The Catcher in the Rye â€� Reader Q&A

Questions About The Catcher in the Rye

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Answered Questions (110)

Am i the only person who fails to understand why this book is considered a classic, to me it was boring and tedious and the plot failed to engross me as many other books have?

Jean Cole It's not about the story. It's about the context of the story.

We have to consider it in the context of the era in which this book was released. The erâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðIt's not about the story. It's about the context of the story.

We have to consider it in the context of the era in which this book was released. The era is post-WWII America. We had just defeated two evil empires, and our soldiers were coming Home Sweet Home to their happy-to-be-housewives and their 2.5 kids who were to be seen and not heard.

Readers who were born and brought up after the 1960s don't realize what a revolution occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. Today being a free spirit and expressing your individuality is celebrated and encouraged. In those days you were expected to (as I was told) "Do as I say, not as I do." That may sound outrageous and unreasonable but it was, in fact, exactly what was accepted as good parenting.

And here we have 1) a main character who curses constantly, and unashamedly rejects the values of his parents and society in general and 2) a narrative style that is casual and conversational. These two factors were shocking and dismaying to some, refreshing and delightful to others.

And so Holden became a hero to some. Not in the conventional sense of the word, but because people related to him and they sympathized with the way he felt. He personified all that was wrong with society. If you don't go along, if you don't play the game, then the vast machine that is society will knock you down and even lock you away. Holden is not intended to be a hero in the conventional sense of the word. He is a tragic victim of the crappy world in which he has no control and where no one understands him.

I imagine that in 1951, when this was published, there were those who said "Yes! It's about time someone was honest!" and there were those who exclaimed "What is this world coming to?" There was change coming, that's for sure. This book was just one sign of the impending cultural revolution. That's why it's a classic. Think of it as a brick in the foundation of the revolution to come.(less)

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What is the message of this book?what am I going to know after reading this book after all of rude words and phrases(in comparison to other Novels I'v read)?Why should I know all this useless information about different characters who don't have any effect on the story(if I could find any special story also)?

Monika PrzegaliÅ„ska I think, it is about saving innocence, which is also a symbol of childhood. Holden simply wants to save his little sister (and other kids) from procesâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI think, it is about saving innocence, which is also a symbol of childhood. Holden simply wants to save his little sister (and other kids) from process of adolescence and future adulthood. Hi wants to be "Catcher in the rye" - the man who saves children from falling, falling into the adulthood.
In my opinion it's not about that Holden does'nt want to grow up, he know that ge is growing up right now and he sees how painful and hard it is, so he wants to protect ever little kid from what he finds so harmful.
Just a subjective opinion:) (less)

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Why do teachers still assign this book? It is the worst story I have ever read. Not the writing style, but the story line. Plus, my son is mentally stressed by the horrible language in this and other assignments this year (sophomore in HS). Also, it is not about rebellion, it is about a spoiled lazy rich kid with a bad attitude who blames everyone else for his bad choices. Idiot.

Melinda The heart of Catcher in the Rye is that Holden is mourning the loss of his innocence. He finds himself straddling the world of childhood, where the muâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðThe heart of Catcher in the Rye is that Holden is mourning the loss of his innocence. He finds himself straddling the world of childhood, where the museum displays stay the same and your baby brother is still alive, cracking up at the dinner table â€”Â and the world of adulthood, where there are F-bombs in bathroom stalls and no one wants to have a real conversation.

The sense of grief and alienation that come with such a transition are, I think, what many people â€� especially teenagers â€”Â find so touching and relatable about this story.(less)

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I am halfway through the book. And boy I like it. The prose seems not be very phony and yet is very intriguing and all. Completely knocks me out. Okay, I am sorry for such a horrible attempt at sounding like Holden. Was I the only one who found the sumptuous repetition of these few words awkward?

Ron Bravenec It is the typical phrasing of an adolescent, even today. As Annie Belyak points out, it is amazing considering the author was an adult.

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Anyone catch on that we're the shrink in this book?

Ron Bravenec Don't think so. In the last chapter Holden states "A lot of people, especially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here ..." This implies (to me) thaâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðDon't think so. In the last chapter Holden states "A lot of people, especially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here ..." This implies (to me) that he is simply talking to the reader.(less)

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