The Catcher in the Rye

This book was with me through some dark times. I'm obviously biased and enjoy it a lot. It has this weary sad-magic feel to it that I can empathize with. Those days where nothing really makes you feel satisfied but you're too restless to just take a knee and run out the clock for the day. I've seen this point raised before and it's very apt in that I find myself feeling differently about Holden Caulfield the older I get, but still empathizing with him. He was super relatable when I first read it, and now he just seems stuffy and stressful. Not that I blame him, people wear me out too. He's still a kid in this, so the character flaws are welcome, especially with the lack of self awareness. If you tell me you had keen self awareness in your youth, I'd call you a liar. Or at least question you a lot on it. It's a great read. I could see someone feeling it's very boring if they're reading it merely because it's a "classic", but if you're young, alienated, overstressed and underachieving, you may just enjoy what it has to say. Just be careful not to fall too deep into it. Don't forget, Holden is meant to be flawed. As for me, I'm sure the feeling and the meaning will be different the next time I decide to read through it. It's been years. Holden Caulfield as seen through the broken prism of my head is never consistent.

"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff (...)"

J. D. Salinger is an American novelist and best known for this very book, The Catcher in the Rye, which is considered a classic of USA's literature, being in Times list of 100 best books since 1923.

This book tells a rather uninteresting story of this sixteen-year-old character Holden Caulfield and his wanders through New York for a couple days, after his expulsion from his boarding school, exposing the real face of teenager's life, in which the main character is also the narrator. What is perhaps more interesting is that he has such a depressed and lonely way of life that it is almost impossible not to have anything in common with this global character, who is supposed to represent the transition from childhood to adult life.

When I started reading this book, I found out that I was addicted to it, even though it had no plot at all. It really doesn't, it's just a dude telling about his life. But it is Holden who you are actually reading. I have never read, in my whole life, such a descriptive and well-developed character. You actually feel that you are reading a teenager's book who has failed in about four schools, not an intellectual like J. D. Salinger. That's probably why the book is so addictive: it's a clean and straightforward writing, which makes it feel real, a very real account. I do have a lot against writers and philosophers who are claimed to be wonderful and swell, but they can't write clearly such as Salinger does. This book may be read by anyone - in fact, it is aimed to teenagers and I do recommend them to read - and anyone who reads this book will understand what it is talking about. Some of them may not like, but they will surely get the least of it.

Holden Caulfield is this teenager that wanders around New York and lives a very teenager life - don't forget this book was written in the 50's - and finds himself in the transition from child to adulthood; facing problems like an adult - and that's probably why Salinger set him alone in NY - but still with a mind of a kid. While he tries to evolve, starts to find out that everybody looks fake and lousy, but he turns out to be a complete hypocrite, which is probably the main purpose of the book.

The title deserves five stars just for itself. Although you read the book until about the middle without getting where the author is trying to get you to, when Holden hears a little boy singing this song about a catcher in the rye - which he actually misspelled -, everything starts making sense. Holden flies through the book trying to find a shoulder to lean on, someone that will hold him while he's passing through his puberty, sexual life and depressing times of adolescence; and that's what he searches, even unaware of what's actually happening.

While he's not getting anything that's valuable from his current relationships - which are represented by his Pencey school and his friends in there -, he goes way back to the innocence of childhood and brings back his old memories and relationships in attempt to survive the hard times that is entering the adulthood. But when he actually gets to those memories, he is not a kid anymore and his mind has changed. In this quest of finding "a catcher in the rye", Holden even unburies his dead brother Allie and contacts people who are still in their innocent times - such as his sister - and people who are really in the adulthood, like his old teachers.

This transition is easily seen in every sense. From trying to drink being a minor to a massive change of his views on the world, contrasted by what he remembered things to be and what they really are right now. I highly recommend this book to anyone. This is surely one of the best - if not the best - novels I have ever read in my entire life. Although aimed to teenagers, this story is surely universal.

100/100

J.D. Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye' is a timeless classic that takes readers on a poignant journey into the mind of its young protagonist, Holden Caulfield. The novel presents a raw and introspective narrative, centered around the disillusioned yet perceptive sixteen-year-old navigating the complexities of life in New York City.

Salinger's masterful storytelling unfolds as Holden Caulfield embarks on a three-day odyssey after leaving his prep school, delving into the heart of New York City. The novel artfully weaves the voices of children, adults, and the underground society, but it is Holden's voice that resonates the loudest. His eloquence, a blend of simplicity and complexity, offers a deeply personal insight into his world.

Holden Caulfield emerges as a character both relatable and enigmatic, his yearning for authenticity and genuine human connection palpable throughout the narrative. Salinger beautifully captures the tumultuous emotions and inner turmoil of adolescence, making the character and his experiences incredibly genuine and evocative.

The novel's brilliance lies in Salinger's ability to transcend vernacular while maintaining an authentic portrayal of Holden's unique voice. The contrast between Holden's attraction to beauty and his internal pain creates a compelling duality that resonates with readers. Holden's self-imposed isolation and his struggle to grapple with life's complexities evoke both empathy and admiration for his resilience.

'The Catcher in the Rye' is a testament to the human experience, exploring themes of identity, alienation, and the search for meaning. Salinger skillfully delves into the complexities of the human psyche, capturing the bittersweet essence of adolescence and the struggle to preserve innocence in a world filled with hypocrisy and disillusionment.

This novel is not just a story; it's an exploration of the human condition, an invitation to reflect on the universal themes of pain, pleasure, and the human quest for authenticity. Holden Caulfield's journey is a mirror reflecting the turbulence and genuine emotions that shape the adolescent experience.

While some readers may find the themes and Holden's perspective challenging, 'The Catcher in the Rye' remains an enduring classic that continues to captivate audiences with its richly textured narrative and its unflinching portrayal of youth and society.

I rate 'The Catcher in the Rye' with four stars for its timeless relevance, evocative storytelling, and its enduring ability to connect with readers across generations, inviting them to ponder the complexities of the human condition.