“Phonies”

J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (1951)

A classic of American Literature, Catcher in the Rye contains a number of significant social themes. As a commonly assigned book in English classes it was an opportunity for me to see what I had missed. This will be a shorter personal review compared to previous posts. Ultimately, while I can totally understand the variety of themes that run through the book and why they resonate with so many people, I, personally did not particularly enjoy reading the book.

Holden Caulfield offers a fascinating protagonist, angry at the system around him and pressured by expectations. The story may have its ups and downs and could have taken place over a longer period of time than it did. The happier ending also comes as a welcome conclusion to an otherwise semi-depressing story.

The many events in Holden’s story may be relatable on their own but compared to previous fiction books I felt it was a collection of events rather than something that built on top of each other. That is not to say that I did not enjoy specific events within the book but a more plot driven narrative appeals to me more. My reflection is therefore one of personal dissatisfaction rather than an outright critical opinion on the book.

This is perhaps ironic given the perspective of Holden himself within the story given his general malaise. Catcher in the Rye to me would not occupy a top spot on my favorite books list but I can slightly understand why it would on other peoples. My main conclusion would therefore be that the themes that run through the story are therefore more likely to appeal to different readers for individual reasons. The anger toward the system and sense of rebelliousness are identifiable and the consistent use of “phonies” is relatable in the current social media age. The idea of superficiality from his perspective is contained within the angst that is also commonly exhibited. However, as repeatedly stated I did not particularly enjoy reading the book as a whole and would suggest that in a specific mood or period of life the story it is more likely to appeal than in others.

The Catcher in the Rye was an important book for me to read given its cultural importance. However, I did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked even though Holden’s perspective on “phonies” and societal standards was something I found equally entertaining and thought provoking. Life can be messy and this book encompasses that, it is also not a particularly long book which made it a little easier for me to get through.