I bought this book just a week or so before Salinger died. I finished the book I was reading a few days after his passing and decided to finally read this alleged masterpiece — and masterpiece it is, indeed. I wish I would have read it when I was 17, but alas, I waited until age 31. Nevertheless, I remember what it was like to be 17, and honestly, I related to the character Holden Caulfield a lot today; even as a married father and professional “phony.” I can only imagine how utterly groundbreaking this book must have been when it was first published in 1951.
What I loved about the book: I could say “everything,” because I did, but I’ll give a few specifics. First, I loved the voice in which it was written. Holden is sarcastic, snotty, and just way too cool for almost everything — just like I was when I was 17. I loved the exaggerations and hyperbole. I identified with his descent into near-madness, being in that awkward stage between childhood and adulthood, not knowing what to do, not really understanding or not wanting to deal with the consequences of your actions, really just not being ready to grow up. As Holden wanders New York in a sleep-deprived stupor, he explores these issues within his mind; he jumps from one feeling to another, and breaks down and cries more than once. It truly is a powerful novel, and one of the three best I’ve ever read. Five stars all the way.
The book is just 214 pages and a breeze to read. If you haven’t read it, you should. I’ve been reading a lot of “classic” novels lately and this is the first one that I know for a fact I will be reading again in the future. I could see myself reading this every couple of years for the rest of my life — it was that good.
Michigan Industrial Tools 1