Holden Caulfield-You have to love him (The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger)

Member Name: blossom

Product:	The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
Date:	13/08/00 (506 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A brilliant read

Disadvantages: It's sad!!

‘The Catcher In The Rye’ by J.D Salinger is as popular now as it was when first published 50 years ago. The story is told from the perspective of Holden Caulfield, an adolescent trying to come to terms with leaving behind his childhood and entering into the superficial and hypocritical world of adulthood. Holden’s depression and fears eventually lead to his nervous breakdown and it is after this breakdown that Holden looks back and tells his story.

As Holden recalls the events of his breakdown from his room in the psychiatric ward you will find yourself feeling like you know him personally. A typical adolescent, Holden is funny, crude, loveable, sensitive and extremely honest. It is Holden’s honesty that causes him to become an outsider. He meets a guy in a night club and tells the reader, “I’m always saying ‘Glad to’ve met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff”.

Often deceptively light-hearted this text approaches many serious issues and will captivate you from start to finish. The true test of a good book is how many times you can re-read it without getting bored. I’ve read ‘Catcher In The Rye’ three times and it gets better each time! You will become very attached to Holden, the innocent, and vulnerable hero of this superb book.

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