many times, it is falling to bits!! The writing style is fantastic allowing you to enter that bizarre world of literature and feel the awkwardness in so many of Holden's situations.
It is sad and uplifting at the same time, which is the great thing about books, I guess.

I've had to sticky tape the cover back on. :D And heaps of pages are falling out, but I refuse to buy a new copy. I'm attached to it. It's the writing that I really like...I'll read any crap that had that style of writing.

[Santa Clara]

I know exactly what you mean, NN, buying a new copy is the most unthinkable thing ever, it's like trying to buy a new family or a new best friend.
Are there any other books you could recommend that are similar in their style of writings, any other Salinger?

[mentalbunny]

I've only read it once but I only finished last week so I'll give it a break before I read it again. However i find it very comforting and I'm feeling pretty crap right now so I think the more uplisting bits are due for a re-read!

i totally agree with what you guys are saying about the style, it's so different to anything I've ever read before.

I can't think of any other books with the same style but there's a book called "Thumbelina" which has a really good style as well. I don't know the author but I think she's American. It's a really sad story but I think girls will like it more than guys will.

[Blackberry]

Quote: from Santa Clara on 11:44 am on Dec. 6, 2002
I know exactly what you mean, NN, buying a new copy is the most unthinkable thing ever, it's like trying to buy a new family or a new best friend.
Are there any other books you could recommend that are similar in their style of writings, any other Salinger?


I wish I could say yes, but I really can't lie.

However, the closest you can get is by reading Salinger's other book, which I can't quite remember the name of.