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acrosstheuniverse agreed:

I never had to read this book in high school, but I did try reading it a few summers ago. I also didn’t get into the book. Maybe it was the way it was narrated or something, but I just couldn’t fall in love with it. I think I got to chapter 5 or something and sent it back to the library!

Malgosia agreed:

I read this book at least 10 years ago but my dislike of it is so memorable that it still evokes strong emotion. I couldn’t stand the main character, Holden. Simply put, he was a loser. I just wanted a truck to run him over so I wouldn’t have to hear his inane thoughts anymore.

Others have told me that you have to be a teenage boy to “get it”. Really? Is that what teenage boys are like?

windwind agreed:

I totaly agree. I think it has to do with people believing that everyone wants to stay a child, innocent, pure, real blah blah blah… like what’s with his brother, why doesn’t he like him being a Hollywood celeb and all that? Children want to grow up, and by the way I don’t think they’re such wonderful creatures anyway… By the way I don’t agree with the ducks being so great either. I guess they fly away, what’s the big deal?

oLahav agreed with:

Yeah, I hate kids too.

I totally agree, Holden keeps going about the world being “fake” and whatnot, and his brother becoming materialistic and selling his soul out… but he’s more fake than any of them.

The ducks point is deeper than just flying away, the fact that Holden doesn’t understand why it happens symbolizes his own situation- he wants to fly away like a duck and grow up, but he’s not sure if he’s supposed to do that or just freeze with the ice and not change and stay a kid. I like that point not because I like Holden’s journey, but because it sort of shows that on some level, Holden knows he’s an annoying idiot who doesn’t understand life and the world. If he knows he’s an awful character himself, how can anybody argue?

And I don’t think teenage boys are like him at all. Just the insane ones. Probably some insane teenage girls too, to be fair.

windwind agreed:

Wow, I didn’t think about the ducks being a symbol before. Do you have any books that you recommend for reading?

oLahav agreed with:

Sure check out this discussion. And feel free to post some of your own suggestions!

oLahav agreed with:

I’ll agree with the fact that the author succeeded in getting into the depressed teenage frame of mind for this character in an extraordinary manner. However, I really don’t think people are like that… not even depressed teenagers, and I’ve known quite a bunch of those.

Teenage depression is a very serious matter, and I think that it may be getting a bit out of hand in some societies. But after reading this book, which can actually encourage depression and make it seem as if feeling isolated and bitter towards the world is a natural thing and there’s nothing wrong about it, I don’t believe it does a very good job at fighting depression at all. And that’s a bad thing.

But it’s perfectly fair for you to enjoy this book, after all many people consider it a classic and a must-read, so there must be something to it.

chandra_avinash agreed:

While I do feel that it’s over rated, I disagree when you say that the book encourages depression. I guess part of the appeal of the book lies in how it portrays Holden’s angst and cynicism as its expression and at the same time, shows us how much he cares for his sister. Holden as a character is pretty unique and his cynicism makes him quite a caricature of the stereotypical “hard man”. I wonder if you guys have read Vernon God Little? I hope I am not alone when I say that I see similiarities in the characters.