The Catcher in the Rye
JD Salinger
1951
214 pages
Like many people, I contributed to the recent spike in sales for The Catcher in the Rye that followed JD Salinger’s death. It seemed only fitting to mark his death by (finally) reading his famous book.
The best thing I can say about the book is that I didn’t (for once) mind the stream of consciousness writing, Although I did think certain words (phony, crumby) were overused. Granted, the narrator is a teenage boy, but if I never see the word crumby again I’ll be a very happy softdrink.
The worst thing I can say about the book is that it was boring. I didn’t identify with Holden at all. And had I read this as a teenager I still wouldn’t have identified with him. I found him way too angsty, and I’ve never been one for angst. I kept thinking, “Good grief, get over yourself.” Also, “stop drinking!” And, “stop telling girls you don’t like that you love them!” Needless to say, Holden and I would NOT have been BFFs.
So while I’m glad I’ve finally read this one, I’m also glad that it was a short, quick read. Although part of the quick may have been me spacing out occasionally. Had it been the size of Moby Dick, it would’ve gone the way of Moby Dick.
A few interesting facts:
- The Catcher in the Rye is frequently challenged/banned because Holden is perceived as an unsuitable role model. It’s also been accused of encouraging rebellion against authority.
- It is also the second most frequently taught novel in US public schools. According to Wikipedia anyways, which I really don’t believe because 1)the link to that article was broken and 2)the other list I found lists these as the top 10:
Romeo and Juliet
Macbeth
Huckleberry Finn
Julius Caesar
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Scarlet Letter
Of Mice and Men
Hamlet
The Great Gatsby
Lord of the Flies
I’m much more inclined to believe this list, since I read all but Huck Finn and Macbeth in high school. And The Catcher in the Rye was never on the syllabus.
Stop by Book Nut to check out what everyone else involved in the readalong thought about it.
I’m loving seeing what everyone thought about this book, but it’s interesting that no one seems to like it!
I was just coming over to say that I’m thrilled to find someone else who does NOT like this book, then I see Suey’s comment and I’m all confused. We must be reading 2 different groups of blogs b/c all the reviews I’ve seen lately have been positive … practically glowing! As for me, I hated this book in high school. I thought it was stupid and boring, and like you I didn’t identify w/ Holden at all.
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I taught Catcher to a class of English Education majors! But yeah, not in high school. I appreciate this one, and it’s one of my fave titles in literature. I love the explanation behind the title. I read it in my early 20s and still managed to really like it, but I wonder if it would stand up the same way now.
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I don’t think Holden and I would have gotten along either.
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I agree: he overused phony and crumby, but I chalked that up to the time period and it didn’t bother me too much. But I agree: I kept wanting to smack Holden to get him out of his stupid funk. And I was a bit on the “meh” side. Thanks for reading along, though.
I totally agree. I read this in high school and didn’t really connect with Holden at all. Waaay too angsty. This isn’t to say that I wasn’t angsty at times but geeze! He was so, so, so annoying. Not particularly one of those books I think I’ll ever read again.
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I had no problems with Holden and almost named my son after him. I didn’t, but came very close. I need to read it again. I read it like ten times before the age of 25.
Ti´s last blog ..Review: What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us
I read this as a teen and loved Holden and his angst. Maybe because I wasn’t angsty and thought I was supposed to be.
I loved this book as a teenager but when I think back have no idea why. Holden was a big time complainer. I also think most of what the book may have been trying to impart went right over my head.
Nicole´s last blog ..Book Club Pick: Little Bee, Chris Cleave
I didn’t love it in high school (like everyone else seemed to) and could barely finish it a few years ago. Enough already, Holden!
JoAnn´s last blog ..Quote of the Week: Sarah’s Key
I read this as a teenager, and I found Holden, and the book altogether, just maddening. I’m wondering if I might enjoy it more now that I understand better what Salinger was trying to get it, but I can’t make myself try.
Jenny´s last blog ..Review: The Opposite House, Helen Oyeyemi
I hope to finish this book this year and then maybe I will be able to comment a lil better LOL!
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I actually went as far as checking this book out at the library shortly after Salinger died, but now that I’m reading some reviews, I’m very glad I went with my gut instinct and returned it unread. I decided that if I was 25 years younger I might like it, but that at my age it just wasn’t something I’d like.
SuziQoregon´s last blog ..Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
What does crumby even mean??? You should start a list of words you never want to see again.
heidenkind´s last blog ..Searching for Donatello
I would love to read a JD Sallinger book, but for some reason I can’t get into Catcher. I think I’m going to try his collection of Short Stories: Nine Stories first. Interesting thoughts and catches with frequently used words.
(Catcher also always reminds me of the Mel Gibson movie Conspiracy Theory since he was completely obsessed with the book in the film.
It was apart of our syllabus in HS, but we were running out of time. So our English teach had us each read a section, then come together as a whole, but that was HUGE mistake. I don’t think many of us got it really back then. Sorry I’m babbling.
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I read this book in high school and loved it but am not sure if I would love it so much now. I might read it again to find out. Out of that top ten list I only read 4 books. I did get to read some great contemporary literature in HS english like The Bean Trees and The Joy Luck Club. I MUST read To Kill a Mockingbird. I still can’t believe I never have. Sorry you didn’t enjoy Catcher very much, but at least now you have read it and are able to have an opinion on it!
Julie´s last blog ..The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I was assigned this book back in high school and enjoyed it at the time. I am not sure whether that would hold true if I read it today. About two years ago I read Franny and Zooey, also by Salinger, and loathed it immensly. Since then, Salinger is not an author that I have been inclined to read again.
Stephanie´s last blog ..East of Eden, Part III
Once again I must thank you for reading this for us so I don’t have to! I can’t remember much about reading this the first time except it was during the time of the Rolling Stones “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” and I was stymied by both the meaning of the song and the appeal of the book. (I still don’t understand either one.)
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Black History Month: Review of “Stonewall Jackson’s Black Sunday School” by Rickey E. Pittman; Illustrated by Lynn Hosegood
You’re too young to have had Catcher in the Rye on your high school syllabus. It was required reading in the 60s and 70s. I loved it, but maybe we just didn’t know better back then!
Beth F´s last blog ..New Editions: Willow by Julia Hoban
It seems that most people who have been rereading this haven’t like it all that much. Wonder why it was such a big deal? : )
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I was a teenager who loved this book when I was in high school. I’d be curious to know what I would think of it now. I bought a copy of this the other day for my husband because he mentioned wanting to read it.
Literary Feline´s last blog ..One Night Stand: What’s in a Name?
I’m on the “don’t like” side with you. I read it in high school and totally didn’t get it.
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Excellent article as usual, thanks for writing such helpful stuff on a regular basis.