Book Thoughts: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

We just finished reading and discussing The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger for book club this
month. More people enjoyed it than I thought there'd be! I guess poor old Holden is a sympathetic character after all!

I first read this book back in 2008 and reviewed it then. My feelings haven't really changed since then. I do like Holden. I feel sorry for him. He needs help. The book is interesting as a character study. Re-reading it now I caught more things than I did the first time around. For instance, I was much more tuned into his suicidal thoughts, the fact that he was extremely depressed about his brother's death (something he's never gotten over,) that he has a terrible self image which is why he's cutting everyone else down, and that he's actually a really nice guy and does a ton of nice things for most of the characters in the book. I'm glad that by the end this story, we understand that he's in treatment and here's hoping it worked!

Anyway, I gathered some quotes that stood out to me, which I'd love to share:

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.  That doesn't happen much though."

"I didn't answer him. All I did was, I got up and went over and looked out the window. I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead."

"Sleep tight, ya morons!"

"By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know, by any chance?"

"The #($(#% movies.They can ruin you. I'm not kidding."

"I mean you'd be different in some way-- I can't explain what I mean. And even if I could, I'm not sure I'd feel like it."

"I'd rather have a $%&* horse. A horse is at least human for God's sake."

"I shouldn't have. I laughed. And I have one of these very loud, stupid laughs. I mean if I ever sat behind myself in a movie or something, I'd probably lean over and tell myself to please shut up."

"That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy."

"I mean how do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don't. I think I am, but how do I know? I swear it's a stupid question."

"It's funny. Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."



And just for kicks, I looked up the poem by Robert Burns from which this book gets its title:

Comin Thro' The Rye

O, Jenny's a' weet, poor body,
  Jenny's seldom dry:
She draigl't a' her petticoatie,
  Comin thro' the rye!

Comin thro' the rye, poor body,
  Comin thro' the rye,
She draigl't a' her petticoatie,
  Comin thro' the rye!

Gin a body meet a body
  Comin thro' the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body,
  Need a body cry?

Gin a body meet a body
  Comin thro' the glen,
Gin a body kiss a body,
  Need the warl' ken?

Gin a body meet a body
  Comin thro' the grain;
Gin a body kiss a body,
  The thing's a body's ain.

So, it remains a fascinating book for me. What about you? Have you read it? Are you a fan? Do you want to be Holden's friend?