Re: In search of User Perspectives on Catcher in the Rye

J J R (jrovira@juno.com)
Sun, 29 Nov 1998 16:12:53 -0500 (EST) 

1)Rate "Catcher in the Rye" on a scale of 1 to 10 for overall excellence 
(10 being the highest) __________

It has a good beat and you can dance to it...eh...I'd give it a seven :)

2)Describe, briefly, the main plot of the book

Angst-ridden teenage boy Holden Caulfield has been expelled from his
private school and is taking three days or so to go home after being
expelled, in order to maintain the appearance of still being enrolled to
his parents, at least until he actually  gets home.  In the process of
leaving his school and returning home he has various encounters with
different kind of people, all of whom confirm for him the hypocrisy of
the adult world.  He has decided to finally run away from society
entirely, but was stopped by his little sister Phoebe, in the end.   The
book is written from a point of view after the fact--Holden seems to be
writing this account for some kind of psychological evaluation, or for
the sake of therapy.  The events take place in the northeast, but Holden
is writing somewhere in CA.



3)Was there psychological development of the characters?


Holden's development consisted of being able to write about the events
after the fact, and being able to remain in human society rather than
completely distance himself from it.  




4)Please state the time and place of the novel (geographical, 
historical, social, whatever).

See above.  The era would seem to be the mid to late 1950s, I think.

5)What emotional experience did you get from the novel?

I was intrigued by Holden's voice--for a completely first person account,
I felt that the narrator--however solipsistic or immature--was not so
much so that he didn't have respect for his readers.  I felt drawn in
rather than beat over the head.  I also identified with Holden's
frustrated idealism and sense of isolation.




6)What information, if any, did you get from the novel? Was there a 
theme?



Frustrated idealism and a sense of isolation :)  



7)Describe the philosophical attitude of the author?


Frustrated idealism and sense of isolation :)


8)How readable was the book...was it difficult in language and content?


Very readable...see above.



9)Please list the main characters and their ages, as you remember them.

Holden--mid teens.  Phoebe--tenish?  Mr. Antolini--40ish?  Holden's
roomate at the college--17ish?  The disgusting boy in the next room --
15ish?  Retired old guy from the college--70sish?  Women Holden met at
the club--early 20s.  Hooker in the hotel--mid 20s?  Elevator man--mid
30s?  


10)What are some other books that fans of "Catcher in the Rye" might 
enjoy?


Not necessarily the rest of Salilnger's work, but Franny and Zooey would
be a good place to start.  Possibly "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John
Irving--it's written on a lower level, but is a first person account of a
frustrated idealist, like Catcher.  

Jim




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