sams_fireside 's review for:

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

3.0

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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'He was a very good skater and all, but I couldn't enjoy it much because I kept picturing him practicing to be a guy on roller-skates on the stage.'

The Catcher in the Rye was chosen for September's #classiclitbookclub. This is my first time reading it, and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. At first, I found Holden to be annoying, the story depressing, and there was a lot of overthinking. But as the book progressed and drew to a close, I started to understand why Holden narrates the way he does. 

Holden seemed like a troubled teen still grappling with the death of his brother. His parents appeared more concerned about his academic failures than his emotional state. I suppose this is reflective of the time in which the book was written—mental health awareness was not as prevalent back then. Today, there are more resources available for teens going through similar struggles. 

What really stood out to me was Holden's internal conflict—he’s trying to act like an adult when he clearly isn’t ready to let go of his childhood. He has no true friends; instead, he’s surrounded by acquaintances who tolerate him but don’t really understand him. 

After reading a few other reviews, it’s clear that people either love or hate this book. As for me, I’m still on the fence, but I think if I read it again, I’d lean more toward ‘love’ than ‘hate.’