Emily Zhao's Bookshelf

Considered a classic, Catcher in the Rye is often read in English class and revolutionary in how it begin conversations about adolescence and deconstructing the narrative of "boys don't cry". I personally did not like the plot or Holden, but recognize why the story itself made a profound impact on some and enjoy the conversation it sparks about the fear of growing up.

Holden is endlessly complaining about all the people around him, often calling them "phonies" and lashing out, yet still yearning for real human connection. He is going through the loss of his brother and his rebellious and strange actions can be seen as an emotional response to being deeply hurt on the inside. It's clear that he is depressed, lonely, scared of the future, and cares for his family - all qualities that make for an interesting and tragic male lead, but I seriously cannot get over how contrived and bland the plot is. He criticizes his classmates at school, runs away, messes around the city for a while, and tries to talk to multiple girls before ultimately failing and running away again. I enjoyed the part where he cares for his sister, but it's heavily outweighed by the amount of time he is just escaping his problems through drink, attempting to talk to women, and crashing in random places.

I understand how his character can be relatable, after all, who isn't afraid of growing up and who doesn't feel like the people are surrounded by are fake? The societal expectations of having a family, job, and being put together leads many adolescents to fear for the time when they will be out of style and forced to join the corporate machine, while adults already within those spaces are feel unable to express their authentic selves. I think the point of the novel is to be from a confused, hurt teenager's point of view, but as a teenager who does feel worried about my future and wants to return to childhood, it still doesn't make up for the fact that I just did not enjoy the writing or the plot. To me, Holden's repetitive tonality and hypocritical nature ruined any relatability or positive feelings I had towards the novel.

Ultimately, out of the context of the story, the theme and message can be appealing, but the way it is executed did make me put down the book many times before forcing myself to finish it. His average, unremarkable days slog together into one dull, gray slush, and his inability to express himself out of his little catchphrases make it so impossible to enjoy.