*J.D. Salinger just passed away, at 91 years old. I thought it appropriate to review one of his many works--in his memory.
Pages: 214
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fiction
Back Cover Synopsis: "The story is told in the first person by Holden. The book covers the three days in his life after being kicked out of Pencey Prep, right before the Christmas holidays, circa 1949. Having already been kicked out of other schools and not yet wanting to face his parents, he visits his history teacher, old Mr. Spencer, who was forced to flunk him and heads back to his dorm. He then decides to set off and spend a few days alone in New York City after a few unpleasant experiences with his fellow dorm students, particularly when his roommate comes home after "showing Jane Gallagher a good time". Holden used to know Jane Gallagher, and he held her in high esteem, and throughout the book his thoughts turn to her.
Holden loiters around New York, drinking heavily and meeting various people, becoming increasingly depressed as he spends more time there. Holden repeatedly observes that people around him are "phonies" because of their actions. Holden has a run-in with a prostitute and her pimp at his hotel leaving him swindled for an extra $5. Later he has a date with one of his previous girlfriends, Sally Hayes. They head to the theatre and go ice skating. The experience leaves him more depressed as he realises that they do not have much in common. Through his depression he finally decides to go home and sneak into his house to see his kid sister Phoebe. He has a short conversation with her, and she lends him some of the money she got for Christmas, but he is forced to flee when his parents come home.
Towards the end of the book, Holden visits Mr. Antolini, the only teacher he's ever trusted. Although his teacher gave him very wise and beneficial advice for his future, and lets Holden sleep on his couch, Holden awakens to find Mr. Antolini stroking his forehead. Why he does this is never revealed, but Holden initially thinks that Mr. Antolini is making a homosexual overture. He hastily excuses himself with a lie and leaves. Later on, he thinks he may have assumed too much. Holden sleeps in the train station, and in the morning decides he is going to hitchhike to the West and build a cabin for himself away from the people he knows; he plans to pretend he is a deaf mute holding a normal job. However, he can't leave without saying goodbye to Phoebe, even more so because he still has her Christmas money.
Holden goes to Phoebe's school and through the headteacher's secretary, sends her a note saying that he is leaving home for good and she should meet him at lunchtime at the museum of art. When Phoebe arrives, she is carrying a suitcase full of clothes and asks Holden to take her with him. He refuses angrily, realizing he is influencing her badly because she wants to go with him instead of behaving in school and playing a key role in her school play. She cries and refuses to speak to him. Knowing she will follow, Holden walks to the zoo, letting her anger lift. After walking through the zoo, with a short distance between them, they visit a park across the street. Phoebe starts talking to Holden again and Holden promises to go back home. He buys her a ticket for the carousel in the park and watches her ride an old horse on it. As Holden watches her ride the carousel, his mood gets better. Soon, he is so happy that he is almost moved to tears. Holden's narration ends here. He mentions in passing that he has been sick, that he has visited a psychoanalyst, and that he is going to another school in the fall."
Review: This is one of those books that almost all high school or college students have to read at least once. I didn't have the pleasure of reading it until my last year of college--and I was an English major (seems like I should've read it years before).I fell absolutely in love with this book from the first chapter. Holden Caulfield is one of my favorite literary characters. He was a boy in trouble--emotionally and sometimes physically. But, he was endearing. He was sometimes kind unexpectedly, and so on. There were several times I laughed out loud because of his male antics--even though he is an anti-hero.
I've heard so many mixed feelings about this classic, that it can be hard to form your own opinion. But it is definitely worth the effort. I've found that you either hate this book or love it. I loved it. Many of my close friends hated it. And to be honest, I'll never understand why. Some complained of language or content, but that is what defined the character. It was necessary for Holden to be Holden. There is no other way around it.
If you've ever wondered about this book, give it a chance. You don't have to understand it. Heck, you don't even have to like it. Just give it some of your time and discover YOUR opinion. It's a classic for a reason. Try and discover what that reason could be.
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