Olivier Delaye's Reviews > The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
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did not like it

One of those "masterpieces of literature" that are so lost on me that they will never find their way back on my bookshelves, poor things...
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Reading Progress

May 5, 2014 – Started Reading
May 5, 2014 – Shelved
May 5, 2014 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

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Ivan This is one of those books that I love but only because I read it when I was 16, at a time when it resonated with me. If I reread it today, I probably would detest it.


Olivier Delaye Ivan wrote: "This is one of those books that I love but only because I read it when I was 16, at a time when it resonated with me. If I reread it today, I probably would detest it."
So just never reread it and you'll be the better for it!


message 3: by Jess (new)

Jess The Bookworm I tried to read this book more than once, and gave up each time because I just couldn't get into it. Totally agree with you!


Olivier Delaye Jess wrote: "I tried to read this book more than once, and gave up each time because I just couldn't get into it. Totally agree with you!"

Thank you, Jess. So glad I'm not the only one;-)


Benjamin I've been told many times that it is brilliant, yet when I inevitably ask why, the reasons seem to slip from the person I'm conversing with. I don't think it is a bad book myself, but it is far from the masterpiece it is proclaimed to be.


Olivier Delaye Benjamin wrote: "I've been told many times that it is brilliant, yet when I inevitably ask why, the reasons seem to slip from the person I'm conversing with. I don't think it is a bad book myself, but it is far fro..."

Couldn't agree more, Benjamin. Same here.


Javi It's probably my favorite book ever, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. I just love it because it's been resonating with me in different ways ever since I first read when I was a teenager. And I read at least once a year :) But I do get why people are so surprised when they read it after all the hype...It's a very nice coming of age story, but not much more than that.


Olivier Delaye Javi wrote: "It's probably my favorite book ever, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. I just love it because it's been resonating with me in different ways ever since I first read when I was a teenager. And I..."

I hear you, Javi. I think I can draw a parallel here based upon my love for Rand's Anthem, which is also another book that can prove "triggering'' for some people. As you very well said, it's often more about how a certain book resonates with us rather than is it or is it not per se a masterpiece. I see it happening with my own book The Forgotten Goddess, which some people love and get, while others just don't and deem "not for them." And that's perfectly okay. That's called freedom of speech, freedom to be entitled to your own opinion, and that's how it should always be. As for The Catcher in the Rye, alright, I might give it another go in, say... 10 years from now;-)


Olivier Delaye Dux wrote: "I feel the exact same way. Its the type of book someone asks me if its good and I have to respond with "everyone has a different opinion about it, so I can't say for you". And also as a senior in h..."

You got that one right, brother.


message 10: by Kenny (new) - added it

Kenny I am a huge fan of Salinger's short stories, but after having tried to read this several times I set it aside. Holden rang false to me from the start. I'd heard that Salinger truly captured the voice of a teenaged male, but to me it read as an adult pretending to be a kid. If this trove of Salinger's unpublished writings proves true and there is more of Holden in our future I will try again.


Jesse Not my favorite Salinger by a longshot--Franny and Zooey has always resonated so much more with me--but I still find it interesting simply in regards to its historical context and ongoing cultural influence. There are so many representations of teenage angst and anti-establishment attitudes available to us today, which just wasn't the case in the 1950's. It's also kind of the same situation with the James Dean film "Rebel Without a Cause" from around the same time (though I genuinely like the film much, much more and think it just holds up better in general.)


Olivier Delaye Jesse wrote: "Not my favorite Salinger by a longshot--Franny and Zooey has always resonated so much more with me--but I still find it interesting simply in regards to its historical context and ongoing cultural ..."

Interesting. I've never seen/heard of that movie, but I'll make sure to do so!


message 13: by Carol (new)

Carol And lost on me also.


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