Il giovane Holden

Last week, I watched a documentary about the elusive author J.D. Salinger. A number of med talked about the reclusive author down to tell them how much they loved his writing, and how much they identified with Holden Caulfield in Catcher In The Rye. One mentioned that when he cornered the author and told him how amazing the book was and how J.D. really SPOKE to him through his writing. The way the interview subject talked, Salinger can upset by this and quite rude.

I thought I'd read Catcher to see what the big deal was, and maybe it wasn't just a book that spoke to lonely alienated boys looking for something to blame. Reading this, however, I feel like I'm paging through the mind of an 8chan incel. Maybe it's not such a big wonder why lone gunmen adore this book.

Holden isn't special, and he's no rebel. Rebels DO something, but Holden only whines about things. Everything is someone else's fault. His room mate at school did this or that and caused him to get distracted. People who like something are stupid for liking it. Women are ugly and stupid because they aren't with him.

Holden is a sad little boy who is alienated and self-absorbed. Sure, he's sixteen and a loser, but he's hardly rebelling against anything. He sees only the faults in others and sees only (imagined) good in himself. Even when he sounds a bit self-deprecating, the core of his problems is someone else.

Holden might be a nihilist, but he's no rebel.

If Holden was Salinger inserting himself into the main character, then maybe the author's self seclusion was a service to humanity.

"I don't want to scare you," he said, "but I can very clearly see you dying nobly, one way or another, for some highly unworthy cause." Mr. Antolini from Catcher In The Rye

Okay, maybe J.D. Salinger could see Holden as a lone shooter.

Bello e molto scorrevole, ma bisogna sforzarsi di passare oltre a certe cose - traduzione in primis, che risulta spesso e volentieri forzata (proprio per come è fatto il testo originale, non perché sia una cattiva traduzione).

Secondo me potevano azzardare a metterci un titolo alternativo più vicino all'originale però, in questa nuova versione.

just finished rereading this. Hadn't read it since high school. I don't remember much liking it then and wondered if I'd missed something. I don't think so. For me it's basically one long monologue by a confused and depressed teenager with a weak ending. Glad I reread it though. Decent story telling with a unique voice.

Ok, I had written a huge review comparing The Catcher in the Rye to Crime & Punishment, but SOMEONE decided to do maintenance on the site at nine minutes before an hour. Good job, Goodreads.

Missing are arguments for The Catcher in the Rye being humouress in a 'oh, the follies of youth' way, on how everything was connected, on how certain passages could be considered 'key' and were actual commentaries on the novel itself. I also addressed the views of it being a mere novel written for angsty folk as well as view of Reese Weatherspoon in the movie Pleasantville as missing the entire point and seeming to deal with just half the novel.

I also argued against the idea that Holden Caufield is a symbol of teen rebellion... since he doesn't ever do any rebellion. I then conclude that a lot of hipsters who comment on this book have clearly never read it.

But all that is lost, because Goodreads can not get their act together. Thank you, Goodreads, and burn in hell.