Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a novel that follows Holden Caulfield's sudden expulsion from his all-boy prep academy. After being kicked out, Holden embarks on a three-day journey through New York City, where he meets various people who reflect his inner turmoil. Throughout the novel, Holden grapples with themes of identity and loss of childhood.
I remember last summer my sister and a friend of ours were discussing Catcher in the Rye. All I heard were words and phrases that consisted of: “boring”, “plotless”, “just a struggling teenager”, and the list could go on. Thus, I approached the novel with low expectations, expecting a pretentious classic devoid of substance. But after diving into the words of J.D Salinger, let’s just say…boy how was I wrong!
A week ago, I never knew I would’ve referred to this book as my favorite book of all time. Is it weird to say that somehow a part of me slowly fell in love with Holden? Personally, I don’t think so. Holden voiced all my internal dilemmas–“How is so much expected from a child?”, “How can adults mentally bear such unhappy jobs?”, “How do I become financially stable and content?”. Through his journey, Holden embodied the adolescent perspective of struggling to accept the transition to adulthood. He wandered through the streets of New York City and reconnected with people from his past in an attempt to find stability in his life. Although some might consider this a futile effort, it offered Holden one stable aspect: his values.
Holden's biggest fear was the phoniness of adulthood. He feared getting stuck in a monotonous job or living a simple life. He desired passion, love, and spontaneity: factors that render life fruitful. One of my favorite aspects of Holden’s character is his ability to encapsulate a variety of emotions in simple phrases like “That just about killed me.” I remember he used that phrase when he was angry, depressed, and content. The complexity of such a simple phrase!!
My deep fondness for Holden definitely stems from a cognitive bias. I saw a version of myself in his thinking process and related to his struggles. While some might find him distasteful, I think Holden is authentic. His use of swear words, cigarettes, and pointless conversations are ways to tune out reality. He represents the angsty teenage factors that we often try to avoid. This doesn't make him insensitive or rude. Instead, he's an emotionally vulnerable guy who's lost in the abyss of adolescence.
Upon browsing a Goodreads review, @Vit Babenco said “When you’re young it always seems that the world is against you so you revolt and try to fight back and it takes time to discover your own place in the sun.” Absolutely beautiful. Holden is the Catcher in the Rye, attempting to revolt against the superficiality of adults. He desires to "catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them" (Salinger). Holden perceives himself as the only savior of youth, convinced that he is the only adolescent grappling with the prospect of growing up. Thus, he makes it his mission to save all of adolescence from falling into the rye of adulthood.
Such a powerful message. Books that surprise you are the books you get to cherish forever. With confidence, I rate the novel 5 stars. Go to your local library and don’t be afraid to pick up The Catcher in the Rye. I guarantee it will just about kill you.