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Jade asked this question about The Catcher in the Rye:
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?
Franceseattle It has been many decades since I read it, but I know that it failed to leave any valuable or positive impression on me. It was merely one of those man…mǰIt has been many decades since I read it, but I know that it failed to leave any valuable or positive impression on me. It was merely one of those many tiresome books about unpleasant people and situations I was required to read in high school. The people who have compiled these lists, at least 60-80 years ago, reveal their own point of view in their choices, likely members of the camp of people who believe that only depressing stories adequately reflect "reality" and therefore the most unpleasant, most negative, most "shocking" works of writing will be deemed of serious worth. Since most people are afraid of not looking sufficiently intelligent in the eyes of the educational-system elites, they'll just go along. It's the story of the Emperor's New Clothes in yet another setting. Who knows whether we'll still be reading this 100 years from now, the way we still read and perform Shakespeare, or read John Donne, Milton, Dickens, etc. The academic establishments that set out these reading lists are also people susceptible themselves to changing trends. It would be a good thing periodically to re-examine whether everything currently considered a "classic" really merits the title. (less)
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The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
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