Anyone who has read J.D. Salinger's New Yorker stories, particularly A Perfect Day for Bananafish, Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut, The Laughing Man, and For Esme--With Love and Squalor, will not be surprised by the fact that his first novel is full of children.

The hero-narrator of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days.

The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it.

There are many voices in this novel: children's voices, adult voices, underground voices--but Holden's voice is the most eloquent of all. Transcending his own vernacular, yet remaining marvelously faithful to it, he issues a perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasure. However, like most lovers and clowns and poets of the higher orders, he keeps most of the pain to, and for, himself. The pleasure he gives away, or sets aside, with all his heart. It is there for the reader who can handle it to keep.

Item Information Item Information

Format: MassMarketPaperback
Author: Salinger, J. D.
ISBN: 9780316769488
Condition: Used
Dimensions: 6.70 x 0.80
Number Of Pages: 240
Publication Year: 1991

Customer Reviews

Rating Snapshot

5 ★ 65%

4 ★ 27%

3 ★ 0%

2 ★ 6%

1 ★ 2%

4.5

49 Ratings

0 Recommendations

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Three days in New York City with a snarky, cynical, life-loving teenager....

Stephanie H. - 9 months ago

A co-worker recommended I read this. It starts a little slow, so it takes some getting into, but it turns out to be a very good read. I recommend that every adolescent read this book, as it reminds us all, especially at a young age, that everyone has traveled the path of loneliness and isolation at one point or another. Again, it was a good read.
HPB Staff Review
Essential

Mitchell D. - 4 years 11 months ago

J.D. Salinger's most famous work had been on my reading list for far too long, so I finally decided to pick it up and I was NOT disappointed. Holden's character represents the anti-culture that is so present in modern society, with adolescents wanting to remain in their childhood for as long as possible. The book's events take place over such a short period of time, but feel like an eternity due to the overwhelming interactions that transpire. This is the perfect book to pick up if you want to get back into reading and cross off a staple of literature from your bucket list. Everybody should read this book at least once #SPRINGPICKS
My favorite classic book

Alvin M. - 4 years 11 months ago

As a teenager, I found this book to be the best representation of the demographic. It is not for everyone, if you are an adult you will probably find yourself criticizing the main character, Holden. However, I recommend buying this book during high school and laughing at Holden’s cynicism as an adult. Out of all of the books, this one is my favorite that I have read in class. READ THIS BOOK l! You will not regret it.
excellent read, must read again

HPB S. - 5 years 4 months ago

i loved the way it felt like holden was really talking to the reader and the many ways his actions and beliefs could be interpreted
Great book !!

Rania N. - 5 years 5 months ago

I loved reading this book. This book is about a 16 year old teenager named Holden Caulfield, who is going through so much things in his life. This story takes place in New York City. He is undergoing treatment in a mental hospital and failing his classes at school. He also has angry management problems because he attacks his friend for dating a girl he used to date. Holden's tone is honest and sometimes rude. He is anti social person. Overall, it's a great story.

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Three days in New York City with a snarky, cynical, life-loving teenager....

Essential

My favorite classic book

excellent read, must read again

Great book !!