The Catcher in the Rye
595651
An easy read. From the first page I was interested in the young man's life and curious about his odd behavior. It's a relevant story, even today.
2777840
Great read and I get a sense that John Green is probably a big "the Catcher in the Rye" fan. Believe or not, the character I think who is a crucial component of the book is Gus and Hazel's friend - Isaac. He's the one that makes the book coherent and I am happy every time he came on. I've been watching John Green's Youtube channel on Crash Course for a long time now and he does a great job.
1319166
In discussing this book with a group that read it recently, I thought it was interesting to hear the different responses people had to the main character, Holden Caulfield. Roughly, the people I've encountered seem to put him into three categories: (1) the 'rebel with a lot of teen angst' category; (2) the 'annoying complainer' category; or (3) the 'funny and honest and extremely likable' category. Personally, I put him in primarily in the third category. To me, Holden Caulfield is a sensitive kid who's struggling to deal with the death of his brother while at the same time undergoing the confusing transition between childhood and adulthood. And all the while he's making honest observations that are often hilarious, depressing, or both. Granted, he probably fits into all three categories in one way or another, and on the exterior he definitely has a "who cares?" attitude. But underneath it all I think he's motivated more by grief than by angst: he literally aches to connect with others, and he treasures the few moments when real connection becomes possible. Just look at the way he ends his story: "About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about. Even old Stradleter and Ackley, for instance. I think I even miss Maurice. It's funny. Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody." It's little glimpses like these that make Holden Caulfield one of my all-time favorite fictional characters. Great book.
4137859
The Catcher in the Rye is a great portrayal of the life of a teenager. It goes through a weekend of a seventeen year old boy named Holden Caulfield. This book follows him as he leaves his boarding school and finds a hotel in New York City alone. It explains his encounters with relationships, money, drinking, prostitutes and other teenage conserns. All through this story the author goes into the mind of this teen, explaining what many teenagers have in their minds. I suggest this book to anyone out there. It will bring back memories of your teenage years if they have already past.
4644492
Even though I have not read Life is Funny I strongly believe that this book should take the place of Catcher in the Rye in most sophomore English classrooms. "Catcher" is a lovely book, but it is very dated in my opinion and I would love to see another book that my generation can relate to given a chance. I understand that some parents my have issues about the content of this book. All I can say to that is in "Catcher's" day it also caused some negative parent reactions. In a way I could relate to or understand all the issues the teens faced in "Life". Personally that made me glow with happiness because finally some one addressed issues that I face in my everyday life. So I really hope that we all can bury "Catcher" in peace and make way for the new generation of young adult novels.
4949290
I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said, but when I was coming to the end of this book, I was reminded of something Holden Caulfield said in "The Catcher in the Rye" about how you know you've read a great book when you really wish you could just call the author and talk to him when you're done reading it.  I didn't want this one to end.  Highly recommend.
3234832
I recommend this to everyone. It is the Catcher in the Rye for a modern generation. Way better the atlas shrugged just saying.
1756003
J D Salinger's best effort details the thoughts of a seventeen year old boy as he faces the hypocrisy of the adult world with a youthful mind and eye. A classical look at the age old problem of growing to adulthood, a perfect metaphor for the modern world in general.
Well written and told in the first person using Caulfield Holden's own dialogue this novel should be read by everyone.
1726027
Another Crimson Sky book club special.  "The Catcher in the Rye" was not taught at my high school.  It was replaced by "The Lord of the Flies" before I started my senior year.  No political reasons, we were encouraged to read it, I just never did.  Reading this book now in the wake of John Hinkley, Mark Chapman, and the Columbine teens, I searched for insight on why this book appeals to asocial young men.  Now I know why.
I really enjoyed this novel and I feel it is an important book to read and discuss.  This novel is more than just a glimpse of teen angst.  It's a look into the alienation, depression, and delusions of an outsider.  The funny thing is that Holden has the potential and opportunity to be accepted but his choices and actions keep him back.  So the question is, how much of our own angst do we inflict on ourselves?  One of many questions, you can take from this book.  Definitely recommended for reading.  Absolutely recommended for discussion.
2447449
In some horrific failing of the American public school system, I managed to escape the assigned reading of J.D. Salinger's quintessential classic The Catcher in the Rye. And not just me but, for all I know, every single student graduating (or not graduating) out of my little podunk hometown in Eastern Oregon, missed out on this reigning member of literary canon. I ought to write a letter to President Obama: Mr. President, just how is my generation going to change the future of America for the better if our high school English curriculum doesn't even include The Catcher in the Rye on its collective syllabus?  Well, we can't. We're all just a bunch of goddamn phonies. I really mean it. This copy was even owned by some high school freshman named Cheryl. Even 14-year-old Cheryl isn't as phony as me. (Good thing, too, she went and used a blue highlighter on every single name in the goddamn book, other wise I'd never have made it through to the multiple choice exam at the end.)

Read the rest of this goddamn review here:

[...]
2459568
This book is fantastic! Got a copy from a friend and read it in two sittings. Well-written, real, and very funny but at times raw and very moving, it tells the story of a suburban kid who escapes his abusive family and school life by making pilgrimages to the East Village of the 1980s to hang with his friends at CBGBs, indie record stores, and the streets of NYC. Never forced or fake, it's like The Catcher in the Rye if Holden Caulfield was into hardcore. I definitely recommend this book!
186621
Holden Caulfield is a depressed nervous boy who undergoes a rough learning process following his expulsion from school.  His complicated situation is caused by his continuing search for a true meaning or quality of life.  Holden is tired of the "phonies" that surround and have daily contact with him.  He looses interest in school and quickly falls into trouble.  Failing to maintain his grades in private school force him to be dropped from the program entirely.  Holden then commences his search for his true self and wanders the streets of New York while battling his growing depression.  He meets new people and runs into past acquaintances that simply confuse him even deeper rather than helping him sort out his emotions.  At one point, Holden tries to just go home but cannot bear his mother's disapproval and his father's constant lecturing.  Instead, Holden goes to the one person who seems to be able to clear his mind of troubles, his sister Phoebe.  Holden's depression is temporarily lifted during a conversation with Phoebe, but quickly returns and forces him to move on.  Holden experiences both mental and physical trauma and realizes that he must find professional help soon, which is exactly what he ends up doing.
  Holden Caulfield is my favorite character.  He represents what most teenagers go through at one point or another.  I can very much relate to him.  I have also run into the "phony" people that Holden did.  "Phony" people are those who appear to be one thing when they are clearly another.  These "phonies" portray false images to gain acceptance in the crowd.  These false people end up hurting themselves and sometimes the ones surrounding them.  I understand Holden's disgust towards these false people and appearances.
  I like this book very much.  My favorite part is when Holden returns to his hotel room after a night of heavy drinking and socializing.  He meets Maurice the bellboy on his way up on the elevator.  Maurice is secretly an amateur pimp.  He agrees to send a girl up to Holden's room in a few minutes.  What I like about this part of the book is the whole action and dialogue coming from Holden.  He really acts like a drunken 16-year-old.  When the girl finally arrives, she has a fight with Holden over her price.  Maurice ends up having to come up to the room and punch the lights out of Holden.  I think it is a very well developed story with an excellent plot and great characters.
  I honestly recommend this book to every one.  It will give readers a chance to look inside the developing mind of a 16-year-old boy and see what it goes through.  Parents and teenagers alike will enjoy this book very much.
2404123
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time.  It is right up there with the Catcher and The Rye.  I even had my highlighter out so I could mark the enteries that I wanted to come back  to.  Once I finished it  I picked it up and read it again.  Superb
365980
As a teenager, I was made to read The Catcher in the Rye as part of my required reading for the year. I HATED it--at first. We were given months to read it and then write a paper on it. I picked it up 100 times, and I put it down just as many. I couldn't get into it. I ended up waiting until the final week before the paper was due before forcing myself to read it cover to cover in one sitting. Today, it is still one of my favorite books. It was hard to get into initially, but once I reached a certain point Holden had grabbed me by the hand and was whisking me through his world. (I'm not fond of second person POV and still blame that for my initial disdain)

The Burgess Boys begins the same way, but ever since my misconception of The Catcher in the Rye, I've learned not to be too quick to judge and plod through until the value in the writing reveals itself.

There was no turn around with this book. No saving grace. My final thoughts after finishing - I hope there's no sequel!

First, it began with a prologue. In my opinion and experience, 99% of the time, prologues are a means of cheating. It felt like an MC announcing the next act at a variety show.

There wasn't a character in the book that I could say I actually liked. Bob and Susan were just plain condescending to each other almost all of the time. Right from the beginning, Bob drives to Susan to help her son, Zach, who has landed himself in trouble. Not only she doesn't show appreciation, she picks at him. She does nothing to hide the fact that she would much prefer their older brother, Jim, to be there instead of her twin brother, Bob. It does not get better from there.

Too often, I felt as if the author lost her way among the many plots and subplots. I found (the story) to be a confusing read, although Strout's writing is beautiful. She left me to feel as though I went for a joyride on a gorgeous Sunday, but saw little and never arrived anywhere.

Zach, although not the main character, leaves for Sweden a troubled adolescent and returns a solid young man. The things that changed him would have been worth including, but Strout left that out leaving us to find his transformation confusing and less believable.

The characters are not richly drawn and the plot was not engaging. Simply put - I spent an entire day on a book I found laborious and boring.

I have not read Olive Kitteridge and even though it was a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, I believe I will wait until I run out of books with more initial appeal before picking it up.
3775023
The story, taken at face value is definately worth 4 stars. Funny at some points and touching at others, those who enjoy reading will enjoy this book. The story takes place over a few days in the life of a cynical 16 year-old. We see the world through his eyes, his observations of the people around him and their behavior.
There is more there than just a story: "The Catcher in the Rye" is taught in schools around the world for a reason. Really, this book is about the teenage experience, about growing up and alienation. These are things that we can all relate to.
Read this book at least once; if you want to take something away from this book, you will. Otherwise, it's still a good story.
1683531
Catcher in the Rye is a novel that has stood the test of time. Even though it was written in the 1950's it still appeals to teenagers around the world. And when I read it, I discovered why. Catcher in the Rye is a  painful, honest, funny book that is perfectly written. Don't be fooled by  what people tell you, ie. that it's not a good book, that the language is  unsuitable. They don't understand the novel's true meaning and value.  I  really, really recommend that you read this book, and I hope you get as  much out of it as I did.
2639212
This is one of my favorite books.  I first read this in High School for summer reading that we were required to do.  It is a story of a boy coming into adulthood and shows the trials and tribulations that he goes through during his schooling and life.  I didn't totally understand Holden's point of view or where Salinger was coming from the first time I read it, but then I read it again and again.  Each time I read it I was enlightened by Holden's take on people and reality to him.  When reading this book you can't help but kind of relate to Holden and the craziness that he is going through. There is a very unique style of cynicism that Salinger brings to this book.  Holden shares many of his life struggles through this book and some of us may have gone through them or know someone that has. That is what makes this book very relatable.  Holden's brother is dead, he failed out of one school and now is in a prep school where he believes that everyone is phony.  Holden hates life and the world not because they are bad, but because he doesn't know how to adapt in the world where fake people live.  Holden tells everyone what he feels and never holds back.
This book is well worth the read over and over again.  I highly recommend this book to anyone, old or young.