Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

I hope Catcher in the Rye isn’t supposed to be a dramatic book because I laughed out loud all through it.

Holden Caulfield is a mess.  He knows everything and he’s (almost) always right.  He’s a privileged jerk with an attitude.  He’s kicked out of school, he picks fights that he can’t win, he gets drunk, he almost has sex, he comes up with some crazy schemes and yet, nothing much really happens to him.  Obviously given too many chances by his folks he either doesn’t understand or appreciate the concept of consequences.

Sure, Holden’s messed up but no more than many teenagers.  He just has the money and means to get into more trouble.  His voice is clearest when he’s trying to explain how he was right while everyone else is wrong.  Even when he admits to a mistake or two, it was usually someone else’s fault.  Holden is full of the arrogance and certainty of youth.  The narrative is simple with twists in time and logic you would expect from a child.  Salinger says he worked on Catcher in the Rye “…on and off…” for ten years.  Based on my calculations, he wasn’t much older than Holden Caufield when he started writing it.  Perhaps that’s why the writing sounds so authentic.  I actually could believe a teenage boy wrote this.

Some critics complained that the book doesn’t work since Holden never appears to mature or evolve.  I say those critics forgot they were reading about a TEENAGE BOY.  They might mature around forty (or maybe never) but I’m pretty certain, we don’t at age sixteen.  Those same critics also seem to miss the point that ultimately, Holden makes a good decision, possibly the best decision he could make at this stage in his life.

All references I saw referred to Catcher in the Rye being about teen angst and despair.  I saw teen arrogance and cockiness.  Holden seems to be out for a good time and tries to act like a character off “Mad Men.”

Set in and about New York City, Catcher in the Rye is full of references to familiar sites and culture to include some books we are reading.

Who should read Catcher in the Rye?  If you haven’t, you should.  I don’t know that kids should read it but you parents out there may be able to help us with that question.  Catcher in the Rye came back to my attention when I started reading about modern day assassins.  It seems to be a favorite read of the unbalanced, pathetic type of killer that wants fame by simply killing someone famous.  I would wonder about identifying too strongly with Holden Caufield.  Read it as a sensitive, well-written novel about a young, confused man.  Or do like me and read it as modern comedy.

Sandra's two cents:  It's been several years since I read this, but Ernie's take on this book seems a little harsh to me.  As far as I can remember Holden is in the middle of a serious mental breakdown, some time in his past something terrible has happened to his brother which has never been dealt with.  I thought Holden seemed to have been institutionalized or in rehab perhaps (?) and is talking big to a shrink or counselor.  Again this is all vague recollection and  I'm not saying he isn't a jerk, but he does seem to be experiencing some actual angst as part of the human condition, not just confined to teenagers!  For what it's worth, my two cents!