Posts Tagged ‘driver’

The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger is a controversial book about the challenges of adolescence. The main character, Holden Caulfield, describes a few days in his life that occurred earlier; he writes from a psychiatric facility. The reader gets to experience, primarily from his youthful point of view, the struggles of his adolescence.
Holden is a sad, lonely, depressed boy growing up in a wealthy New York family during the 1950’s. A younger brother has recently died of leukemia, an 11 year old sister lives at home, and an older brother is in California. Holden has attended—and failed out of—many boarding schools. Holden’s dad is a successful lawyer, but little is shared about his mother.
Holden is an adolescent lost in the chasm between childhood and adulthood. He is frightened of the changes he knows are on the horizon, and puts up an armor of cynicism to guard against being hurt and moving forward. He views most adults and many of his peers as “phonies”. The impact of the death of his brother is also a significant factor in Holden’s life. As the story ends, it is hard to be optimistic about this character’s future.
Catcher in the Rye is often read in high school, but I think the poignancy of the book is lost on the typical teen. The perceptive college student will probably be better able to identify, empathize and laugh at Holden and his escapades. Despite some of its dated references it still holds up today as a terrific read.
FIT EITHER DRIVER OR