Catcher in the Rye

For some reason classic literary style books catch my attention. Because if the world says they are a classic then there must be some reason. Something about the author's style, the vocabulary, the story, or even possibly the construction of the English language in words. Although it would seem English is not the world's most spoken language, it just happens to have the most literary sources at this moment. A 100 billion Chinese people will shortly do something about it, mark my words. So for now my choice of classic book is Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, it's American English, not English English.

I am finding it a struggle to read. The story is based in the first person perspective of an egocentric teenage boy (Holden Caulfield). He comes from a middle to upper class american family, who finds life full of phonies. No body is real. They try to be something they are not and Holden sees this all the time. He's lazy at school and lazy at life, drinking, being a teenage kid and thinking he is talking through the eyes of an old and wizened man. Holden sees himself as a non conformist, he doesn't apply himself because then he would be part of the very rat race he despises. He'll go to a phoney club and drink and watch the phoney entertainment or listen to dumb girls. They don't get him and he don't get them, he's a virgin. Saying he's a virgin probably sums it up. Background to Holden's life has him fighting against the expectations from others, because he doesn't apply himself. It's only in the first chapter's the reader gets to see an interaction with a old teacher.

The story seems to be based over a short period between Holden being kicked out of his school and wasting time before he goes back home. Then to face the music. Important figures in Holden's existence are his kid sister Phoebe and his dead younger brother Allie. There are issues of grief Holden hasn't yet come to terms with, and this could be the reason for his self depreciating behaviour. The book skips along from one character to another, like character's once used are shallow items which can be disregarded given Holden has chewed them up and spat them out. In of course, a very cynical manner. The book is indeed about the world of Holden Caulfield, what thoughts go round in his mind. To the point Holden is the Book.

The style is so convincing at times, it is like reading a spoilt brat's diary on life, to the point of nearly putting it down and never reading another page. This is why it's taken months for me to read and I still haven't finished. The plus is each chapter is relatively short, so it allows a lagger to put it down and pick it up quite easily. And then once read I can add this to collection of classics I can say I have read. Unfortunately with any book, I believe you have to read them more than once to understand and fully get what the words say.

The notoriety of this book comes from several sources. When first published it was banned in America. It's difficult to see the reasons why at this time. The decision must of been linked to politics at that time (serialized 1945/46, published 1951). It's author J.D. Salinger is renown for and the deranged man who killed John Lennon that is Mark Chapman. He had asked Lennon to sign his copy. Check the link above for an excellent in depth further analysis.

We are all egocentric to an extent. Except for chickens. Or is that just something someone once said.