Claire Xu
Mrs. Arnold
Independent Reading
17 May 2015
The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger Is a story told from the first person perspective of Holden Caulfield, as he recalls the events following his most recent expulsion. This book is set in the 1950s, in a post war setting. I believe this detail is relevant because many adults of this time begin to feel the need to fit the ideal of the American dream, which makes Holden think adults are fake and ingenuine. In the three days between when he was expelled and when he finally went home, he encountered many people along the way, many of which were figures from his past. While reading this book I didn’t always know what to feel when it came to Holden, because he seemed so emotionally unstable and I never really knew what he would do next. There were many points where I felt sorry for him and his inability to break his mindset of childish behavior, because he feels as if growing up is painful. I was surprised by how much his character made me feel. There were times when I felt resentment towards him for his unrelenting negativity, but at other times I felt like I could relate to him when talking about his feelings of loneliness. He seems like a danger to himself and potentially even to those around him. Another character that stuck out to me was Ackley; I hated this character as soon as he was introduced because his character traits and lack of hygiene are the very qualities that drive me to dislike a person. The book was written in intricate detail that immersed you into Holden’s unstable mind that often isolates himself and makes him think he is above others. I loved Salinger’s writing style and ability to put so much detail and content into such a short time period without making it feel like it was dragging on. I believe this book is definitely worth reading because it makes you really consider your views on growing up and how you act in relation to Holden. This book provokes stimulating conversations and truly makes you rethink your character.
J.D Salinger
Great post Claire. I have not yet read this book, but I would very much like to. I thought it was very interesting how you said you throughout the book went between hating and liking Holden, it just shows the skill and craftsmanship of the author. This sounds like a very interesting book about growing up and the struggles of adolescence.
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