Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[charlotte8981]

Dear friends,
I'm writing a book report about "the catcher in the rye", a book written by J.D. Salinger in 50s. I've read this book twice: Chinese simplified version when I was 10; English complete version when I was 15(yesterday ).
The first time I thought this book is full of foul language and Holden is super pessimistic and annoying.
The second time I think this book is about real lives, real rebellious teenagers. I like Holden all in a sudden!
So people, may you guys help me clear my thoughts...Say what you think about this book and please reply.
Thank you.

[RevolutionX]

Yes, I love this book. I like Holden because he is honest; he doesn't try to be someone other than himself.

[Chutie]

Hi,

I've finished 'Catcher in the rye' only a few days before.

I don't really know what to say about it, but... did you ever have to analyze short stories with many stylistic devices? It's horrible, but this book is.. exactly the same. I read it in german and there's always a "oder so" at the end of one sentence (I don't know what it was in english (/chinese) but you may have noticed, too).

I thought Holden was trying desperately to be pessimistic and to establish a border between him and the other people. So it's really like a rebellious teenager who is in the process of finding his own opinion and thinking about the acting of others (and his friend Sally (?) seemed so shallow, that I can feel with Holden).

Hmm... Don't know if this reply helped you..