The Catcher in the Rye

[Katherine]

Catcher is one of the books that seems to be hated by a lot of people, but equally loved by many people at the same time. What are your feelings on The Catcher in the Rye?

Personally, I've grown to appreciate it, especially after reading The Outsiders, which is in some ways a very similar novel. It made me appreciate it. Catcher isn't one of my favourite novels, but it's not half bad.

[Dobby]

I read Catcher in the Rye when I was in 8th grade, for my own enjoyment, and absolutely loved it. However, I was required to read Catcher this year in my English class and I hated it. It drove me crazy how hypocritical Holden was of all the "phonies". I think i enjoyed it more the first time because while you're reading it, you're wondering what crazy thing Holden is going to do next. If you've already read the book, you know what Holden will do, and it's not as interesting. At least, that's my opinion.

[Olive]

Honestly, as far as it being a book, and just a book, it's not bad. It's a decent story with a decent... moral?

However, the character of Holden is terrible, in my mind. And that's perfectly fine. Except that so many readers, when they're between about 12 and 18, totally idolize him. And that's why I wind up hating the book. Somehow it turned into this near manifesto for, pardon my juvenile term, "douchebaggery." I have never met someone that loved the "book" and wasn't horribly immature, because they tried to live like Holden.

However, I don't think that was Salinger's goal when he wrote it, so I won't hold his legion of fans against him.

[Lizzie]

I first read Catcher for fun and I found it painfully boring. I detested Holden immensely. However, I've been meaning to re-read it to see if my viewpoint has changed at all.

[embonpoint]

I read it once (because I'd heard so much hype about it) and I was so disappointed, I literally threw it across the room when I finished it. My first thought was "well that was pointless" because I felt like nothing happened, I'd gained nothing from reading it etc.
I've been meaning to re-read it now I know what I'll be getting, and I hope that it will be better for that, but I can't really find the motivation to put myself through it again. I don't understand how people find it so influential or life-changing; it's just a boy complaining about stuff?

[Missy]

I definitely had an "ask" in the other day about this book on FYEMA.

I read Catcher in the Rye in high school as required reading, I couldn't stand it. Holden was hypocritical, shallow and felt entirely one dimensional. As an English major I hear from so many people at my university who found the book life changing and inspirational that I thought maybe I had missed something.
I re-read the book this week once summer vacation started and it is still a HORRIBLE read. Holden is unable to catch my attention at all, I spend the entire novel waiting for something to happen. My biggest wish is that Holden would make something happen in his life, yes I know he's about to have a nervous break down but really, stop talking about life and live it.

For whatever reason I love The Perks of Being a Wallflower which is incredibly similar.

[embonpoint]

^I feel the same about Perks. Though I see why people might compare the two, I don't really think they're very similar.

[Silva]

I've only read it once, and I really liked it. For some reason Holden really amused and interested me. I don't exactly idolize him, though.

May 29, 2011 22:11:29 GMT -5 Dobby said:

I read Catcher in the Rye when I was in 8th grade, for my own enjoyment, and absolutely loved it. However, I was required to read Catcher this year in my English class and I hated it. It drove me crazy how hypocritical Holden was of all the "phonies". I think i enjoyed it more the first time because while you're reading it, you're wondering what crazy thing Holden is going to do next. If you've already read the book, you know what Holden will do, and it's not as interesting. At least, that's my opinion.

I agree with that. I don't know if I will enjoy it as much the next time I read it.

[brosephargh]

I liked it, but only after I was done reading it. During it, Holden sort of annoyed me and I wanted to read more to get past it...but after I was done and really absorbed it...I actually enjoyed the effect it had on me.

[Silva]

I enjoyed it while I was reading it. I could not put the book down at all. It was a bit ridiculous. Fortunately, it was the about the last week of school for us seniors, so the teachers didn't care that I was reading in class.

[onlyaworkingtitle]

My best friend's mother has summarized this book in a way which I have often loved to repeat:

It would have been better if Holden had just committed suicide in the first chapter and saved us all the trouble.

Not to promote suicide or anything, but a whole book of listening to a hypocrite whine about "phonies"? Trim it down to a short story, please, or not at all.

[callmeishmael]

I absolutely love the book, having first read it for fun my freshman year of high school. When I had to read it for a class, I despised how it was taught, and how the teacher portrayed Holden.

I feel like a lot of the distaste for the character stems from the anti-Holden vibes that teachers give out when the teach the class. Reading it when you are experiencing a tiny bit of that same confusion on your own allows for a connection with the character, and a positive view of the book. Reading it while you have a 45 year old woman telling you that Holden is a cry baby and spends the book complaining about the character can easily ruin the experience.

[Olive]

May 31, 2011 14:30:39 GMT -5 callmeishmael said:

I absolutely love the book, having first read it for fun my freshman year of high school. When I had to read it for a class, I despised how it was taught, and how the teacher portrayed Holden.

I feel like a lot of the distaste for the character stems from the anti-Holden vibes that teachers give out when the teach the class. Reading it when you are experiencing a tiny bit of that same confusion on your own allows for a connection with the character, and a positive view of the book. Reading it while you have a 45 year old woman telling you that Holden is a cry baby and spends the book complaining about the character can easily ruin the experience.

For the record, I read it as a summer fun book right around that time in my life, what with parent's recently divorced and slowly coming out of the closet.
I still disliked Holden. Even though my then-girlfriend loved the book.

[callmeishmael]

I still disliked Holden. Even though my then-girlfriend loved the book.

To each their own, I guess. That's just the general trend I've gathered when talking to people about the book. I didn't mean it as the ultimate reason for why someone either likes or dislikes the story.

It probably stems from the fact that I enjoyed it so much, and then was heartbroken to see my teacher's opinion ruin it for everyone else in the class. When I found out we were reading it I was excited beyond belief, and then was totally let down.

[Silva]

I read it for fun also, and I enjoyed it. I wasn't even at a time in my life when I was having a rough patch when I read it.