Name: The Catcher in the Rye
Rating: 3.875 (12 reviews)

J.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye

A classic in American literature but not my favorite thing in the world. 

I do like the dialogue sounding exactly how a teenager trying to be cool and older would sound.

A classic in American literature but not my favorite thing in the world. 

I do like the dialogue sounding exactly how a teenager trying to be cool and older would sound.

This book was intriguing because of certain bizarre circumstances I found myself in when I encountered this book and how it related to me at the time.

The message of the book was strong and impactful, which is one reason why so many readers, especially younger readers, have related so strongly to it over the decades. However, I think this message is also dangerous and very unhealthy. It romanticizes cynicism and dread. It criticizes social and religious institutions without consulting or utilizing any philosophical, historical, or educational ideas; they just "suck." According to this book, everything "just sucks." There's a reason this book has been banned several times across the world since its publication in 1951. I don't think books should be banned, but it is very imprudent to say the least to make this book part of the public school curriculum, never mind have it taught by unqualified and unfamiliar teachers.

I would not recommend teenagers to read this book, although they seem by and large to be the largest audience (by design, perhaps?). This book should be read after some life experience and under a very critical and detached lens; and even then only for specific reasons.

In short, this book should be observed and appreciated as a work of literature, not wallowed in by those with an undeveloped frontal cortex and all the consequences that come from an unstable and purely emotional state of mind.

Clarence Kim

This book was intriguing because of certain bizarre circumstances I found myself in when I encountered this book and how it related to me at the time.

The message of the book was strong and impactful, which is one reason why so many readers, especially younger readers, have related so strongly to it over the decades. However, I think this message is also dangerous and very unhealthy. It romanticizes cynicism and dread. It criticizes social and religious institutions without consulting or utilizing any philosophical, historical, or educational ideas; they just "suck." According to this book, everything "just sucks." There's a reason this book has been banned several times across the world since its publication in 1951. I don't think books should be banned, but it is very imprudent to say the least to make this book part of the public school curriculum, never mind have it taught by unqualified and unfamiliar teachers.

I would not recommend teenagers to read this book, although they seem by and large to be the largest audience (by design, perhaps?). This book should be read after some life experience and under a very critical and detached lens; and even then only for specific reasons.

In short, this book should be observed and appreciated as a work of literature, not wallowed in by those with an undeveloped frontal cortex and all the consequences that come from an unstable and purely emotional state of mind.

Maximus

I finished reading this book almost a year ago and I still think about it. To this day, it is the best book I’ve read and may likely remain my all time favourite.

The Catcher in the Rye

Reviews

Highlights