The Catcher in the Rye

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The Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger 

I have been meaning to read this for a long time but I got into the mood only lately after I finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and The Great Gatsby, both American Classics.

Well, I understood why this book was banned at some point in the history. The theme is about the coming-of-age of a boy of 16. The swearing, the colloquials, the immaturity of Holden Caulfield versus his aim to become a responsible respectable adult versus his observation on phony adults and adult world. He is conflicted into rushing to experience the adult world by his entering clubs, trying to hire a prostituted woman, having mature conversations but always failing to do so. 

You will ignore the swearing and admire his thoughts on phony world of adult men and also admire his assessment as he can become a conscientious adult later on. The teenage angst and rants are part of a phase and will  eventually be overcome by teenagers.This is evident when Holden decided to be a catcher in the rye when he grows up. 

In the ending, one can foresee Holden deciding to go home and decide to be a better man but he also wishes to be with the merry-go-round with his younger innocent sister Phoebe whose innocence can just go round and round.

Holden Caulfield, despite his language and demeanor, will eventually come dear to you because he too knows what he does not want to be when he grows up, as much as he knows that he wanted to be a catcher in the rye.

*Photo taken from Wikipedia

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