Dr. Frank's What's-it

I haven't dated any Holden Caulfields, and I'm not sure if "Bitter Girl" and I would get along, but it's sort of comforting to know that there are people out there who had the same reaction to re-reading "Catcher In the Rye" in adulthood as I did. The phrase "precious little shit" kept popping into my head. I guess that offically makes me a cranky old bastard, or at least on my way to cranky old bastardom, and I'm only in my 30s.

I read that book when I was 17 and thought that, as a classmate of mine put it, "it's the most goddamn phonyest book I've ever read." I think the biggest reason I felt this was was that I couldn't relate to holden atall. However, after spending a semester at a college that I could not stand and felt completely out of place at, I feel like I should read it again. I guess my point is, I dont know if age has anything to do with it, its more about life experience. Perhaps that is stating the obvious, but thats my take.

I haven't reread the book, but the fact that Salinger was ble to create a 15 year old that resonated with 15 year olds is far more impressive than if he created a character that resonated with people who have memories of being 15 years old. You might think Holden Caulfield is a "precious little shit." The fact is teenagers are obnoxious to anyone who isn't a teenager. I wonder if "King Dork" followed a similar theme.

True enough, Tom and Josh. You could also say it's pretty impressive that 50 odd years later, that book is still capturing the imaginations of 15-year olds, etc. Which is also stating the obvious. I liked the book when I was younger. But I guess I just thought it was interesting that I could outgrow great literature in the same way I outgrew chocolate milk and pajamas with slippers (though I still buy toy dinosaurs, tickets to Star Wars movies, and Aerosmith albums, so go figure).

I went to two different high schools, and thus ended up reading "Catcher" for two different English classes. What was always unsettling for me was the way both my teachers used the text as a springboard for talking about how crazy they were as teenagers. I did not like hearing Mrs. Coffin talk about sex.

Tell me more of this Mrs. Coffin.

Also, Salinger fans, check out his early
SF/genre work, (may have inspired Philip K. Dick, supposedly).

bitter girl sounds hot. she wouldnt be so bitter if she could curl up on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa and rest her pretty little head on my enormous chest while i come up with yet another delightful melody to amaze the masses.

i never saw the huge deal with catcher in the rye. good book, but so was DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOLUME ONE;DRAGONS OF AUTUMN TWILIGHT.

It is probably extremely likely that no one will read this as everyone seems to have given up on this topic atleast a year ago however, i would still like to have my say. I'm 18 years old and i have already read Cathcher in the Rye twice and i think some of the individuals here have missed the importance of Holden's extreme cynicism and hypocracy. Perhaps due to their age. It is my belief that Holden's cynicism is meant to show young men, adolescents if u will, that the world isn't as truthful and wholesome as they have been lead to believe up until this point. It seems to me as if it is meant to show individuals who don't understand the true harshness and ways of the world how it really is a book to open their eyes. As well as an arguement against becoming a part of that fake money driven world. Then again maybe i don't know what i'm talking about.