Ok, ok, ok, I know this isn’t a new book or anything, in fact the author died only last year (around 60 years after writing ‘Catcher’), but the book is so worth reading (in case you haven’t already) that i thought i’d add it just as a gentle prod [this will come with a punch in the arm to me from my darling wife as she’s been telling me to read this for nigh on 10 years!].
Well, finally I got round to it babe, and you were dead right!
The book is written from the internal viewpoint of Holden Caulfield regarding his life in the 30’s after being kicked out of (another) school, divulging his conscious thoughts, opinions and his external behaviours, an angst ridden teen struggling to deal with the people around him, the things they get him to do and make him feel like.
Reading the book, I started off wondering what was going to happen both to Holden and the direction of the story, the sytle being so unusual compared to most of what i’ve read before. Then by the time I’d reached mid way I was feeling real sorry for him, but distrusting of his character too. By the end I just wanted the best for him, worried about the possible outcomes to the tale, and hoped he’d get the help he needed before going over the edge. The way it finished was so befitting of the story and Holden’s character too, as though Salinger was so deeply into character when he wrote the (goddam) book – he thought ‘how would holden finish it’, instead of using any typical conclusion.
I ended the story sympathising with Holden alot, but also hoping that he could see that things could get better, he just had to want it too. You can totally see an ADHD/ADD type sufference, bipolarity and depression. In some ways Sallinger was way ahead af his time. Afflictions like that weren’t know or appreciated back then, people were just labelled as ‘trouble’.
Excellent book, I got pulled deeper and deeper in to it as it progressed. I’d definately reccomend it to anyone not yet dipped their toe in, but I can see it’ll be one of those books you’ll either love or hate.
I loved it.
4/5 for me.
35 days later 