The Catcher in Rye is the ultimate novel for disaffected youth, but it’s relevant to all ages. The story is told by Holden Caulfield, a seventeen- year-old dropout who has just been kicked out of his fourth school. Throughout, Holden dissects the ‘phony’ aspects of society, and the ‘phonies’ themselves: the headmaster whose affability depends on the wealth of the parents, his roommate who scores with girls using sickly-sweet affection.
Lazy in style, full of slang and swear words, it’s a novel whose interest and appeal comes from its observations rather than its plot intrigues (in conventional terms, there is hardly any plot at all). Salinger’s style creates an effect of conversation, it is as through Holden is speaking to you personally, as through you too have seen through the pretences of the American Dream and are growing up unable to see the point of living in, or contributing to, the society around you.
Written with the clarity of a boy leaving childhood, it deals with society, love, loss, and expectations without ever falling into the clutch of a cliche.
sandeep S. –
A random fella admired it on YouTube saying that this is one of the seven must read books you oughtta read before U die! So I read it. And I didn’t regret it. It’s corny, heart warming, simple, spontaneous and straight. Yes you will identify with Golden Caulfield, that I bet. It take guts to write stuff like this. I felt this is his own life story, a peek! JD Salinger, yes.
Subhadeep Kundu –
The novel follows the story of Holden Claufield, a teenager from a well to do family in 19th century America. The novel will seem relatable enough as it explores the challenges we all face as teenagers. Definitely worth a read.
readwitharyaaa –
The catcher in the rye is the first and last novel of J.D Salinger, originally published in 1951. The story is about a 16 year old teenager, Holden Caulfield, who gets expelled from his school Pencey and not wanting to go home, he stays outside and wanders along, trying to fit in the adult world. But through his endeavors, he realizes the hypocrisy of it and ends up being exhausted and emotionally unstable. The story details his life in two days and in these 2 days, we come to meet a lot of characters with whom Caulfield has to deal with. Though he mixes up well with everyone, he finds it difficult to make friends and like anyone from his heart. Everything and everyone is phony, according to him and amidst this ‘phoniness’, he finds himself lost and depressed.One thing to note, he didn’t get depressed ‘After’ being exposed to the real world, rather he has been depressed since his brother Allie died and over the years, he started to question his existence.I really liked the way teenage angst is shown through a language, very raw and informal. The interior monologues of Holden, are described to well, it felt so real and like living the story, feeling the pain and the angst of him. I also liked the character of his sister Phoebe who is a little kid of 10 year old and is more mature than Holden himself is. She understands him well and listens to his problems. Holden talks more when she is with him and it was her who played a major role in bringing back the lost self of Holden. (to some extent?) This book has some major themes including the alienation, fragmentation, lost innocence and hypocrisy of post modern times that Salinger has beautifully captured.Highly, recommended?”That’s the whole trouble. You can’t even find a place that’s nice and peaceful, because there isn’t any. You may think there is, but once you get there, when you’re not looking, somebody will sneak up and write “f*ck you’ right under your nose.”
Amazon customer –
It is about a 16 year old boy named Holden Caulfield. It tries to explore the minds of tennagers and what they feel like about people, places, things, relations, movies, sports etc.Holden has an attitude of indifference, cynicism and loneliness which have been portrayed in this book. For him this world is full of phoney, bore, moron and depressing people..Also very apt discussion about the teenage age where you don’t have idea where you want to go, what you want to do in your life, what do you like, who are your real friends? Holden feels so much lonely that he sort of invites anybody to join him for a conversation be it cab driver, nun, bar dancers, piano player or anybody..this shows the feeling of emptiness during teenage. After a few minutes interaction, he always classify people as moron, bored and phoney and just want to end the conversation or meeting. It’s good and different read but to be honest not that much fascinating as it seemed from other reviews. Book for teenagers or the students of human psychology as they can related many things with the main character ‘Holden’.
Arjun –
This is just a review on the quality of the book and service. This is so beautiful and the quality is amazing. I purchased the hardcover and it was so much worth the price. I don’t know if it’s just me but the book smelled so pleasant as well. The content as everyone know would be great as it has been one of the most acclaimed and criticized novels of all time. Go for the hardcover if you can, it’s so aesthetic pleasing and a treat to look at and hold.
GARGI SRIVASTAVA –
Read a sensitive novel after so long. The book is amazing and connects to us emotionally. Holden is not feeling emotionally ready for anything. And we find that we have also felt the same at some point in our lives. The vividness with which he explains each and every person he has ever interacted with is very true, very deep and very close to reality. The foggy things that goes in our mind, Holden speaks them out and is no where far from from real and that is why we understand what he goes through in those 3 days. Throughout the book I find Holden to be clearly suffering from depression, which he himself mentions quite a few times. What he needs is someone to support him in every decision he makes and that is why I think Phoebe calms him down. He is 12 and it might also be signs of coming-of-age. But what he needs is quiet listener and a blind supporter who believes that he will get it through. I love this novel for so many reasons.
Meghna Sodha –
Although it is a critically acclaimed book, it was banned for countless time for multiple scenes, language and events mentioned in it.It describes three day story of Holden Caulfield’s hiding in New York city. The book is written in Holden’s words, in first person that connects readers with him at instance. This connection with the rebellious protagonist is actually needed to understand teenage angst whilst turning to adulthood from adolescence.Holden has been expelled from Pencey prep school for failing all subjects except English. Before moving to home he spends three days in New York however he cant go home until the actual end of semester. He is willing to experience the state of adulthood hence he becomes desperate to consume alcohol and to work on his virginity. He is sensitive, intelligent, loving and carrying boy with some perceptions and detests for the attitude and behavior that an adult is supposed to carry to fulfill own duties and obligations.Once his sister phoebe asks him that what he wants to be as a grown up and he replies that he wants to be “The catcher in the rye.” Who can catch the children (innocence) having fun in the field of rye from falling off the cliff (loss of innocence). He wants to secure the innocents from the jeopardy of the world. It reflects Holden’s longing to preserve the innocence of childhood.This book focuses on the urge of a 17 year teen to behave like an adult. Plot is written in 1950 and still an enjoyable read. It’s distinct writing style gives a feel of direct conversation with a protagonist and people from any age group can easily relate with it.I’m quite illiterate but, I read a lot. – J D Salinger
amol arankar –
The name of the book though catchy does not sound serious enough and that is the reason the reader does not start reading it with great expectations. Therein lies the advantage for this book like a dark horse.Through this novel J.D.Salinger takes you on a laughter ride using not his sense of humour but I would say his command over humour. While travelling in a city bus in Mumbai I was reading this book but at a particular stage the humour so much overwhelmed me that I realised that I would no longer be able to control my laughter so I had to halt my reading lest the people around me might think that I was a little insane, laughing alone.But of course to appreciate the humour of this book one needs to be prepared a bit, that is the reader should be conversant enough with good literature.The humour also a has a touch of sadness at some places bringing tears in your eyes. Thus its a complete package.But perhaps the most striking feature of this controversial milestone of English literature is the honesty and novelty of expressing the thoughts without inhibitions.No wonder this book has inspired many other renowned books!But my advice to other readers is that do not keep great expectations from this book, just read it. It could be almost be therapeutic.
DHARMENDRA –
Catcher in the Rye is a story of a 16 year old boy, Holden Caulfield, who just got kicked out of his private school because he never did what he was supposed to such as going to class and doing homework. Being kicked out a few days before Christmas break enabled him to have some time to himself to do as he pleases in near by New York City. With money in his pocket Holden does what any 16 year old male would do, he gets drunk and interacts with prostitutes.The story is told in first person by Holden which creates a very smooth flow of descriptions, emotions, and situations. Along the way Holden gives his ensight on all sorts of subjects from his thoughts on girls to why Jesus wouldn’t have sent Judas to Hell. The style of the first person story telling is one of the most unique parts of the book and will keep the reader from putting the book down.Overall the Catcher in the Rye is a very meaningful book that conveys Salinger’s opinion on reality once the reader looks beyond the superficial meaning of the words.
Dhruv Goel –
It was not what I expected at all but came out to be a nice surprise. Because of it’s name and fame and also it’s age, I thought of it as a grand novel, of course I have not read the supplementary comments. The book was not able to make an impression until midway but at last it came out to be a superb novel which comprehends no generation barrier. It was published in 1951 which can mislead many but the theme of the novel is set during the age of adolescence which makes it an evergreen read. What pushed me to buy it was when I read somewhere that it got the unusual distinction of being one of the most recommended and also one of the most censored novel in American schools.It is all about a boy who is angry and feels alienated from the society, which may be the result of an early trauma. What really makes you empathize with the book is its language, as the novel is written in the first person, and since the protagonist is an adolescent boy, the language is that of the same person. It feels like you are reading the journal of that boy, as a result you are able to make a connection with the various stages of your own life.A marvelous book, not only for teenagers but for adults too, they can feel the time that they have lived years before.