The Catcher in the Rye

[Toad]

Is it just me or does this book suck? After hearing all the good things people said about the book, I figured I would give it a try. I don't regret reading the book, but it just was not as good as everyone had hyped it up to be.

I found the the main character to be way too annoying. About half way through the book I was like, "Ok, I get it. You fucking hate everything. MOVE ON!"

I found the book to be boring. The narrator's vernacular was annoying as hell and I just thought the idea of a teenager hating everyone lame.

Am I missing something here? Is there some kind of special meaning behind this book that I didn't catch?

I would understand why an angry teenager would love this book. But I feel like I'm just beyond the whole teenager rebellion/angst.

 

[Nicholas A. A. E.]

I haven't read it, but I caught the synopsis one time and thought, "Why the hell would I ever want to read this?"

 

[Ombat]

I've read it twice... against my will.

The first time I read it, I could barely get through it. Mainly because of the voice. I thought if he said "shoot the bull" one more time I was going to throw the damn thing out the window. I wasn't so bothered by his outlook on life, but it was so reduntant.

The second time I read it, I was able to appreciate some of the "meaning" more, however cliche. It's just a little sad to get into the mind of someone so afraid of change and who feels so out of place in the world. I felt a little bit of anger at the way I related to Caulfield.

Anyway, this is not a must read in any way, but I think the book does hold some value.

 

[Polaris]

We were made to read it when I was quite a lot younger. I think the older generations at the time felt that we would somehow associate with the character. I didn't. I don't know many who did. Like Toad, I was disappointed, thanks to the hype.

Edit: Again, I would recommend "Into the Wild", by John Krakauer. You do not have to identify with him, but he was real.

 

[preilemus]

dont worry Toad. I am an angry teenager, and I didn't really like it either. too depressing, or maybe just too similar...

 

[Beat Mango]

When I first read it, I had the exact reaction you did. But looking back, I do like the mood of the book, it has kind of stuck with me - it's kind of urban, solitary, nocturnal, angsty, I love that era of big city new York in the 1950s. Igby Goes Down is apparently based on it and that's a really good movie.

Btw I'm getting Deja vu - have we discussed this before?

 

[Toad]

I think for an INTP the two main things we would hate about the book is the grammar and the repetitiveness.

 

[Agent Intellect]

I got about half way through the book and stopped reading it - seemed kind of pointless.

 

[cuterebra]

Not as fantastically bad as, say, The Da Vinci Code, but pretty underwhelming. I read it in high school and didn't understand what the fuss was about--Holden Caulfield just wasn't a protagonist I could relate to. Too whiny and spoiled.

 

[Toad]

Thank god you guys didn't like it either. I was thinking maybe there was something wrong with the way I have been reading books or something.

I can't understand why it's such a best seller. Maybe INTP's can see through the main character because we can relate to him so much. Other types would be so fascinated with a character that is so hateful.

 

[Master of Disgrace]

I always enjoyed reading it, for school and for pleasure. Though to explain why would be putting to much of myself out there than I would wish at the moment. Though what I will say, Holden's disdain for the "upper crust", while being classified in that category himself is something that tugs at the heartstrings.

 

[Xel]

I enjoyed it because school clued me into what was going on. Apparently its about his maturity. If I was not told this I would just have thought it was about a whiny teenager too, but once you are let in on the themes and symbols everything works. Some books are like that.