The Catcher in the Rye

Written by J.D. Salinger

A book for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by Amin

    

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a classic to die for. Out of the majority of J.D. Salinger’s body of work, it’s the one novel that has garnered great recognition (which shouldn't be the case, since some of his other stories are classics).

The book is a coming-of-age drama about 16-year-old Holden Caulfield, who is expelled from his prep school. We follow him as he goes to New York City to avoid his parents (who would be furious with him). Holden rents a room at the Edmont Hotel and goes through one of the most seemingly insignificant yet highly notable ventures in literary history.

Content-wise, the events of The Catcher in the Rye aren't necessarily feats in wordplay or innovative themes. However, the way it was written and Holden’s counter-culture interactions with others really allowed the book to shoot ahead of others in terms of detailing teenage angst. The experiences of modern youth in American classics are usually not emphasized as much.

Intended for adults, The Catcher in the Rye spoke to so many teens that it became a classic, even being offered in some high school English courses on American literature. The book truly spoke to me in a way that other novels (albeit classics) could not do as well. Yes, it is overrated, and I don’t believe it is the greatest book of the 20^th century, but it is a staple of literary history that many modern Young Adult books have been modeled from. Its influence alone has made this book worthy of the title “classic,” but it is only helped by its symbolism.

Although simple, The Catcher in the Rye accomplishes what it’s meant to do very strongly. The book’s “Catcher in the Rye” is Holden, who wishes to protect younger kids (like his little sister) from falling into the depths of the corrupt and “phony” adult world. Alas, it is a vain hope that can’t be singlehandedly accomplished by Holden. In reality, such an issue was brought to light as a result of this book, which further marks its importance.

As the years go on, The Catcher in the Rye doesn’t cease being relevant. The angst of teenagers only grows as Holden’s image becomes more typical, which is a feat that many books cannot claim.