The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Coming-of-age Teen/Adult Crossover Novel/Young Adult Classics
ISBN: 0-316-76953-3
Little, Brown and Company, 1951
214 pp.
Suitable for 15+

Reader's Annotation: Set around 1950, Holden Caulfield, disgusted with the world, drops out of prep school and takes a journey to New York, not to see his family, but to find himself and the "phony" world around him.

Plot Summary: Holden Caulfield is a cynical 16 year old prep school student who hates his roomates, the "phony" people around him, and it doesn't help that he's failed just about all his classes to the point that he is being expelled. Holden has just about had it. Instead of calling his parents, he leaves for New York City, not to see or tell his family about his expulsion, but to embark on a three day journey fueled by cigarettes and alcohol in the city while stationed at the dilapidated Edmont Hotel. While in New York, Holden hangs out in various club for some fun but to no avail. He calls up a prostitute but gets clumsily uncomfortable, which leads to an uncomfortable confrontation with her pimp. He hangs out with an ex-girlfriend, Sally, for a day, but this backfires as well. He even visits an old English teacher, his favorite, only for that to backfire on him too! Eventually, Holden hangs out with his little sister, Phoebe, and though it is quite ambiguous, something clicks within him that returns some joy back in his life.

Critical Evaluation: Though written in 1951, Catcher in the Rye still holds up admirable today as many teens are going through what Holden Caulfield experiences. He's cynical of the world, hating everything in his path. It's not because he's a bad person either; he's smart, intelligent, but being cynical with a superior attitude has made him desperately lonely even if he doesn't know it. In a way, he's wrapped himself up in a bubble to protect himself from getting hurt. Notice though, that all his attempts for fun in New York revolve around companionship but his cynical and bitter ways ruin those experiences. He's extremely happy one moment but ruins the experience the next. Eventually, being lonely and running out of options leads him to viewing the world a bit differently, especially when his English teacher is not the person he knew. With innocence lost, in the end, Holden's character arch, thanks in large part to his innocent little sister, Phoebe, who is full of joy, helps replace Holden's cynicism with love, value, and joy.

Author: J.D. Salinger was born in 1919 and was raised in Manhattan. He wrote for the New Yorker to some critical acclaim but his big hit was his novel, Catcher in the Rye, written in 1951. However, Salinger never craved popularity, and the instant success of the his hit novel led to lots of public attention and scrutiny due to challenging issues in his novel. Salinger became reclusive and published his works less frequently.

Salinger would continue to be reclusive until his death on January 27, 2010. However, Salinger continued to make headlines during his twilight years. He had a legal battle with biographer Ian Hamilton during the 1980s and filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement in 2009. His last original published work was in 1965 and his last interview was in 1980.

Booktalking Ideas:
1) Alienation
2) Homosexuality
3) Sex
4) Cynicism

Challenge Issues: The Catcher in the Rye is one of the most challenged books of all time due to its depictions of teenage angst, sexuality, homosexuality, and cynicism of the world.

A librarian should state that the ALA mission is "to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all," which is embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the Association's basic policy on free access to libraries and library materials. Librarians must act as an extension, making sure that they educate the general public, and themselves, about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.

Why Included: What more is there to say about this novel? I unfortunately read it late, in my late 20s, and wanted to see what all the hoopla was about. It represents what all teens are going through: they don't know who they are yet and their defense mechanism is a cynical view of the world, which prohibits any joy and fun. I've experienced this many times and can relate to it easily. But what was more fascinating to me was the early 1950s lifestyle of New York City and the various adventures that Holden encounters during his 3 day stay there.