Discussion

Ariel Ayres I agree with you that his disillusionment is very much the point: I think people who say they hate this book likely don’t recognize the same behavior / thoughts / feelings in themselves and reject the more saturated example. On the other end of the “I hate Catcher in the Rye” spectrum: many people believe this book is the reason John Lennon was murdered, so I think there’s some bias there too

Carol Blakley I had to read this in the 7th grade, a very long time ago. I really liked it, mostly because of Holden's rebellious nature. I have reread it several times since, and get something new out of it each time 😊

Red Reads A lot of the hate is connected to the whole school shooter thing, even though really the book is about being misunderstood and having people not be a good person or a bad person. People are people and the book isn't about him being in the right but it's not about him being a villain either. It's just about him being a person who has severe flaws and does bad things. So the hatred of the character feels like projecting the hatred of shooters upon the character more than the character itself.

Nancy I remember this being my favorite book in high school. I don't know if I would like it as much now that I'm older.

健伟 郎 I really agree with you,but could you tell me How does it means “in the grey character “ I cannot get your point

Rose I’m 30 years old and I read catcher in the rye and recognize some teenage stuff sort of fondly laugh at how I used to be because it was so long ago. If you’re younger it’s more of a “fresh” wound and so you just cringe rather than laugh when you recognize that stuff. That’s my theory.

Melissa Smith I loved it in junior and high school, unsure how I'd feel.at 46 about it. I had a teacher tell me hes telling it to a therapist in an institution, which IDK, but it did change my thinking of it

Laury Walkey I neither loved it or hated it but I was intrigued by it. We have to consider the time it was written in compared to now: society has changed a lot in many ways and yet stays the same. Holden is disconnected and spinning out of control and we get to witness a glimpse of that process. This is the intriguing part.

Ishka That was the point !! He’s a flawed protagonist that’s supposed to slightly annoy the reader. The writing of this character is beautiful and the symbolism/imagery portrayed in this piece of literature is nothing short of art !! It is a must read !!! Short and simple, yet beautiful and very thought provoking. Many scenes need a double read to properly understand the intentions of both characters.

grace Honestly growing up as a woman I am simply tired of annoying boys and im tired of romanticizing them. I know the point is that he sucks but I think society’s veneration of men and male adolescence leads us to think that that is enough to make the book an instant classic when explorations of female adolescence are called kitschy and not “serious literature.”