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On the Road is worse.

“Classic' - a book which people praise and don't read.�� ~Mark Twain

Anyway, the only reason it's considered a classic in the eyes of High Schools everywhere is because it's a "Stream of Consciousness" and got banned in many places. The second almost guarantees its place as a "classic." Combined with the first, it clinches it for high schools.

YAY. Someone else who does not understand why idiotic, pessimistic books are considered everybody-has-to-read-this CLASSICS.

I agree with you all of you beautiful people!

I just wanted to say that I love that shelf name. "characters are half-troll". Hilarious!

hahaha I couldn't agree with you more.

I agree - Holden the vile, spoilt little brat - classic? I think not. Very one dimensional, no depth at all.

FYI: a left-handed mitt would fit the right hand.

Thank you, Chin....I was also disgusted by the comparison to Bella Swan.
Maybe I'm weird, but I enjoy reading about characters that aren't perfect and completely likeable. Most people aren't!
Also...does a book have to have a "lesson"? Can't it just be a story??

i couldn't agree more! :P God the book was SO dull...a total waste of time and money :/

Rebecca:
He's not likable- and he's not supposed to be. People aren't likable, at least, not if you were to hear their thoughts and be able to read their story from a first-person standpoint. The point is that he's relatable.
He's a hypocrite, but knows it. He hates the society that forces him to act certain ways, but acts them anyways. I don't know of a single person who hasn't gone through that. Just like I don't know of a single person who hasn't gone through the experience of being scared shitless of growing up, but also waiting for it to happen so that finally, FINALLY, someone will listen to you.

I thought it was quite endearing, yes the character was quite a hater, but he's spunky, honest and sarcastic. He is the type of boy people wonder about, you know, lost without a sense of purpose in life and really not that bothered about taking an effort in doing anything so it's intriguing to read his mind and how it ticks. Naturally he needs to grow up, and you hope he gets there, because he is quite good-natured (eg: wanting to have a chat with the prostitute instead of actually sleeping with her). All in all Holden is an interesting character, who reminds you of those delinquents in school who you found hopeless but curious what they are so preoccupied about. You learn that they are merely depressed and think differently.

So i am not nearly as eloquent as i could be with these book reviews, but if i have something positive to say i think i get my point across. The same with negative reviews. I absolutely detested this book. I only read it because i was curious as to the title and it's meaning, and it looked like a quick, easy read. It was neither. Also, the title was as pointless as Holden's entire "adventure", and it never really did make sense. I still have no idea what a "catcher in the rye" is, or where the heck the author came up with such an idea. So to summarize, i agree with the above.

Try reading it again in a few years time...maybe when you're say, 12 years old. You may then appreciate what a brilliant book it is.

You know, insulting people isn't really going to convince them to like the books you like.

Terrible review

I absolutely loved this book, but I completely understand why many people are confused as to why anyone would enjoy this book.

You have to understand the audience that enjoys this book. If you can't relate to them, then you can't relate to the book. Some people are just tired of the same repeated story of the good guy winning against the bad guy. This book follows no tradition or archetypes of other books.

For me, this was a breath of fresh air. All the stories that my friends were reading all seemed to be around the same exact story just with different character names.

Because the story has no overall message, moral, or really specific plot, it felt less like I was reading garbage written by some author trying to get the most money out of a story that has already been done to death, and more like I was talking to someone.

The language and vocabulary is nowhere near formal, which causes absolutely no confusion as to what is happening. Obviously for some people, this is close to mind-numbing. Dialogue or vocabulary that is too simple for some people is just that; too simple.

For other people (such as myself) it was the one thing that got me to keep reading. I love when authors use metaphors and similes, creating a great story that gets you to think about it, but not all the time.

In summary, you are absolutely right. This book had no lesson to learn, no meaning, but that's exactly why I love it.

How in the WORLD does the fact that Holden was going to tell you about Allie's type of red hair mean he's STUPID??? Ok, you weren't interested (but I was), but that doesn't make him stupid...

ALSO: Holden's attitude? He hates everyone because HE'S afraid of being hurt. He thinks that if he dislikes them first, they can't hurt him. He isolated himself because he's so afraid of being rejected. And another reason: HIS LITTLE BROTHER DIED OF CANCER. HIS FRIEND COMMITTED SUICIDE. If that doesn't make you messed up, what does?

And finally: the point of the story. Holden doesn't want to let go of his childhood (he's "Holden" on to childhood). He's literally frightened of growing up. But over the course of the few days the story takes place during, he realizes that he HAS to grow up. The book is a bulidingsroman.

You obviously can't relate to the book, so you hate it. People like it BECAUSE they can relate to it. END OF STORY.

And how DARE you compare Holden Caufield with Bella Swan?

a classic book does not need to teach a lesson learned, as you suggest.

The Catcher in the Rye is about WW2. It is a story within a story. Holden (which is the name of a car) is just a vehicle to "understand" the WW2. See my review. When you understand that Salinger couldn't say what he knew about this war so he wrote it as a children's book... Just like Felix Salten in Bambi (not the Disney version) which is probably why Salinger didn't get his made into a movie.

Salinger tells you this is nit a David Copperfield story. So don't read it like it is about Holden. Hint: look at the first page of David Copperfield to understand "Caiulfields" name.

I hope you will reread it again. This time when you get to the Merry go round play the music Salinger said was playing, and see if that makes sense or if he is using this book to tell you about money, power and war.

Synesthesia wrote: "On the Road is worse."

Love both books!

Redolent wrote: "Terrible review"

Thanks.

Dave wrote: "Try reading it again in a few years time...maybe when you're say, 12 years old. You may then appreciate what a brilliant book it is."

Gee, thanks. That really motivated me to reread this book.

Chin wrote: "Normally I understand when people hate this book, but what I don't like is that you've compared him to Bella Swan.

We can all agree that Twilight is the epitome of indulgent fantasy, with the girl..."

I honestly was not trying to be mean by picking on small things. It's just that it's what I noticed about the book that annoyed me. A lot of people enjoyed this book, I understand. However, I just did not appreciate it. Maybe I will read it after a few years and I might like it.

Adele wrote: "How in the WORLD does the fact that Holden was going to tell you about Allie's type of red hair mean he's STUPID??? Ok, you weren't interested (but I was), but that doesn't make him stupid...

ALSO..."

He is stupid because he does not need to explain every thought he has. It's pretty much redundant. And I can do whatever I want, whether that be making a comparison to a character or disliking the writing style. It's my opinion. =)

Sorry to hear you did not like it. I liked it but it is not one of my favorites . It is always nice to read different opinions. Tnx for the review

Great review! This was a school assigned book for me and I remember not caring for it. Holden was such a bland careless protagonist. Love your honest thoughts on it, very insightful. I can see you are being attacked for it which is a shame. Why folks take the time out to post on others reviews to shame them because they disagree I will never understand.

Haleema wrote: "Adele wrote: "How in the WORLD does the fact that Holden was going to tell you about Allie's type of red hair mean he's STUPID??? Ok, you weren't interested (but I was), but that doesn't make him s..."

I accept that the story wasn't your style of writing, but Holden did have to explain every thought he had- that was the point of the story. To say he's stupid for doing so is not accurate, you just did not like the book. That's fine. It is still a classic and well written.

All of your criticisms are the point of the book. It's a portrait of being a teen, and teens often see everyone as fake, unreliable, mean, or old. Also, Holden using the passive voice is on purpose. It's supposed to be how a teenager thinks and talks.

I just wrote a post in the discussion group called Breaking The Code to the Catcher in the Rye about the record by Little Shirley Bean.

Totally love the part when you say he is male Bella Swan :D

well, different people have different point of view. But I suggest that if you read it again, you may find how wonderful this book is.

I might read it again! I was honestly very young when I first read it and most likely did not understand it.

Noooooo, there are so many deeper motifs and themes in this book that speaks volumes to people because everyone can identify a time in their lives when they felt like everyone was against them and the sense of loneliness and isolation. Its a great book and if you can't find the meaning behind it, look on Sparknotes and you'll start to understand why it is such a great book (however, i find Holden's character unrelatable but uses the typical teenage dialogue)

I am re-reading this as an adult to see if it improves with maturity. It doesn't and remains as insipid as ever.

Frances wrote: "I am re-reading this as an adult to see if it improves with maturity. It doesn't and remains as insipid as ever."

Lol! I don't know. I am still tempted to read this once again to see if my opinion of it changes but a lot of people are telling me it's still the same. I'm just going to read it again!

Frances wrote: "I am re-reading this as an adult to see if it improves with maturity. It doesn't and remains as insipid as ever."

Give an example. What would have made this book better, as far as you are concerned? What did you hate the most?

Rebecca wrote: "First of all, I wasn't the one who argued that he was likable or was supposed to be likable. Someone else (above) made that claim. To me, the fact that he was designed specifically to be the most o..."
The joke was that the references went over your head because they were written for a different generation and because the educational system wants to make you read it in a literal sense rather than a political allegorical. If you knew that to truely understand the book you would neednto listen to the songs mentioned, look up the names and build a context to read and understand the book i think you would have come away with a richer experience. Unfortunately, most people do not have time to do thie and lack the context that the generation it was written for had available to them, without all this work. Another words Little Shirley....Temple would have been the natural reference and her first film was Stand Up and Cheer. A movie that promoted going to war to get out of the depression...and so the reference to the football game, the english job and I hate the movies would have made more sense as well. At least it made a huge difference for me.

I started a group about the Catcher if you are interested message me.

I love your gif

I hate your gif

Don't bother rereading it as an adult . It's ridiculous.

It's a generational thing

Petra wrote: "I hate your gif"

Thank you.

This is another prime example of why I HATED reading assigned books in school. I seriously thought something was wrong with me when I couldn't even finish a chapter. Ugh. This one was among quite a few I didn't get the big deal over.

ETA: Nice honest review. For those making it extremely personal with nasty comments? Lay off. Get a grip. It's not that serious.

Whoa there. I think this review is wonderfully honest and amusing. It takes great strength to be honest IMHO. But, this comments section, it just takes the cake. All y'all really think that being condescending and antagonizing is the way to win people over *slow clap*

The fact that you don't like the first paragraph shows that this book is not for you. I was immediately attracted by the first few pages of this book

If it were a fully-formed adult character with no quirks, I'd say yeah that's no way to start off a novel.

I would say Holden off-kilter grammar speaks to his youth, his personality and to how difficult it is for him to express himself, for reasons we figure out towards the end of the book.

I just finished reading this book. I wonder why it is so popular in English speking folks. I could not reach the logic behind that. Though it does contain afew witty quotes worth remembering.

its all about the contect of the time it was written