Holden Caulfield in the Catcher in the Rye.

[Rudolph Mondal]

What do you guys think of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye? Do you feel like you're in the same boat he's in?

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Hmmm, kind of a difficult question to answer after Mark David Chapman.
But let me put it this way:
I sympathize with Holden's views without going on a killing spree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaUe5rCO6xU
Something about the case stinks to high heaven.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Worst book I have ever read.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Worst book I have ever read.

Based on your MO, this was the most compelling statement you could have made.
Seriously though, are you paid by a third party or are you really that brainwashed?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh163n1lJ4M

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Based on your MO, this was the most compelling statement you could have made.
Seriously though, are you paid by a third party or are you really that brainwashed?

A great many people accuse me of being a shill for one group or another.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

A great many people accuse me of being a shill for one group or another.

Rightfully so, i have to concur.
Why don't you come clean and rid all those unbearable weights off your soul?

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Rightfully so, i have to concur.
Why don't you come clean and rid all those unbearable weights off your soul?

In terms of Catcher in the Rye, who am I a phony for?

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

In terms of Catcher in the Rye, who am I a phony for?

The phony you have become, despite knowing better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6zenOjPC1A

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6zenOjPC1A

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

In terms of Catcher in the Rye, who am I a phony for?

You are phony because you are making a living by swallow the lie like a huge dick that is too much for you to swallow,
but nontheless, you pretend, with tears in your eyes,
that this is the right decision.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6zenOjPC1A

You can betray your own generation as much as you like ($$$),
but you will never be able to bullshit the next.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

You are phony because you are making a living by swallow the lie like a huge dick that is too much for you to swallow,
but nontheless, you pretend, with tears in your eyes,
that this is the right decision.

You can betray your own generation as much as you like ($$$),
but you will never be able to bullshit the next.

What lie would that be?

 

[kora]

In general, those who have not liked the book did not read it when they were younger. I identified strongly with holden Caulfield at 15-16 years old, might be an NF existential crisis thing I suppose. I get how as you grow up and get hard headed efficient values you would see him as whiny and annoying though. I like all of salingers stories. I haven't grown up yet, perhaps I never will and I'm stuck as a whiny adolescent for my entire life who likes j.d salinger. (at least I won't be a phony )

 

[Architect]

I loved the book and still do. I didn't exactly identify with HC, but I understood him perfectly. I always wondered though why it's standard High School reading. Surely not that many kids would understand or identify with him? Maybe so.

 

[Meer]

A stupid book, complete waste of my time. It really was. Almost as bad as the perks of being a wallflower. It really was.

What irked me most is that he did zero self-examination. He really didn't.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I loved the book and still do. I didn't exactly identify with HC, but I understood him perfectly. I always wondered though why it's standard High School reading. Surely not that many kids would understand or identify with him? Maybe so.

My own appreciation for the book is similar to Architect's. I worked at a private boarding school for about 15 years, so, I ended up meeting quite a few people who reminded me of some of the folks described in the book.

I can't say that I understood Holden perfectly, though I met enough people like him throughout my life. Alas, many of them were jerks (though not all).

 

[JimJambones]

I recall liking it when I read it in high school. I should probably reread it to see what I would think of it now. I remember thinking that Holden's view of the world was congruent with the outlook of the grunge movement in the 90's. If Holden grew up in the nineties, he probably would have loved Nirvana.

 

[pianofire]

I haven't grown up yet, perhaps I never will and I'm stuck as a whiny adolescent for my entire life who likes j.d salinger. (at least I won't be a phony )

Hear, hear.

I'm always going on about how much I love Catcher in the Rye so I eventually convinced my boyfriend to read it. He HATED Catcher in the Rye and hated Holden even more... much to my dismay. Seriously, this was almost a deal breaker for me haha. I guess he's just a lot more grounded and less cynical of the outside world than I am. Sometimes this part of his nature irritates me... but... AT LEAST HE'S NOT A PHONY.

Sorry.. couldn't resist. That phrase has been stuck in my head for going on 7 years now.

 

[scenefinale]

It was entertaining.

As far as relating to characters from my high school syllabus goes, I'd say I related more to Christopher from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1618.The_Curious_Incident_of_the_Dog_in_the_Night_Time

“I think prime numbers are like life. They are very logical but you could never work out the rules, even if you spent all your time thinking about them”
― Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

“On the fifth day, which was a Sunday, it rained very hard. I like it when it rains hard. It sounds like white noise everywhere, which is like silence but not empty.”
― Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

“I find people confusing.”
― Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

 

[Tristitian]

I honestly despise Holden with a passion. He is a hypocrite. He is an intelligent individual who chooses to be a fool. On top of all that, he is a moody, disturbed, horny teenager.

On some level, though, I hate him partially due to some of the traits that we share. I hate it when I am a hypocrite. I am disgusted when I am overtaken by a "holier than thou" persona. I am frustrated by my libido when it only serves to muddle my thought process and complicate things. I fear my deep desire to give up and let go of everything.

Regardless, I find him to be a pretentious prick undeserving of any sympathy. If he does not have the power to alter his own course of self-destruction, he does not deserve to be saved from it (not sure if I believe this - just wanted to end on a dramatic note).


Edit: Looking back at the other responses, I have to completely agree with:

Architect
Meer

Good points, guys.