The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: Holden Caulfield has problems, and he’s taking a few days in New York City to try and sort them out.

Expectation: Angst and counterculture.

Reality: Wanting to reach through the pages to refer Holden to a psychiatrist.

Recommended For: Everyone — seriously, it’s a classic for a reason.

Why I Read It: [see above]

My take: What initially drew me to “Catcher,” outside of the fact it is a classic of American literature that I should’ve read in high school, is the mythology. During my The Beatles phase in middle school, I remembered reading that Mark David Chapman had a copy of the book on his person when he was arrested for murdering John Lennon. But why?

I asked that question a lot while reading — why does the story mean so much to anarchists? To the counterculture? To teens? To adults? Why do people continue to read, and re-read it, almost 70 years after publication?

I still don’t know the answer, and that’s why it has endured as a classic — and rightfully so — because what you get out of Holden’s story is strictly based on the lens through which you view your own life.

The anarchists will find his “stick it to the man” attitude and general disdain with people as a rallying cry.

The counterculture will find his “stick it to the man” attitude as a protest to the mainstream.

Teens will find a kindred spirit in a character that is struggling to find his place in life.

Adults, well, I was most struck by the depths of Holden’s mental illness.

He never fully recovered from the trauma of his brother’s death, which may be exacerbating untreated bipolar disorder. He feels abandoned by his family, causing severe depression, and he struggles to make deep connections with others, which Salinger writes as being quirky, but in reality he might be on the spectrum.

All that to say, I liked it more than anticipated, but it was difficult to enjoy a story about someone struggling so mightily while refusing all attempts at help. Sure, people try to help Holden at various points, but he can't allow himself to embrace it because it would mean acknowledging, what he perceives as, the weaker aspects of his character.

If that isn't relatable, I don't know what is.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Rating (narration): N/A

Format: E-book (library loan)

Dates read: May 25 - June 1, 2020

Multi-tasking: N/A