Customer Reviews

The Catcher in the Rye. (Lernmaterialien)

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If I had to choose only one novel to go on an island forever, I may take this one. This novel may just be my ultimate favourite. I really love it with a passion; I know it's famous and all, but that doesn't change a thing to me. I still consider it a major work of art and of the heart. It's one of these very rare books which make me feel like I'm not alone.

It's the story of Holden Caulfield. He's the narrator and writes from some psychatric ward where he ended up after his journey (which constitutes the story). I don't want to go in lengths in the analysis of this magical work, but there's much more at stake than meets the eye. Many only see in this novel some "book for kids", but that's one rotten turdish comment to make. Salinger was not a kid when he wrote this novel, he was a man, and one that had done D-day; not everyone knows that, but one can't be blamed since I never read anything about that in Salinger's work (but I only read the Catcher so far, so who knows).

This novel is definitely connected to childhood, but you're more in touch with your childhood once you have lost it forever. That's when you learn its worth, as with most things unfortunately. So it's really not a "novel for kids". There are also a few extremely violent things in this book, which may not be noticed at first. I don't want to reveal too much about the novel, because I think those who will love it don't need me to tell them about it; and those who don't--well, I don't think I can help those.

I was also told something like "this novel is evil because many a serial killer has been known to love it", well, being a serial killer doesn't mean you can have no literary taste. I'm sure even Hitler liked some of the things you like, it doesn't mean the object of respect must be tainted and spoilt forever just because a mentally ill person happened to like it. Yes, Mark Chapman, murderer of John Lennon, was a fan of this book. But that has very little to do with the book itself. I'm a fan of it too, with the difference that I am not mentally insane. So there you go.

Anyway, I'm absolutely passionate about this book. I love it. Every page of it. Everything in it is awesome and pure, and sometimes so profound that you feel your little heart screaming "yes!" in compassion. I can't say enough about this novel.