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DanSRose

- 3 years ago

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'If a body catch a body comin' through the rye.'

Today, 16th of July, is the 58th anniversary of the publication of 'The Catcher in the Rye'. It's one of the most influential books on my life, in terms of where my place in the world, that edge of madness, where the line of isolation was. It also practically shoved a pen in my hand, seeing the world as terribly wonderful, fault-filled place. What's your impressions of the book?

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I read it in high school and reread it a few years ago. It's amazing how well-written the character of Holden Caufield was! When I was a miserable teen, I just thought Holden was so cool - especially of his criticism of the older phonies. Later, when I was parent to my own miserable teens and I read it, Holden irritated the crap out of me, and all I wanted to do was shake his shoulders and tell the young man to GET A GRIP! ha ha ha ha ha

Before I read Catcher, I've never really loved a novel. Holden became more clear to me when I got older. Holden was a depressed young man, shaken with grief. When someone loses another, sometimes they slip into a sort of state where they feel they are superior. "They don't know what I've been through, and hence, I'm better than them. I'm wiser because of what I've been through, I know REAL pain." It's why everyone around him was a 'phony,' because he couldn't see past the fact that his brother was dead, and his brother's death rocked him, and no one else existed outside the realm that he was horrifically sad because his brother was dead. I think Holden also had a sense of self-loathe. He knew what he'd become--a depressed young man, who'd wasted his childhood years being sad. He didn't want other children to go through that, which is why he was so obsessed with preserving their innocence. All the above isn't healthy, though. Holden was sick. The novel was a matter of understanding how and why he was such a way.

I've always liked the title. .... Yeah, I should really read it sometime ....

I read it at a point where i was feeling like Holden. Lonely, depressed, and just about everything killed me in one way or another. Those darn old teeneage blues. But after i found myself falling over my own edge of madness, i understood the ending. Innocence will be lost, experience takes it's place and what comes of that is pretty beautiful yeah i loved the book and I adore Salinger oh and just wanting to try and make a difference in your own life is a great step that's what i took from it

I read it for the first time this past year and I think it's overrated. The story never goes anywhere.

Isn't that the book on "conspiracy theory"?... and the JFK shooter had it and all that... never read it... but the way you describe it, I guess I should...

I actually hated it!

I didn't care for this book; I think it's over-rated. But I'm one of those folks who likes a plot, not just a character study. I disliked The Red Badge of Courage for the same reason.

I was shocked to listen to my teacher read it in class. We read Macbeth, then read this and I couldn't believe it was assigned writing. I adore it. I feel everyone can relate to Holden Caufield. At least, I hope everyone can and it's not just me, because to be honest, he's kind of mad.

I have quite a few friends who really identified with the book and took something deep from it, on the other hand I didn't think it was as great as advertised. Then again, I never loved Steinbeck either (got some crap in English for that)... So maybe I just have weird tastes. That said, I can see how someone would really be influenced by it and can't fault the book, I just didn't care for it. Also, my friend has this awesome Catcher in the Rye t-shirt from Urban Outfitters, lol, so that's cool.

@DanSRose Just out of curiosity, do you own a handgun?

@DanSRose The shared space with my wife and our cats and all our books.

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SoulPancake

DanSRose

'If a body catch a body comin' through the rye.'

KimSP

Sara

Generick

I've always liked the title. .... Yeah, I should really read it sometime ....

colevi

rgordon7

I read it for the first time this past year and I think it's overrated. The story never goes anywhere.

calholli

Isn't that the book on "conspiracy theory"?... and the JFK shooter had it and all that... never read it... but the way you describe it, I guess I should...

Pastor

I actually hated it!

jedikelb

I didn't care for this book; I think it's over-rated. But I'm one of those folks who likes a plot, not just a character study. I disliked The Red Badge of Courage for the same reason.

partlycloudyholiday

I was shocked to listen to my teacher read it in class. We read Macbeth, then read this and I couldn't believe it was assigned writing. I adore it. I feel everyone can relate to Holden Caufield. At least, I hope everyone can and it's not just me, because to be honest, he's kind of mad.

krillinhazuki

zamfir

@DanSRose Just out of curiosity, do you own a handgun?

'If a body catch a body comin' through the rye.'

I've always liked the title. .... Yeah, I should really read it sometime ....

I read it for the first time this past year and I think it's overrated. The story never goes anywhere.

Isn't that the book on "conspiracy theory"?... and the JFK shooter had it and all that... never read it... but the way you describe it, I guess I should...

I actually hated it!

I didn't care for this book; I think it's over-rated. But I'm one of those folks who likes a plot, not just a character study. I disliked The Red Badge of Courage for the same reason.

I was shocked to listen to my teacher read it in class. We read Macbeth, then read this and I couldn't believe it was assigned writing. I adore it. I feel everyone can relate to Holden Caufield. At least, I hope everyone can and it's not just me, because to be honest, he's kind of mad.

@DanSRose Just out of curiosity, do you own a handgun?

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