A Reflection After Finishing Catcher In the Rye

I find that I really enjoyed Catcher In the Rye.I think that the book should not be considered a novel as it says on the front cover, but it should be more like a memoir. Holden isn't telling us really, a story, but more, he's sharing his past few days with us before he was put in the institution, or wherever he may be. This story had no plot. The book was 214 pages over around a 5 day span of Holden just rambling his mouth. Though, I completely enjoyed it.

Holden Caulfield is a very alive character for me. Salinger did a good job with his diction in this story. I think it stands out to me more than most books I've read. When Mr. Heidkamp read us that Onion article, I immediately felt as if Holden was telling me the story of how his creator had died. Holden's a great character, and there is so many interesting levels and ideas we can pull away from him.

 

Comments

[Connor T.]

I agree with your analysis of Catcher in the Rye. It didn't fit the structure of a novel, and it didn't have much of a plot, but I was still pulled in by it. It's a story that I'm sure people can relate to, and Holden is one of the most interesting characters I've ever met. For these reasons, I also believe it "works," despite its shortcomings in traditional literary structure.

[Elissa B.]

I also really enjoyed Catcher in the Rye. I have never read a book that involved the narrator being so brutally honest with the readers and completely true to himself. When I first started reading the book I was shocked by the way Holden swore every other five words and how he shared all of his insecurities with us. This book does not sound like a novel to me either, instead it feels like a diary. I think the reason the book was so successful is because it was written this way.