I am studying the "The Catcher in The Rye" in F5. American-ish students seems to love it. I hate that novel. I can accept the fact that it is a book, but the language does not make me want to read it. Full of unreasonable bad language just to please teen agers of America.
2006-12-05 00:18:42 · 21 answers · asked by Cat Thomas Sean 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Yeah, I read that book some time ago and it didn't impress me much. It seems to be overrated.
American people love it as they are used to the convention, the main character is growing up, discovering the world, etc. It is bildungs romanum book - about personal development, growing up.
If you look back on the history of American literature you will find many novels like that , Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer etc. etc.They may like the book as it is not too difficult to analyse it...
Maybe they also like the novel because it aims to be sorta decadent...who knows? But they should really get down to reading some good European classics and appreciate their beauty!
2006-12-05 01:23:33 · answer #1 · answered by May 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
I don't think J.D. Salinger's intention was to incorporate coarse language just to "please teenagers". Remember, this book was published in 1951, the world was very different. It was the 50's - very much like "leave it to beaver." Bad language wasn't tollerated by schools or parents. (During this time, young girls weren't allowed to wear pants - only dresses and skirts that were long enough to cover their knees!) This is partial why his novel was so controverisal and banned in many schools across the country.
No one really knows what Salinger's message truly was as he never commented about it. This actually adds to it's intrigue as well.
Catcher in the Rye is considered an exceptional literary work. It was the first of it's kind to challenge socially accepted views and language. It's beauty is in trying to understand Holden and why and how he is the way he is. It's not an entertaining novel from the standpoint that you will feel "warm and fuzzy" at it's conclusion. It does make a person feel uncomfortable and Holden's story is tragic. It challenges a person to look into another person's life and learn about something outside of their own realm of experience.
Not all works that are treasured will leave nice taste. Even look at other works - I always loved Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. However, at the same time I found the stupidity of the characters extremely frustrating. Remember, they both died at the end for no good reason - just stupid choices and a lack of communication. But, there is still beauty and lessons to be learned and experience to be shared.
2006-12-05 01:13:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 0⤋
I'll admit that i loved that book! But i read it at 18, and have no idea if i'd have the same reaction to it now, as at 25 i'm a very different person!
If you can;t identify at all with the main character that is definately a good thing! Holdon is all the things he is accused of - self centred, annoying, ungrateful. But he is, like most teenagers, especially those that do have trouble fitting in, or have mental issues, or just can't find a way to be happy, the centre of his own little universe. His problems are more important that anyone else's, his viewpoint is always right (even when he is contradicting himself). I'm not saying that is the right attitude to have, but i think if we were being honest most people will admit to feeling like that at one point in their lives.
Holden is the voice of a confused, dissatisfied and troubled youth.
He;s definately not the sort og hero people should want to be like, but a lot of people do see something of themselves in him, i think.
Oh and to be honest i really only recall one instance of bad language, but as i said, it's been a while since i read it!
2006-12-05 01:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by meeeeeee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Themes in Catcher in the Rye deal with phoniness, loss of innocence, being a teenager, and education. Liking Holden can be hard for some kids - and actually very difficult to relate to him. The purpose of the book was not to make you like Holden - but to give you a glimpse inside the mind and life of a very miserable kid. This kid is having a really tough time of things. Maybe it is more difficult for some teenagers to relate to this kid - because most teenagers are just as Holden is - very self absorbed. As you get older - you are more able to think outside of yourself - and not only how everything thing relates to you - but what is going on with other people. So when reading the book - don't try to be Holden - just see inside the thoughts and life of a very unhappy, mentally unsound kid. Realize that this is Holden's language - not yours.
2006-12-05 00:51:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Londoner and that is one of my fave books. Stop behind the language and you'll see that this is a novel on life and this guy Holden is just a regular bloke, no one famous or pretentious and that's why this novel is so clever you're captivated by the ordinary which certainly makes a change in this materialistic society!
2006-12-05 04:10:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The bad language is not all there is. It has a lot of insight in it, maybe you should re-read. And - YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE HOLDEN!
Characters are portrayed as REAL PEOPLE in 'The Catcher in the Rye,' they have their faults and their good points. Often we don't like in others what we don't like of ourselves...
There is a reason that this book has become a classic.
2006-12-05 04:11:31 · answer #6 · answered by lady_s_hazy 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Young people love the book because it speaks to their inner-self.
Very few books do that.
The narrator, Holden Caulfield, a highly intelligent yet mixed-up kid surrounded by a bunch of people much older than himself who he instinctively distrusts, does a brilliant job of observing and then hilariously documenting the phoniness of these people.
The book is very deceptive. It's written in the language of the street, yet it touches on many important issues.
Personally, I think the book is too sophisticated for teenagers, because they're not yet mature enough to appreciate the hidden meanings.
The only thing they appreciate is the 'funny' language.
Which probably explains the book's popularity.
Wait another five years and re-read it, you might appreciate it more.
2006-12-05 02:53:52 · answer #7 · answered by Panama Jack 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I agree with christoph j. Reading the book as a teenager is akin to reading
"Lady Chatterley's` Lover" as a teenager, go through it quickly and mark all the pages containing the `rude` bits. It is not a simple book to read, it is `deep` and involved. It should be read by someone in their twenties to be really appreciated, any earlier it is not truly understood, any later and it would be considered a waste of time.
2006-12-05 03:32:28 · answer #8 · answered by Social Science Lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people love it because...they think it is a good book? Bad language can be used as a literary device, like similes, metaphors and whatnot. I guess it just wasn't your cup of tea. However, some people do like it, because people are different.
2006-12-05 07:43:09 · answer #9 · answered by athenaty 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure you read it? Because if all you got out of the book was bad language you missed something. I will admit it is a depressing book -- it is basically about a young man having a nervous breakdown. Try to look deeper into the book, there is more to see than bad language. Maybe if you re-visit the book when you're a bit older you will see what so many people love about the book.
2006-12-05 00:26:50 · answer #10 · answered by marie 7 · 12⤊ 2⤋