"The Catcher In The Rye", J. D. Salinger

The Catcher In The Rye
J. D. Salinger, 1951
Little, Brown and Company, 224 pàgines

It may seem quite pointless to talk about The Catcher In The Rye, as it is one of the greatest classics of XX century's literature. However, after having read the book, I have to admit that I knew absolutely nothing about the nature of the book. Before reading it, I have always thought that it was a very grave novel, with a very significant spiritual content. Now I know I was extremely wrong. The Catcher In The Rye is a novel about a rebellious boy, Holden Cauldfield, that is incapable to find his place on earth. He has been expelled from several schools, because he doesn't feel like studying some kinds of subjects. He has a quite complex personality for his age, and he has the sensation of being above all the boys of his age, and this makes him a conflictive boy. In the novel, we follow him a few days, after having been expelled from Pencey. In this few days, alone in the city, Holden behaves like a young adult, looking for good company and trying to avoid the sadness that invades him.

I think this is a very good novel about the feelings of teenagers and their research for happiness. A fully recommended book.