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So you should only read books that reflect your ethnic or socio-economic background that reflect your own reality?

If you're after myopic self-confirmation, there's always the web. Leave books behind. They're just making you angry.

Wow Michael, I didn't think that was the message my review was giving. Quite a lot of reading between lines there. I read the book. I didn't like it. I said why. Did you love it? If so tell me why. Are you as self absorbed and neurotic as the main character in Catcher in the Rye?

Yes, Mushy. I am unrepentant in my judgment of people like Holden. He is no hero of mine.

This book is held in high esteem by an educational establishment that holds it as a work of high literature. It is part of the canon, pinnacle of Eurocentric culture, that self glorifies to the exclusion of the rest of the world. In a world that is still very racist, I don't mind being sarcastic and somewhat alarming to those who are comfortable with the status quo. If my review caught your attention, that might not be such a bad thing. Perhaps you'll consider white privilege-- a phenomenon that is ubiquitous, and yet as invisible to most white people as the air they breathe.

Mushy,
I wonder why this conversation makes you too uncomfortable to continue. I find your perspective is interesting, and I don't think all white people are bad. 'm open minded enough to be married to a white person, and my children are as mixed racially as I am. Too bad you want to stop the discussion now.

I'm sorry you experienced a difficult time in school because of your race. You're certainly not alone there. I think you miss a tremendous point about Holden's position in life. You can think him enlightened for his disillusionment, but it is the luxury of one who doesn't have to struggle for his daily physical survival. I'm flattered that you think I had to use the dictionary to look up my words. It made me smile.
All the best to you. -Licia

yes its interesting thoughts, but i havent heard about how people changes life because of this story.

Wow. I am completely with you Licia!!
Hahaha. I loved your review, but even if I didn't why would I argue your opinion?
I am curious, why must people argue other people's reviews? It perplexes me!
Oh yeah, it's because we live in a culture of narcissism, and if someone else's point of view differs from the narcissist's, the narcissist must change that point of view to fit theirs.
Other people are just peripheral to the narcissistic individual. Oh wow, so maybe it is true, that the only people that like this crumby (ha!) rambling book are people that can relate to this Holden Caulfield. Spoiled, predominately white, little rich kids. Hahahahahahahaha!

You definitely hit the nail on the head when you called Holden "self-absorbed" and "self-pitying". It's by far the character trait that made me dislike him the most.

Mushy wrote: "I'm white but I'm not "privileged.""

This and that whole bit about reverse racism make me think you really, truly do not get it. Try harder next time.

yo yo dude...
like you know, i just dont get how exactly is the character growing on aand i think it just confuses me, and the guy from who i borrowed this book, i mean we both discussed this but could not really find any answer to what is rele going on with the dude. I am so going to ask this to our high school lit teacher. impressing.lol. no but seriously, i just dont know why, but the book makes me feel very confused. Probably i am trying to connect it to my life, imaginging more possibilities and just thinking too hard. What do yu guys think?

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 published.

Salinger tells you this is not 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.

Read my review of the book.

Remember that Holden was not part of the WASP "Establishment" himself, he was Irish. Even in 1951 that still carried the stigma of being an outsider.

What does the fact that he's white have to do with anything? and nowhere in the book does he say or even hint that he feels misunderstood. wtf. you missed the entire point.

wtf. you missed the entire point.

Yeah brah indeed.

Race is not the issue. To read a book like this you must get out of your own head and imagine being in the character's head.
This book didn't really change my life but I was glad to read a different book. I'm tired of reading cliche books where authors spell everything out for you.
I felt sympathy for Holden because time and time again he couldn't figure life out. He didn't know whether to accept childhood or adulthood. You missed the parts where Holden is reflecting. During the reflections I thought he began to understand where he stood in the world.

Ramel wrote: "Race is not the issue. "

Yeah brah, indeed, brah. Well said.

This is the best review of this book on this website.

I liked the book not because it had any particular message that resonated with me, but because as a teenager, I could recall instances where I was just as hypocritical, cynical, and yet (occasionally) insightful as Holden . Sure, Holden is a bit more glass half empty then myself, but I think this book perfectly captures the essence of a coming to age teenager with a sense of self-importance. It captures the feeling that you get when you are for the first time learning to think critically(however badly), challenging authority, and becoming disappointed when you realize the world isn't such a great place. And most of all, it captures the confusion a teenager like so feels when he/she examines how to fit into that world he/she deemed " phony"/" Evil"/whatever you want to call it.
I do understand that this book isn't for everyone. However, for me, I saw bits and pieces of myself throughout the entire book. You have no idea how I laughed out loud when Phoebe accused Holden of having no passion, because it's the same accusation often thrown at me from my family and friends. Now that I am getting older, I am learning to appreciate the world more and be grateful for what I have. You may have learned these lessons a lot earlier or maybe you were just born knowing them, but it's not the case with a lot of people. That's why a lot of people love this book. And that's why I love this book.

It's crumby when people tell you something isn't about race when obviously the character could only be white and it's ok to be sick about reading about white people, it really is. I'm white and these people and their white tears are the biggest phonies ever, they really are.

I hope you're being sarcastic...

Maybe you should have some history lessons. Do have any idea how life was for the majority of white people centuries ago? Was it so great? And was slavery for example just a "white uses black"issue? If you study history further you'd know that blacks used other blacks as slaves, whites other whites, whites blacks and the other way around. Only the use of black slaves in the usa happened more often and longer. Rich white have indeed colonised the rest of world, but also this is not a black vs white story where whites just bullied the blacks. Ordinary white haven't benefit from this a lot, while rich black people in the colonies often did. Next to racism, exploitation etc... there was also alliance/friendship and investment in those countries. Problems like poverty etc are also caused by other stuff like gender/race/political-issues which causes less time/money for education and yes, the writen word. How many are getting published in Africa/Middle East? And are white people responsible for it? Look at fabulous writers like Toni Morisson, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou... Don't they get praise from the so-called Eurocentric elite? I'm not even mentioning books like Uncle Tom's cabin... Black people only make 13 % of the USA, so it's pretty normal they're less presented in the canon. Actually I think you're pretty judgemental and obviously you think that's okay because some white people do it too. If you want to believe that every white person was/is rich or middle-class and every black is poor or being discriminated by whites all the time that's your right, but come on... Plus: can't someone who's rich and not discriminated can't have other problems? Depression, loneliness, etc happens to everyone. Why can't look through race anyway? That being said, I don't like the book either. I do understand why it belongs to the canon. It remarks the life of young boy who feels lonely in his life because people around him are phony and all they care for is appearance etc. Which can be painful for every teenager. Also his brother did from cancer and he feels left behind by his older brother. He runs away from everything, which is off course a wrong reaction, and something the writer is trying to explain to the reader. The metaphore he's using is actually quite good. What I didn't like about the book where the characters (too flat) and the writing (too whiny). So I my opinion it would't be good enough for being a real classic, but that counts for a lot of them (also a few "black ones" or some with other subjects). I loved Alice Walker's The Color Purple, but wasn't blown away by I know why caged birds sing. Sometimes a certain book doesn't get through... Just don't get why have to involve race in this and why it's so difficult for you to understand depression (because it's a white person)...

I agree with this review. When i was a spoiled white teen in the 70's Holden Caufield was my hero. Now that my son has to read this book in the multicultural 2016 world of trickle down economics, Caufield makes me sick to my stomach. What a spoiled brat he is!

Agreed. I couldn't stand Holden Caulfield. He was irritating, whiny and disingenuous. His story reminded me of people who feel the need to make themselves victims because they feel guilty about being wealthy/white/whatever. I couldn't stand the way he spoke. It made it so hard to get through the book. Holden was simply a dropout who thought himself too special and unique to fit in with the rest of the world- as if he was the only one who had problems.

I don’t understand how race has anything to do with this, you think just because he was born rich he has no feelings worth anything. Reality is Im no rich white kid either but I loved every bit of it. Reminded me of my childhood and the stupidest things that could break me down.

I agree with you, Licia. Holden portrays universal teenage rebellion and snark, but is a shallow character in quite favorable circumstances. He lacks any clear purpose and direction, like the plot. His *ss is saved, sheltered and supported just by the very structures he despises. Not by himself. A phony.

I agree Holden's character is superficial and he rebels against the only structures that protect him - rich family, notorious school, society... like a phony. He's not self-reliant. His problems are universal, but few and superficial, compared to what the rest of the world is facing. He's a cliche upper middle white class boyo. So yes, this story is overrated. It may have been cool and a big deal back in the day, but it no longer is.

Reviews like this completely miss the point that Holden is an adolescent going through a mental breakdown over the death of his younger brother that he has yet to get over, as well as being sent away by his family and suppressing sexual assault he faced as a child. Holden’s problems aren’t caused by his race and to simplify it as such shows a deep lack of critical thinking.

It's funny because just under this review there was a bunch of positive five star reviews written in Arabic, so I dunno what to think now!

Completely agree with Jacob M. How dumb of people who don't see this simple point! Lol!

I love the fact that I was a young middle class white girl and it was required reading in my middle class high school and I would not finish the book because it was such an unappealing profanity laced book about someone I didn't like and the author of this comment was a non middle class, non white and had the same opinion I did. To me, you learn nothing from reading about someone like this. All I learned was how little respect I have for the opinions of the school system and English teachers who attempted to foist their viewpoint of the what kids should learn on a whole generation of kids and parents. This is one of those books that pushed me away from an interest in literature and English. That and the fact so many English teachers found Hemingway a must read. another author I have no interest in what so ever

jacob, i think you should put trigger warnings at the beginning of your comment.

I grew up white and middle class, but I totally agree. This was just a spoiled brat complaining about the same dumb things over and over and over again. I have no idea why we were forced to read it as kids.

Oh boohoo. So because he’s a white dude he can’t be sad over his family member dying? The author is white, no shit he’s going to write from the POV of a white guy. Writing from the perspective of a POC he knows nothing about would be offensive.

I agree with your claim on the aggravating nature of Holden Caulfield, especially from the point of view of a hard-working American from a racial background different from the general populace. Although Holden is annoying, his nature and tone give the book its merit. Through his voice, we see the depression he experiences. By picking apart his dialogue, the reader finds themes regarding many controversial ideas regarding adulthood. Through analyzing the book, we find meaning behind Colden’s words. I agree that at face value, this book is bad. However, by recognizing the challenging themes revealed in the text, the novel gains meaning. The book isn't written for comedic, sympathetic, or cultural reasons. It is used to display the hardships of teenagers facing trauma and transition into adulthood. I wouldn't recommend this book purely for entertainment purposes. Despite this, the literary value is impressive, especially towards teenagers who are in some way related to Holden.

You know this thing where people say ✨not like other girls�? Holden is ✨not like other boys� 😂 the drama of this kid. I’m reading this and I have a separate tab for things that made me laugh and things where he just fucks shit up for himself. Trying not to read this too seriously, because it’s more fun as satire. The upper middle class white male teenage angst Salinger captured is actually quite impressive, until you start thinking it’s maybe one giant self insert

I feel SO seen!! Thank you so much for writing this review, it perfectly encapsulates how I feel about this ""masterpiece"".