catcher in the rye... (1 Viewer)

[Gregor Samsa]

why does Holden lie so much?

in the book, he even admitted to being a liar.

Its a literary device, the 'Unreliable Narrator'. The idea is that it reinforces the protagonist/narrator's subjectivity, and renders other events as questionable. Makes the narrative consciousness more realistic, and serves to open the text. Some good examples of this device;

Joseph Conrad-Heart of Darkness (Despite stating that he detests the thought of a lie, Marlow nevertheless deceives Kurtz's Intended in the novella's climax.) [
Ford Maddox Ford-The Good Soldier (Another Impressionist novel. John Dowell continually emphasises his own doubt and incertitude.)
Kazuo Iziguro-The Remains of the Day

Its a very interesting technique when used well.

On another level however, Holden's 'confession' may also be viewed as establishing honesty (in his perception), as opposed to the hypocritical society he criticises.

 

[Anka]

Glad I could be of help, Mandalay

 

[kaz1]

It's an awesome book.

Thought this thread need a bump since the great man JD Sallinger died.

 

[Soubrette]

It's an awesome book.

Thought this thread need a bump since the great man JD Sallinger died.

I wonder if any new works will be released? It's thought he kept writing as a recluse, so even though it's a sad event, I hope we'll maybe have some new work...

 

[BlueCatBulletCD]

Ive never read it, but ive seen it in my parents bookshelf.

 

[artist91]

oh my gosh i love this book so much. it's like a right of passage to read it by the time you're 16 in the states. it's very good, highly recommend it.

 

[klaris]

tbh, it is overrated.

 

[Stringer Bell]

J.D Salinger; a squalid nazi-sympathizing hermit, who managed only one significant novel, before retreating to his sordid hole, so exhausted was he by this one short childrens novel (less a novel, more a long cynical whinge for child minds) he never produced another work- instead spending the rest of his life in constant, and absurdly paranoid, combat with his team of lawyers; making sure no one but himself could ever profit from Catcher. A soiled book, for soiled minds.

 

[audioxdoll]

Heard so much about this book, how great it is blah blah blah. Just no.

Boring, pointless, a random collection of thoughts that i couldnt care less about. But definetly does not live up to the hype that surrounds it.
And maybe Chapman decided to kill Lennon because the book made him so f*ing bored he needed something to do.

Perhaps its just different eras, different interests, but the average 21st century teen will never appreicate the controversial references which made it so infamous, myself included.

 

[^CoSMic DoRiS^^]

I originally read it because some cartoon I was watching (can't remember which one but anyway) kept making references to it and I got confused because I obviously had no idea what they were talking about.

It was awesome and reading all the references from the show in context illuminated my understanding of that, too.

It's not a book you can read more than once though IMO. I gave it a go but books like that are never as good on the second try

 

[terminator69]

J.D Salinger; a squalid nazi-sympathizing hermit, who managed only one significant novel, before retreating to his sordid hole, so exhausted was he by this one short childrens novel (less a novel, more a long cynical whinge for child minds) he never produced another work- instead spending the rest of his life in constant, and absurdly paranoid, combat with his team of lawyers; making sure no one but himself could ever profit from Catcher. A soiled book, for soiled minds.

Sadly, that is a pretty good summary. But even though he was like this, I think acknowledging these strange attributes when analysing the book, seems to add meaning and depth to it.

 

[PH011]

Loved catcher lol
loved the notion of vagabondage (look it up) and finding life/purpose... Dunno..
hard to explain

 

[Miss Melly]

haha i had a fight with my extension english teacher over this book...i refused to read it - then dropped the subject because of it

 

[Taketheatrain]

I originally read it because some cartoon I was watching (can't remember which one but anyway) kept making references to it and I got confused because I obviously had no idea what they were talking about.

It was awesome and reading all the references from the show in context illuminated my understanding of that, too.

It's not a book you can read more than once though IMO. I gave it a go but books like that are never as good on the second try

Actually, I got more out of it on my second reading. I think you take away different things from a book as you age. I enjoyed it the first time but I sympathised more with Holden the second time.

 

[Soubrette]

haha i had a fight with my extension english teacher over this book...i refused to read it - then dropped the subject because of it

Why did you refuse to read it? It's hard to make judgments about a book when you haven't read it yet. For example, I read Twilight first before I bagged it out profusely, at least then your opinions are at least somewhat supported.

 

[kaz1]

haha i had a fight with my extension english teacher over this book...i refused to read it - then dropped the subject because of it

lol, what an idiot

 

[NewiJapper]

I had to study it for our AOS in year 11 on alienation.


Holden is a phonie and always will be. I'm glad Salinger died about a week ago as he will never produce utter annoying crap like this ever again.

 

[audioxdoll]

I had to study it for our AOS in year 11 on alienation.


Holden is a phonie and always will be. I'm glad Salinger died about a week ago as he will never produce utter annoying crapy like this ever again.

^ this.

 

[Makro]

Sadly, that is a pretty good summary. But even though he was like this, I think acknowledging these strange attributes when analysing the book, seems to add meaning and depth to it.

I don't think I've even seen that much bias in the daily telegraph! I thought it was hilarious how he was famous for not wanting to be famous. It's a piece of fiction and whoever wrote that quote is treating it like he was the author of a be-all and end-all book.

 

[Alice_in_wonder]

salinger wrote other books? i was told he only ever wrote one book and then he became famous.. or something.. -_-"

I think he did. But they weren't as well received as Catcher in the Rye. Several short stories.. and a much primitive Catcher in the Rye, where the main character was called Phillip? I think i'm wrong on the name... but something like that...