J.D. Salinger is an American author who wrote the
famous novel “The Catcher in the Rye.” It was written in
1951, (encyclopedia, Pg. 60). It ranks as a minor
classic. This story is popular among American high
school and college students. Salinger was born in New
York City in 1919. His full name is Jarome David
Salinger. Salinger has written several other books in
his life. Salinger wrote some later fiction that
centered on the Glass Family. These books included
Franny and Zooey, Rise High the Roof Beam, and Carpenters
on Seymore. He writes extremely comical books.
II. Synopsis
The book “The Catcher in the Rye,” was an
interesting novel. It includes a teenage boy named
Holden. Holden just got kicked out of a prep school
named Pensey, because he did not keep his grades up. He
knew he was going home that next week. One night a few
days before he was getting sent home he left the school.
He really had no idea where he was going. He couldn’t go
home because he wasn’t sure whether his parents knew he
was kicked out of Pensey or not. First off he goes to a
hotel to stay. He had many experiences that night. One
example was when he had a prostitute in his room at one
minute and was getting beat up the next. Needless to say
he had some bad experiences that night. He was in search
of self-understanding and the meaning of life. Holden is
trying to decide what to do with his life and where to
go. He finally goes home to see his sister, with whom he
feels close to. He thinks of going west and being a
deaf-mute. When he is all packed up to go, he leaves a
note with his sister at the school. She meets him and
tells him that she is going with him. He tells her no.
Then he realizes that the idea of this trip was
unrealistic. He goes home and sees his parents. His
parents enrolled into another school.
III Analysis of the Theme
This story teaches a good lesson on how to deal with
situations in life the right way. In this story Holden
runs from his problems to make them better. I saw all
the trouble that it got him into. First he should have
stayed in school or at least gone home to face his
parents after he was kicked out. Holden was in search of
himself. He wanted to see what he could do or be. He
went about it all the wrong way. He should have applied
himself at the first school that he went to and prevent
so many problems. Then he would go further quicker. I
learned not to run from your problems because they will
always catch up with you.
IV. Character
The main character in this story is Holden. He is
a teenage boy that is having a hard time staying in
school. He is not the conceited type or the really shy
type. He was really confused and had no idea what
direction his life should follow when he went to Pencey
Prep. He had to find out who he was on his little
adventure when he left Pencey. It seemed like everything
depressed him. He really learns fast. In about two days
he went from wondering where he was going to get it all
back together. He realized who and what was important to
him. He is a pretty smart and level headed guy. He
learned quite a bunch on this little adventure. He had
a different way of looking at things than most people.
Everything is really depressing to him. The most
important person in his life is his sister. He had a
few girlfriends along the way, but he did not know how to
get along with them very well.
V. Conclusion
This was a really good novel. It is the type of
book that once you pick it up you cannot put it down. It
has many good characters in this book. The values in
this book are great. It has valuable lessons in it. It
relates to many teenagers. That is probably why it is
popular among high school and college students. I was
really impressed by and enjoyed this book. I definitely
see why it is on the list. I would recommend this book
to all my friends. This is one of the best books that I
have read. This has many life lessons in this book that
I can relate to. The lessons in this book will really
help me later in life.I really enjoyed The Catcher in
the Rye.
