RateItAll: The Opinion Network

I didn't think it was as "classic" as everyone says it is, but it was a nice read. I liked it.

It amazes me that a single short book like Catcher in the Rye can have such a profound impact. Salinger wrote almost nothing else of lasting value (yeah, some of his short stories are OK, but they aren't classics), and yet he is consistently rated as one of the most popular U.S. authors ever. It's very easy to argue that more prolific American authors (e.g., Twain, Hemingway, Fitzgerald) should be revered above Salinger. But it's impossible to dispute the simple truth that Catcher in the Rye touches a raw nerve that eludes all but a few other modern novels. And Salinger's mysterious personal life makes him an even more interesting character. His status as a recluse is legendary. And I have yet to read a good analysis of Salinger's feelings about Eastern religions. It's clear from Catcher in the Rye that he has been influenced by Buddhism, but critics don't seem to write about that very much. Also, I'd be very curious to know if it's true that he's been writing and hiding manuscript after manuscript since the publication of Catcher. What a scene it would be if we suddenly discover that Salinger has written 20 unpublished novels...

You should have been going to school in the fifties when this came out. Many monkeys who taught any kind of comp or writing class had the poor suckers under their thumb writing essays about Holden Caulfield and teenage angst. My advice to you. Avoid at all costs and if forced to read, start drinking heavily before picking up the book. I only suggest legal substances but I'm sure some of you could look to your other alternatives before you would be forced to read this tripe.

This was pretty bad.... the author was talented enough, but he wrote about a spoiled loser who gets wasted and buys a girl. Wait a minute..... there isnt any plot! When is he actually in a big problem that gets resolved at the end? Maybe.... never? The title had almost nothing to do with the novel, other than Holden's pedo dream job of catching children. And the story has many holes in it. It is enphasized that he looks older than he is, but every single time he tries something, for some reason nobody takes notice of that. Holden even had to point out to the mom on the bus that he had grey hair. I mean, teens always have grey hair, anybody could miss that. The girl he buys knows his age too. He calls everyone phoney, but he himself is phoney. The book makes no sense whatsoever funkytommyman

I first heard of this novel from the Greenday song Who wrote Holden Caulfield?, it sounded interesting so I purchased it this year. I am still in the process of reading it, but am almost done. This novel is hilarious. Kudos to Jd Salinger, he is one gifted writer. When this novel was written, some of the profanity, and lewd innuendos would have been considered just that, lewd. Jd Salinger did not care what the public thought, he wrote what he wanted to and had the courage to do so. Holden Caulfield is one hilarious character, even though he is fictional, he reminds me so much of myself.

I really take a beating for this one- but Catcher is very overrated. Holden is a loser who doesn't fit and takes it out on the world. Yes, the world is unfair. . .yes, the world judges you by appearance. . .give me a break. Holden should have done something, anything, except whine. A novel about some twerp who isn't tough enough to hack it in the world? (YAWN!) My nerdy Literature-friends always give me a verbal beat down for this one. The wife also gets defensive.

Good but not great. It was given higher status becuase of crazies that said they killed because of it. I had never heard of the book before Hinkley and the guy who killed Lennon.

I think the book was excellent. I notice people dislike its lack of a real plot but thats what makes it so real. Life is not some planned event. There are ups and downs. Salinger did this beautifully. I wish more authors would have been more hard hitting instead of constantly diving us into this fantasy world.

Years ago, the key word for me when I read this book was phonies. Today Salinger's word remains as true as ever - the world IS a cruel and superficial place.

This book depresses me a little. Holden has some serious emotional problems, but salindger still manages to make him likable, mostly because he is striving to protect an innocence that he has lost. Good book, but not the landmark in literature that some make it out to be.

I thought this was a tremendous book when I was eighteen. I've read it twice since, and I am far less impressed.

One of the few books I would desribe as 'life-altering'.

I remember reading this as a teenager years ago. because we had to. and then another 25 years later. It is a pretty good book about a teenager at a crossroads in his life. After being kicked out of yet another private school, Holden is on his way home with the dread of telling his parents. He is an unhappy teen not knowing what he wants with his life.A book written over 50 years ago can still stand today.I have a teenage daughter who just had to read this for her high school.{she thought it was boring}.Not one of my favorites, but pretty good.

Personally, I hated this one. It was an easy read with a good theme, but it had no plot. It just kind of rambles on, I hate my life... I hate my life... Oh, I guess life isn't that bad. Yeah, I get the theme, but a book has to have a plot to make the theme effective.

I didn't mind this book at all. I can see the symbolism,and I think that it is something most of us can relate to at one point or other,but I can also understand how it can be a little bit off-putting and annoying. Myself, I found Holden a bit over bearing,like so many teenage boys I know. But I think the quote used in the book by Wihelm Stekel marks a pivital point in Holdens conscience and the quote goes as follows:'The mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.' This presents Holden with what he is and what he has to become in order move along in his life. The duck pond is also a fascinating use of symbolism for society. He asks himself, and later the cab driver where they all go,the ducks that is,in winter when the lake has frozen over,which is Holden questioning his place in society. Very interesting really. So many GD's,almost drove me insane!

Its not great. It has its moments, but there are parts in it that are boring and anount to nothing. Holden was a good character the way he was a cynical teenager, but sometimes he went off topic for too long. It was annoying, even though that's the point.

This is hands down the best book I have ever read! This is such a philosophical thought-provoking book! I love it! I think every school should teach this book in grade 12!

over-rated. Why is it so great? Holden freaks me out.

I'm gonna give it 4 stars just because it is pretty entertaining. I could have done without all the GDs in it though. It's kind of a weird book though because it's interesting, yet it's really hard to point out what exactly is interesting about it; I dunno, hard to explain.....

I found this book of the utmost interest and felt i could really relate to the character...a story about growing up and learning to believe in yourself. The story tended to drag at some points and at times you grow a dislike toward the character. but all in all it was a good book.