I just finished reading it for the first time at the age of 31. I'm curious to know other people's opinion of the book. Do you think it is overrated? Do you think it deserves great praise? Did it have any profound effects on you when you read it the first time? Did it bore you to pieces? Or any other opinion you'd like to share.
2007-01-25 21:14:35 · 9 answers · asked by Globetrotter 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I remember my English teacher in the early 60s, Mr. Worth, reading parts of "Catcher" to my class in London. It was his reading that made me want to study literature. Nuff said.
2007-01-25 23:11:16 · answer #1 · answered by jcboyle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really did not like this book. Holden really annoyed me. But I don't know many people that sort of liked it. People I've talked to either really loved it or really hated it. I do think that it's overrated, but I had to read it for school (which probably didn't help my not liking it). Holden annoyed me because he kept saying he was an adult and then he acted like he was under the age of 10. He kept saying he was going to do stuff, and then never did. But I did like a couple quotes:
"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it."
"Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of thos big glass (museum) cases and just leave them alone."
"How do you know what you're going to do till you DO it? The answer is, you don't."
2007-01-26 04:48:57 · answer #2 · answered by Kristie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the favorite book of many of my friends and I still cannot understand why. Holden is really hard to relate to and not a sympathetic character at all (mainly because he whines so much!). The development was mediocre. The dialogue was the best part of the book, but nothing spectacular. There are so many other books that are worth reading, I'm not sure why this has been lauded to such a great book.
2007-01-26 01:30:05 · answer #3 · answered by hotdoggiegirl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm about half way through it right now. About chapter 16 I think.
I've wanted to read it since high school then i received it this Xmas.
Honestly, I'm sick to hell of it. It's a pain in the ***.
It is the second worst book I've read. I'm only going to finish it so I can say I read it then explain why I don't like it.
Is there a point to it? This book would be NOTHING if released nowadays. Why is it such a big deal?
2007-01-26 07:36:20 · answer #4 · answered by prizefyter 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
it makes my lifetime "worst book they made me read in HS" list. I thought Holden was unbelievably whining and annoying, and the book was really simplistic. I almost couldn't believe anyone took it seriously as a piece of literature. The worst thing about it were the people who took on "catcher" as a beacon for their overwrought teenage cynicsm.
2007-01-26 03:59:47 · answer #5 · answered by lalabee 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Totally overrated piece of tripe. Holden Caulfield is an absolute whining bore. Don't know why this is still on the required reading lists at all the schools. It's really dated and as I said, vastly overrated!
2007-01-25 21:43:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
I really like this book, it's one of my all time favourites! I love his cynical view of everything! I also like the fact that it dared to be different and at the time it wasn't so widely accepted and is still banned in some schools to this day.
2007-01-25 21:23:15 · answer #7 · answered by ddzaszcxascs 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can' quite understand why it was chosen as mandated reading when we were in school. All I can remember is Holden and Phoebe. I think Steinbecks Of Mice and Men, and The Lord Of The Flies were much more memorable.
2007-01-25 21:24:33 · answer #8 · answered by jaypea40 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I did not like it and could not understand what guy's problem was. It was an easy read, as far as I remember, but I would not want to reread it again. I think his troubles were created by himself, and were rather artificial.
2007-01-25 21:19:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋