The Catcher in the Rye

[Vergissmeinnicht]

I love Catcher very, very much. I read it on my own when I was 15ish, and I can't hate Holden because I know when I first read it I very much identified with his character. He is an incredibly faulted person who likely has at least one mental disorder, but he is very human and his feelings about society are one, not that far-fetched for a disillusioned teenager, and two, very reflective of his own fears about growing up and entering the adult world. He just somehow feels so real to me that I can't make myself simply find him obnoxious.

do you think I used the word "very" enough in this post, my god

[Silva]

Jun 13, 2011 12:56:10 GMT -5 Vergissmeinnicht said:

do you think I used the word "very" enough in this post, my god

There is a thread for telling people the word you use the most, haha.

[hitzelc]

As a fifteen year old, having read Catcher in eighth grade (a year or more ago as of now), I loved the story and I still thoroughly enjoy it. Salinger's style is so comfortable to slip into and his dialogue flows quite naturally. At least, based upon my limited reading experiences it is.

Reading through this, I see many people finding disdain for the story in their hatred of Holden. Yes, Holden is hypocritical, whiny, immature, and even dreadfully flat in the story. This is good. This is very good indeed.

I saw this as a parody of teenage angst, that entire period in one's life where everyone else must not understand. I saw in Holden what I saw in many of my less mature peers (and of course myself, I am not perfect by any means), and whether or not I displayed those attributes as Holden did, I felt the need to distance myself from them.

So, as far as my understanding, limited as it may be, Holden's character was a beautiful ironic alarm or wake-up call for a reader like myself.

[memcgeady]

I had to read it in 10th grade and I remember there were so many kids in my class who were in love with it. Me, not so much. I didn't dislike it but it definitely didn't blow my mind in any way. It's just a kid complaining about stuff!

[evenpottiesneedtoe]

I've always felt like the book carries many of the same ideas and messages as The Bell Jar, but does so poorly.

We read it in my English class Freshman year, and I was so excited because it was my dad's favorite book. I kept reading it and trying to like it, but I couldn't even concentrate on what was happening in the novel because I was so consumed with hatred for Holden.

I do think it speaks well for Salinger, though, that he was able to create a character that evokes such an emotional response from so many readers.

[juju]

personally, I really like the book... however, Iam at a loss concerning one thing: what literary theory would you use on Catcher?

new historicism perhaps?