The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

There’s a rebel in all of us. Whether we loosen the chains that bind our inner rebel to bars of conformity, or add more locks to secure and obscure its existence from prying judgmental eyes is completely up to us. Yet its lingering, internal gnawing is real, and indubitably present. And that rebel is perfectly compacted in Holden Caulfield, the wannabe catcher in the rye.

Author: J. D. Salinger (Jerome David Salinger)

Released: 1951

One of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923, a 2005 Time Magazine list

Synopsis

Trust me when I say that the storyline of this book is not the main course, but a medium, a sterling plate where the meat is served. 

Holden Caulfield is a problematic middle child who doesn’t like anything much, conceited but perceptive, at least for his own good. Kicked out from Pencey school, Holden, out of whim, which pretty much sums up his decision-making, packs his bag and sets off for the streets of New York. 


With an erratic come what may to-do-list, Holden goes from dancing with a good dancer, drinking with a smarty, listening to phonies, talking with a prostitute to arguing with his date. Holden shares his take on every person, situation, or place he goes to, even with the ducks in Central Park. He practically hates everything, except for his brothers Allie and D.B., his sister Phoebe, one of the very few whose words get through to him, and English, his best subject.

Reading Experience

Catcher in the Rye is one of the most criticized classic novels. Those who have lived during its original release would have full appreciation of the controversy it caused. Any reader planning to read this book should know how it was during the 1950’s in America. It was the height of conservatism, of conforming to societal norms, of being like everyone else.

Salinger’s presentation is through the opinionated mind of teenager Holden Caulfield, who speaks in teenage slang. Reviews say that Holden represents the American teenager in the 1950’s, who are sick of all the phonies of their time. But like every good novel and personified character, Holden’s thoughts transgress race, era and age as I found myself nodding, agreeing to his notions despite disagreeing with some. It has reflected most issues which threatens pillars of tradition and conventional thinking, most of which are very much alive up to this day.

Once Holden is introduced, you’ll learn his attitude. You might even defend it from the other characters who disapprove of his behavior, which is probably a common trait for those acquainted with liberty and individuality. But eventually, ‘it’ll grow on you and old Holden’ will seem ridiculous. He is not a round character like what most novels are populated with. He may not change, but the reader’s opinion of him will. For me, it changed from enjoying his company and his relative derision, to a point of concern but not towards distaste.

As for other characters, their purpose is to be critiqued by the protagonist. Most of them are insignificant, except for a very select few. There are characters you won’t meet during the course of the story but Holden speaks about them liberally.

Also, expect an open ending. You are free to think what happens to Holden and Phoebe, not to mention Mr. Antolini. You can end it any way you want to, a ‘whatever-makes-you-sleep-better-at-night’ thing.

The Catcher in the Rye’s title originated from a misheard version of the poem through the Rye by Robert Burns. Holden dreams of catching falling children coming through the rye. What he doesn’t realize is, he is falling too, and it was his sister, Phoebe, who effectively caught him at midfall. It captured the challenging coming-of-age process of reconciling the innocence of childhood with the demands of adulthood—all children must go through the ‘rye’.

In Conclusion

Like every review I chuck out, I always say that it’s not for everyone, no one novel is. But Catcher in the Rye is really not for everyone, ‘and I mean it, I really do’. It is told in an unorthodox manner, and ended uniquely. Its unorthodox quality is the definite reason for its significance.

And though it isn’t for everyone, especially those who enjoy the safety in numbers and loves conservatism, I still recommend picking it up, to at least realize where the contempt is coming from, a good reminder of how troublesome it was as a teenager, for those who have forgotten.

Today’s reader may find it droning at times, I know I did. So just put it down, do something else, then pick it up again. It is necessarily repetitive, enough to emphasize and highlight Holden’s attitude in familiar or unfamiliar situations. You may reach the point where you can predict how he would perceive something, but you won’t be able to predict how the plot goes, which threw me off-guard, ‘to be honest with you’.

I guess I’ll leave it there. And yes, you should read it, ‘it’ll kill you, I swear it will’.