Tags
Book, Book review, Catcher In The Rye, English Language, Fiction, Holden Caulfield, John Lennon, Review
This is a Fictional Friday post, where I review a book (but it might not always be fiction)
The Catcher in the Rye is one of those books that leaves you utterly perplexed once the last page has been turned. What did it mean? Will we ever know?
All we know is that thousands of youths identified with the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, and that the publication of The Catcher in the Rye was very controversial.
When Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon, he was carrying a paperback copy of The Catcher in the Rye.
Make of that what you will.
The book was controversial because it presents, to the reader, Holden: a character who displays erratic, impulsive behaviour, and signs of depression and nervous breakdown. It gives no reason, nor any consequences, for his actions.
Since its publication in 1951, the book has been banned from several school, libraries and shops, because it rejected ideals promoted in schools and much of its subject matter is controversial.
So why is it still taught in schools?
It goes without saying that it’s well-written. It has a lot of content that school children can pick up on and write about,which make it teachable.
Being teachable isn’t enough. High school children are hard to motivate. In Holden, they find a character they can empathise with, relate to. Finally they are understood.
The book makes no attempt to be anything more than a book. It’s honest, unpretentious and engaging. It’s a tragedy in terms of plot, but the content it witty and dry. This makes it a book high school children will understand and want to read and study.
Maybe it’s the multiple reading of the novel that make it all the more study-able. Is it pessimistic or ironic? Uneventful or entertaining?
Personally, I read it cover to cover, and reread it almost as fast. I find it enlightening, entertaining; yes, it’s ambiguous, but is that a bad thing? It makes the readers use their brains to work out what it meant, and that’s always a good thing in my books.
Anglophonism 
I remember reading it high school. There was a guy in my English class who vehemently hated Holden Caulfield and declared HC was a whiny irresponsible brat. When I read it, I (and everyone else in my class) was struck by how the emotional troubles experienced by HC mirrored that guy in my English class. I guess it hit too close to home for him.
I can see why someone who identified too much with Holden wouldn’t want to face it. Differing opinions and debates in the classroom, however, make studying books much more interesting!
I love this book. It made me wonder, laugh out loud, and emotional. Pretty good for such an unpretentious little book :-)
It’s one of my favourite books :)
I haven’t read this book since High School. I loved reading it. Your post just reminded me of the mood it put me in when I read it. Holden was mysterious and it was so fascinating to see life through His eyes. Thank you for your post. You have inspired me to read it again.
You’re welcome!
I absolutely love that you wrote “His” – I’m sure it was a typo, but makes Holden look like God!
Glad you enjoyed the post :)
I first read this when I was nine and totally identified with Phoebe (I too have a much older brother). What was funny rereading it the first time a few years later was how I’d glossed over so much of the story because I just couldn’t relate. This is one the few books that I find more things that resonate each time I revisit. Plus, who doesn’t hate god damn phonies? :)
Every time I read this I go around talking like Holden for a few days – saying “goddam” or “crumby” every second word and saying “that killed me. It really did”.
Oh man, I say stuff “killed me” all the time and didn’t even realize that it’s a total Holden-ism. Perhaps I’ve internalized the book too much. Or maybe it’s a part of my DNA now and can’t be stripped away.
Do you have any thoughts on the whole Joyce Maynard issue or are you a text-only person?
Didn’t Salinger and Maynard meet years after this was published?
I’ve learnt to try and separate a book from its author. Sometimes reading a book in terms of who it was written by is interesting, but it’s not the only, nor by any means the best or the definitive, reading of a text.
I read it once. In English. And didn’t like it. I was told it was because I didn’t get it so I read it in Spanish, my mother tongue. I didn’t like it either. I’m not willing to give this book a third chance. With all my respects to the book, the writer and their numerous fans.
Maybe I am just not meant to get it :)
The beauty of books – and also of humans – is differing opinions. I personally think Thomas Hardy is a bore, while there are lots of people who love his work. This is one of my favourite books, but I know there will be a lot of people who dislike it!