The Catcher in the Rye

Product Details

Author : J.D. Salinger
Binding : Paperback
EAN : 9780140237504
Edition : Revised edition
Number of Pages : 208
Product Group : Book
Publication Date : 1994-08-04
Publisher : Penguin Books Ltd

ASIN : 014023750X

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Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

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 16-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 haemorrhages 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. --Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk Review

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 16-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 haemorrhages 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. --Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

I honestly didn't understand the praise.... (2008-09-25)

So I read it again. As such it's the only book I didn't enjoy first time round (as a sixteen year old) which I have ever reread. Rereading as a thirty year old did not change my opinion.The book has nothing of interest to say. The inane ramblings and tirades of a cynical and bitter little rich kid do not a good novel make. Holden doesn't appear to learn anything over the course of his journey and all I learnt over the course of 200 nauseating pages was that not all "classics" of literature warrant their place.

Loved it. (2008-09-18)

I simply adore this book, I purchased it with To Kill a Mockingbird, as I thought it's always on lists of those books to read before you die, so why not I thought to myself. And of course, I'm not male and just out of my teen years, but I did relate. I disagree with the critical commets that some customers have said like the main character Holden 'should get over himself', I think most teenagers at Holdens age are slightly self obsessed and have the me againat the world attitude, even if they would care not to admit it, I definitely did have that attitude. And for a book that was written in the 1940's it certainly has aged well, it feels quite modern actually. The book doesn't really have a plot and it doesn't need it either, written in the first person narrative, Holden tells us the events set over only a few days, which occured a year ago. This is definielt a book worth re-reading, and this is from a person who really doesn't return to a book once it has been read.

One of the best books I have ever read (2008-08-30)

I'm so sorry to see all the people on here who were disappointed by The Catcher In The Rye. When I first read it aged 13 I was unaware of its cult status and so just had average expectations. Indeed at the time I only really liked the character of Holden, less so the book itself. Having re-read it twice since however (I am now 18) I can honestly say it's one of the best books I have ever read. While I originally sided with the main character, now I'm able to see all his flaws and inconsistencies and love him all the more. As far as I'm concerned this is not so much a book for teenagers as one for anyone who's suffered from depression and disillusionment with the world around them. Anyway I won't take up any more of your time - I only hope you will make the effort to get this book and see past its sometimes negative image. And for those who didn't like it first time, I highly recommend a second reading. The only character I can think of who reveals more depth than Holden is Hamlet himself.

Worth reading twice in your lifetime at least. (2008-08-09)

I first read this book way back in the late 70's. More luck then judgement I used to play a game where I would go to my local library in South Ockendon and just go over to the fiction section and take any book off the shelve and read it. Worked quite well as I would never have selected this title and at that time, when I was in my early 20's I had never heard of it.I read the book over the week initially determined to finish it, but after a few chapters keen to see where the book would lead. I loved it and felt compelled to read other J.D. Salinger titles. I don't think I found any however.The book is now infamous due to Mark Chapman's association with it. I suppose any publicity to get people to read a classic however is good news and I know that this book did have an impact on me. This is only one of a few books I have read twice. The first time, I was vert excited by it and recommended it to everyone I new who wanted to read a good book. The second time I read it was about 15 years later and it again had a great impact on me in that I felt very grained by its storyline and the unfairness which affects the main character Holden Caulfield. However, the book again did make me feel something and I reckon thats a good indication of how well this book is written.Maybe the book isn't for those who who don't like negative endings, but all in all a book worth reading at least twice.

A classic! (but not for the depth of its story) (2008-07-14)

I didn't know what to think at first after I finished reading The Catcher in the Rye, I really didn't. Fundamentally, and perhaps rather controversially (because it has such a positive following), I didn't really like the novel as much as I thought I would. I thought that the story was weak, that the plot was largely uneventful, and I was left wondering why so much `evangalising' of this novel? That was my initial thoughts, but once I'd determined that the purpose of this novel was not to deliver an enthralling action-packed story, my opinion began to change and I realised that Catcher in the Rye does have something a bit special about it. That `something special' is in the characterisation of the chief protagonist, 16 year old Holden Caulfield, a youth teetering on the edge of manhood.

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