The Catcher in the Rye

The first book I read when I was young that I finally understood so much symbolism

2.5/5
Quite boring. Either you identify with the main character, or you don’t. I certainly didn’t. I often find myself liking unlikeable main characters, but this one was exceptionally annoying—doesn't like anyone, makes fun of everything, lacks self-awareness, calls every person phony even though he’s just like them, and his thoughts are immature (at least he is aware of that), repetitive, banal, and infuriating. But I can admit that at least he ...read more

I had no love for this book for the majority of me reading it. Until I finished it. I had realized it was actually a sad story of a boy not knowing how to ask for help with his mental illness. He takes you through a few days of basically a mental breakdown he’s having, and no one is there for him. The only way he knows how to describe wanting help is by describing how 1000 children are playing in a rye field and he stands by a cliff making sure t...read more

Once, again, I'm not sure what the fuss is about. I get why the book made it to so many banned books lists. The language must have seemed scandalous in 1945. But why this 1st person stream of conciousness tirade against society is high literature evades me. Honestly. I get the allusions to modern society and the thinly veiled warnings against consumerism. And I generally love a good coming of age - teen angst novel, but watching Holden self d...read more

Omg I hated this book. Literally has no plot and is extremely boring. I had to force myself to finish this