| Average Customer Rating: |  4.0 |
| Release Date: | 2001-01-30 |
| Publisher: | Back Bay Books |
| Author | J.D. Salinger |
| Number of pages: | 288 |
| ISBN: | 0316769177 |
| Language: | Original Language: English; Unknown: English; Published: English; |
Product Categories
Product description
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Ever since it was first published in 1951, this novel has been the coming-of-age story against which all others are judged. Read and cherished by generations, the story of Holden Caulfield is truly one of America's literary treasures.
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Since his debut in 1951 as The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has been synonymous with "cynical adolescent." Holden narrates the story of a couple of days in his sixteen-year-old life, just after he's been expelled from prep school, in a slang that sounds edgy even today and keeps this novel on banned book lists. It begins,
"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them." His constant wry observations about what he encounters, from teachers to phonies (the two of course are not mutually exclusive) capture the essence of the eternal teenage experience of alienation.
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Customer reviews
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A Great Read
»
This book explores various themes about growing up. It was interesting to note that most of the issues and themes explored still remain unchanged today. Given that the book was written in the 1950s, it shows the author's talent and insight.
The protaganist is Holden Caufield, a 16 year old high school boy, and it is written in the first person. I have heard that the book was on a "banned" list for some time due to the themes it touched on, and the language.
A very easy read, and I would highly recommend it.
The book is said to be a classic. The first person narrative works great.
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2009-01-06
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All the Kings in the Back Row...
»
Picked up and read on vacation in my "Should Have Read These in H.S." list.
The collection of thoughts, the strong personality of the main character (even in his yellow weakness) - are impressive - the books and music mentioned are now on my search lists.
Holden reads much older than I'd expect - but perhaps in fair keeping with the time in which he lived. Some of his inner conversations and observations had me saying "Yes! Yes!" - how can these awarenesses of human beings general ugliness be so universal yet remain un-addressed. So many and so self-absorbed... "I like it when somebody digresses." And The Catcher in the Rye is a masterful example of just that.
Rating: 
(3
out of 5) @ 2008-12-27
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America's most beloved and misunderstood novel...
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One of America's most beloved and misunderstood novels, written in pitch-perfect prose, straight from the heart. Interesting how so many would condemn this novel, along with Twain's Finn, without ever having turned a page of it. Should be read four times: in adolescence; in one's tweens; on the cusp of middle-age; and right before they throw the switch.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-22
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Amazing book, but pre-conscious
»
I love this book, and have read it several times over the years - and will read it again. It's masterfully written, full of amazing and realistic detail, and incredibly modern for something written sixty years ago. While reading it I kept thinking to myself that it was MORE modern than most books written in the past few years. I also got the feeling, as I read it - and I base this on nothing but gut instinct - that this book heralded in a new dawn of writing. Kudos Salinger!
I can't help but love Holden Caulfield, despite all his depression and misery and angst. I don't know if you'd call it a criticism, but everything about him is pre-conscious, yearning to get real and honest and become true to himself, but at the same time so lost and blocked. My gut vibe on Caulfield is that if he were real and grew up to be an adult he would never really get conscious. I just don't see it happening with him. Like, for all his beauty and caring and humanity, he's just too self-hating, self-destructive, traumatized, and dishonest to really ever become truly conscious.
And if the life of J.D. Salinger (whom I will assume is the model for Holden Caulfield) is any indication, then I'm probably right... Ugh.
So, I only give this book four stars because of its lack of consciousness - lack of deep self-honesty woven into its pages. Aside from that, everything about the book is downright perfect.
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-12-20
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Book is very interesting and very easy to relate with...
»
I read this book in 4 or 5 hours I think, and I can honestly say this is a great book. I always remember there being so much fuss about this book (although I am only 22), so I wanted to read it for myself and see how it was. To tell you the truth, I didn't think the language was very bad, and the sexual content was minimal. I have read books and seen movies that were much worse than this book. This story is all about a young teenage boy that does not know what to do with his life. It was a great book, because I was able to relate in so many ways. I was able to relate to Holden because I was once troubled.
I was unable to put this book down when I started reading it. The way the author writes is unique to me, although I have not read many books so that may not say much. I was able to paint very vivid pictures in my mind such as in the dorm room, in the hotels, at the bar talking to the 3 women... I was definately expecting this to be more vulgar, only because that is how it was portrayed to me. I guess the book could have possibly influenced people to act out in violence, however I find it hard to believe.
I thought it was interesting how Holden thought so many things were phony. That is something that I will always remember with this book. That and the word "goddam". Not even sure it is spelled like that any more... Seems like Salinger used that word preceding everything.
Rating:
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-12
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