“I identified with this book when I was in my teens, and somewhat still do. Just a great classic book.”
“i really don't think there is a right time to read the book its just how open u r to it(don't worry i'll spare u the lecture)but the thing that appealed to me the most was his frankness,a weird sense of humour and his taste are quite similar to mine.”
“To any of you looking for a somewhat modernized version of Salinger's novel, check out Jonathan Safran Foer's 'Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close'. It's one of the best novels I've read this year, and another to read before or after would be Kurt Vonnegut's 'Slaughterhouse-Five'. Happy summer reading!”
“I agree that there's a right time to read this book -- but I think that "right time" is high school. I first read it when I was in junior high and I was crazy about it. I've since read it several times and loved it every one. I'm sure it doesn't speak to everyone the same, but I am of the camp that this is the ultimate coming-of-age book. Read it too late and you just won't be able to "get it."I think the fact that it's _assigned_ to people in school is what makes them hate it. I can't remember ever reading an assigned book in highschool that I loved. It took a couple years to kick that everything-anyone-tells-me-to-do-sucks attitude. Context is everything.”
“Speaking as an official WASP... I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! It's all about questioning yourself and trying to find your way. It's a great book to read at anytime. It's not forced upon high schoolers to compare other books to... it's a good thing for them to read so they can learn about themselves.”
“It's really a book only an atheist could love. I read it as a parody of angsty depressed spoilt teenager with an attitude problem and no clue about life.I was just reading Salingers wikipedia entry - quite interesting. 'Catcher' is semi-autobiographical. Later on he did not grow up to be a hack journalist, (too famous and well-paid for that) but became a recluse and later got mixed up with Scientology. I can totally believe Holden would end up the same. He would have been one of those people who ends up with a job he hates in working in an office, or an alcoholic in a love-less marriage. (if he had not killed himself)I also agree with katiebee about high school teachers choice. I was forcefed sci-fi, which I hated. I personally don't think it should be taught in schools, unless they are schools of psychiatry lol.”
“I loved this book! I read it a while ago... but I read it at the right time. I think that this is a book where timing is everything. If I had read it as a high schooler, of course I wouldn't appreciate it. You know? We also won't sell this book to old people... simply because it definitely isn't the right time for them.I also think it a bit funny that people that aren't writers themselves are saying that it is "BAD writing." It's not bad, it's just not to your taste. If you want to read a really grueling book, read Scarlet Letter. That book will make you not want to read... ever again.Also... Ari, I have to criticize high school teacher's choice in books. They pick what THEY like, not necessarily what is best for the kids they teach. They need to relate to students more, instead of force feeding them their fav. books. It makes kids hate classics... It's very sad. -katie-”
“I sooo love to hate it. I think they put it in the high school curriculum so people will know what NOT to read and what BAD writing looks like. We get to see the contrast with the other books we'd be reading for the rest of our lives and we'll think to ourselves, "Hey, this isn't so bad, it's not like Catcher in the Rye...."”
“Haha maybe if he doesn't commit suicide first;) Perhaps you didn't like the writing language because it is aaaall slang.I have never read a book that consists of so much phrases like "Chrissake" , "Bastard" etc and that annoyed me a lot:(The only thing possitive and sweet was his relationship with his little sister,I agree :)”
“I felt sorry for him a little because he had no friends, and his relationship with his sister was quite touching. The thing is, reading it makes you think about the society he lived in, and his parents...what could have made him so disaffected? (But personally, I quite agree with many others, he appears so full of self-pity that you just want to shake him).I think had he grown up he would have become a hack journalist. Like Carrie Bradshaw. lol.”
