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The Catcher in the Rye By J.D Salinger Jerome David Salinger (1919- ) J .D. Salinger was born and raised in Manhattan, New York. He was the son of a prosperous Jewish importer of kosher cheese, and his Scotch-Irish, wife. As a child he was nicknamed Sonny. The Family live in a beautiful apartment on Park Avenue. After many restless studies at prep schools, he was sent to Valley Forge Military academy. He attended School there from 1934 to 1936. When Jerome was eighteen in 1937 he spent five months in Europe. In 1939 Salinger took a class in short story writing at Columbia University under Whit Burnett, founder-editor of the story magazine. During World War II he was drafted into the infantry and was involved in the invasion of Normandy. Salinger was hospitalized for stress. After serving in the Army Signal Corps and Counter Intelligence Corps from 1942 to 1946, he devoted himself to writing. Salinger's first novel, // The Catcher in the Rye, // became immediately a Book-of-the-Month Club selection and won huge international acclaim. It sells still some 250,000 copies annually. Salinger did not do much to help publicity, and asked that his photograph should not be used in connection with the book. Synopsis The Catcher in the Rye is a tale of a 16 year old boarding school student named Holden Caulfield. The book begins the day Holden left Pencey Prep a private boarding school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. He's off on his own in the shadows as he watches his fellow students enjoy the football game, knowing he will not return after Christmas break. He was expelled From Pencey for failing four classes and not applying himself. This was not the first instance that something like this occurred. Holden has experienced expulsion many times before. Before Holden makes his final exit he has one important stop and that is to visit his History professor Mr. Spencer, who was laid up in bed with the grippe. Mr. Spencer had written him a note indicating that he wanted to see him before he left. After visiting Mr. Spencer and his wife Holden returned to his quiet dorm room. Soon after returning he was visited by his unhygienic neighbor Ackley. When his roommate, Stradlater came home, he informed Holden of his upcoming blind date with a girl named Jane. Jane Gallagher was a friend of Holden's whom he admired greatly. When Stradlater returned from his date, Holden and he had a fight which resulted in Holden deciding to leave for New York that night. While on the train he encountered the mother of a fellow Pencey student. Holden decided to mess with her. He went on about her son telling what a great guy and humble guy he was when in actuality he was a bastard. After arriving in New York, Holden checked into the Edmont Hotel. Upon entering his crummy room he was subjected to many interesting sights outside his window, including viewing a man dressed as a woman. He proceeded to the Lavender room where he attempted to order drinks, but was refused because he was a minor. He spent the evening in the company of three older women dancing and talking. Late in the night he was involved in an altercation with the elevator operator over the proposed payment to a prostitute. Holden's escapades while avoiding facing his parents give insight into the turmoil within him. His criticism of his surroundings and stereotype of strangers he calls phonies show the darkness within him.

Criticisms The book is at times gloomy and dark as it follows Holden's downward spiral, but Mr. Salinger truly taps into the teenager’s angst. Despite having been banned for the rough language used in the book, The Catcher in the Rye capture's the inner feelings of its main character, Holden Caulfield. The language used is that of a discontented youth and depicts true life.

Why Read? Even though this book was written in the 1940's, the struggles and frustration of its main character are similar to those felt by the youth of today. The modes of transportation, technologies available and recreational activities may have changed but the slice of life depiction of the rites of passage are still relevant.

Works cited "J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in The Rye (1951)", __Lone Star College-Kingwood Library.__ 25, March, 2009 []

"J.D. Salinger" __Biographicon.__ 12,March, 2009 [] [|<< First] [|< Previous] [|Next >] [|Last >>]