"The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger - Book Review
Summary
"The "brilliant, funny, meaningful novel" (The New Yorker) that established J. D. Salinger as a leading voice in American literature--and that has instilled in millions of readers around the world a lifelong love of books.
"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."
The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caufield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days."
Review
My first time trying to read this book was when I was 15. I realised that I probably should have finished it back then, as it would have been much more relatable. Naturally, I picked it up knowing about its cultural influence and importance, especially regarding the creative conversationalist tone for the time, and its significance for rebellious youth. However, now, the book feels somewhat purposeless. The main character, Holden, is obnoxious, and his defence mechanism of labelling everything and everyone as "phony" did not evoke compassion in me but rather annoyance. Although the idea of spending a night in New York getting to know interesting characters is compelling, overall, I found the book to be uneventful, and Holden's stream of consciousness was not gripping. Nonetheless, the most interesting part was the almost implicit message about sexual molestation in the character's past, which can expand the conversation about the book on how this type of event can interfere in someone's formative years, and it might explain Holden's behaviour and thoughts in a more complex and sensitive way. Regardless, I did not enjoy it very much.
Key Takeaways
- Easy read with a conversationalist tone
- A book that must be read due to its cultural significance
- The flow is smooth, and you can finish it very quickly
Who Should Read This
Young readers looking for a timeless stream of consciousness of rebellious youth, and literature enthusiasts.
Favourite Quotes
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron."
"I was half in love with her by the time we sat down."
"I never did find out what the hell was the matter. Some girls you practically never find out what's the matter."
Rating
⭐⭐½ (2.5/5 stars)