[Pub Lover]

The Catcher in the Rye

Originally Posted by Tadao

Can anyone tell me why this book is important?

Originally Posted by Nick

Well back in 1951 it was considered really risque in its subject matter and how the young Holden Caulfield thought and what he did. Then its popularity got bumped up a notch when Robert John Brando, John Hickley Jr and Mark David Chapman were all associated with it. Having so many people who harmed and killed such high-profile people made others blame the book as being a bad influence on them and kids in general.

Of course if you picked up a copy and read it right now you'd probably find it really tame and see Holden as more of a worthless little prick than any sort of deep profound intellectual.

So basically hype. It's all hype.

Originally Posted by Tadao

I read it 10 years ago. It's just a rich white boy complaining about rich white boy problems.

So again, why is it important? It really isn't, is it?

Originally Posted by Esuohlim

Probably just because it's a book that includes all sorts of shit that's useful to teach in a high school english class, such as themes and uh symbolism maybe

Originally Posted by Tadao

Er, what theme and symbolism to qualify this book as a must read? It's something an asspie would write.

Originally Posted by Fathom Zero

It is a good shibboleth for outing douchenozzles that might otherwise slip below the radar.