MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by MerryMom on Aug 22, 2014 14:38:42 GMT
...I don't get why a lot of people think this is greatest novel ever.
I was watching a show on TV awhile ago about JD Salinger and how people just loved the book, how people sought him out years later. I read the book in high school and didn't care for it and didn't "get" it, I guess. Even when I was a teenager and the book is written from a teenager's perspective, I thought the character was such an immature, whiny, pretentious, a$$hole.
So I was at the library last week and there was a display of classic literature and the book was there and I thought, "Well, I'll give it another try."
So I read it over the weekend and after the first two chapters, I thought, "Nope, I still cannot stand Holden Caulfield, so spoiled and so immature, whining about his life", but I kept reading it.
I finished it last night and I've reached the conclusion that I not only don't like the book at all, but I also do not get why people think it is one of the greatest pieces of literature ever and why so many people cite the book as a major influence and how the book "spoke to them". Is this a case of it was thought to be a great book at the time as it was the first novel presented in that type of tone and now everyone just cites it as a great book because it is "cool".
Now "To Kill a Mockingbird", that's a great novel.
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Post by gillyp on Aug 22, 2014 14:44:46 GMT
I could have written that OP myself! Having never read Catcher in the Rye I deliberately bought it this year and I'm sorry I bothered. There was nothing in the writing to engage me and I really could not see what everyone had been raving about. I'm re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird right now and the writing is so good it's like being wrapped in a warm blanket. imho.  |
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 22, 2014 14:50:10 GMT
I love JD Salinger, but Catcher in the Rye I don't like either. I think it is well written and we aren't supposed to like Holden Caufield, but it is hard to read because of that. Now, Salinger's other books are genius, I think. 9 Stories I read over and over again. I have copies of several of his short stories that were published in magazines, but never in book form, and they are great too. The man could write, but I agree, I don't. Get the CitR love either.
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Post by pierogi on Aug 22, 2014 15:08:11 GMT
I love Catcher In the Rye. I grew up on the East coast, and I know Holden's world, so perhaps that's why. I don't particularly like Holden Caulfield, but I do find him hilarious in a really snarky way.
Catcher is the granddaddy of the YA novel; until it was published nobody had ever wrote such a frank and uncensored first person account with a teenage point-of-view.
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Post by dulcemama on Aug 22, 2014 15:08:54 GMT
I don't really get it either but I think I understand why it is a classic. I really like "Franny and Zooey" though.
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Deleted
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Oct 10, 2024 10:28:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 15:11:04 GMT
I never understood the love, either.
I don't think I'll ever get it. Although, now that I think about it, I do not know one person IRL who has ever loved this book.
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Post by anonrefugee on Aug 22, 2014 15:12:37 GMT
Iwe aren't supposed to like Holden Caufield, but it is hard to read because of that. Now, Salinger's other books are genius, I think. 9 Stories I read over and over again. Maybe that's why it's forced on us in school? I couldn't give my free time to him now. Maybe he's like Woody Allen, people either love/identify with him or don't! |
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tiffanytwisted
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Aug 22, 2014 15:16:51 GMT
I didn't read it until I was an adult, and even then I can only say I appreciated it. Haven't read Franny & Zooey. Will have to look into that one.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 22, 2014 15:24:31 GMT
OMG! Sticking my fingers in my ears and saying: "la la la la I can't hear you!!!!'
I LOVE "Catcher in the Rye." Love, love, love it.
Salinger's description of Jane: "she kept all her kings in the back row" is such an incredibly descriptive statement about a person. It's brilliant writing.
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 22, 2014 15:25:35 GMT
Another great Salinger read is "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters." It's a novella. A quick, but brilliant read.
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Post by Bitchy Rich on Aug 22, 2014 15:36:57 GMT
I just checked out To Kill a Mockingbird to reread this summer and felt the exact same way. I couldn't remember very much about it, since I had read it so long ago. I thought maybe reading it as an adult, I would understand why people rave about it. It was just okay for me. I'm not getting it.
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 22, 2014 15:37:45 GMT
I just checked out To Kill a Mockingbird to reread this summer and felt the exact same way. I couldn't remember very much about it, since I had read it so long ago. I thought maybe reading it as an adult, I would understand why people rave about it. It was just okay for me. I'm not getting it. Okay. Now you guys are just fucking with me, right? |
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Post by anonrefugee on Aug 22, 2014 16:40:38 GMT
Ok, Peabay, you made me laugh. I'll look into 9 Stories and Raise the a Roof Beam...
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Post by Scrapbrat on Aug 22, 2014 16:41:16 GMT
Not everyone loves it. If is my personal all-time favorite novel, but my 20 yr old DS feels exactly like you do. He totally cannot understand why I love this book. Also if you read reviews on Amazion, tons of people say they loved the book as a teen but re-read it as an adult and hated it.
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marianne
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 21:08:26 GMT
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Post by marianne on Aug 22, 2014 16:46:38 GMT
MerryMom I could have written your post as well! I wanted to see what was so special about it and bought the book as an adult. After wading through the angst and whining, I just wanted to smack the kid upside the head! Seriously one of the worst books I ever read; I was sorry I spent the $$ on it. Totally agree with you also on "To Kill a Mockingbird" - great novel, great film.
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 22, 2014 16:46:57 GMT
Not everyone loves it. If is my personal all-time favorite novel, but my 20 yr old DS feels exactly like you do. He totally cannot understand why I love this book. Also if you read reviews on Amazion, tons of people say they loved the book as a teen but re-read it as an adult and hated it. I'm sure that's because you (generic you) identify with Holden as a teen, but with his parents once you're older. That's how I felt watching the first episode of "Girls" on HBO. I was like: "yes, get a real job. Your parents should no longer have to support your lazy ass!" Obviously, I'm not the show's intended audience, lol. |
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marianne
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by marianne on Aug 22, 2014 16:48:32 GMT
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Peal
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Jun 25, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
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Post by Peal on Aug 22, 2014 16:56:25 GMT
Yeah, I finally read it a few years ago because it was a "classic" and I had a goal of reading a certain number of classics that year. I hated it and was glad it was as short as it was.
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Anita
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Post by Anita on Aug 22, 2014 17:13:18 GMT
I've never had to read Catcher in the Rye, but add me to the list of "I don't get it" with To Kill a Mockingbird. I had to read it and do a play about it in 5th grade. Tried it again as an adult. It just merits a "meh" from me, at best. I almost never agree with what is considered great literature. Don't even get me started on the piece of crap that is Madame Bovary. Oy.
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Deleted
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Oct 10, 2024 10:28:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 19:33:38 GMT
peabay, thank you, I am now wiping salad off of my computer! lol
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MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by MerryMom on Aug 22, 2014 20:33:58 GMT
Not everyone loves it. If is my personal all-time favorite novel, but my 20 yr old DS feels exactly like you do. He totally cannot understand why I love this book. Also if you read reviews on Amazion, tons of people say they loved the book as a teen but re-read it as an adult and hated it. I'm sure that's because you (generic you) identify with Holden as a teen, but with his parents once you're older. That's how I felt watching the first episode of "Girls" on HBO. I was like: "yes, get a real job. Your parents should no longer have to support your lazy ass!" Obviously, I'm not the show's intended audience, lol. I didn't like the book when I read it in high school...35 years ago. I didn't identify with Holden Caulfield even then. I thought he was a pretentious, self-absorbed, spoiled A##. |
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Post by Bridget in MD on Aug 22, 2014 20:54:54 GMT
ha! was just having this discussing with a co-worker yesterday and mentioned CITR. Our kids are in the 6th grade and one of the books they have to read is Wrinkle in Time. I hated it as a kid and don't get why it's worth reading now!!!!
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AmeliaBloomer
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Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Aug 22, 2014 23:52:20 GMT
...I thought the character was such an immature, whiny, pretentious, a$$hole. And phony. |
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Post by hennybutton on Aug 23, 2014 0:06:22 GMT
Catcher in the Rye--hated it with a passion.
To Kill a Mockingbird--love it. I read it the first time when I was Scout's age. I've read three more times at different stages of my life and have taken something new away each time. Absolutely my favorite novel.
Madame Bovary--love it. I've read it twice and am astounded by how modern it is. I don't like Emma, but she's interesting and realistic.
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Aug 23, 2014 23:07:47 GMT
OMG! Sticking my fingers in my ears and saying: "la la la la I can't hear you!!!!' I LOVE "Catcher in the Rye." Love, love, love it. Salinger's description of Jane: "she kept all her kings in the back row" is such an incredibly descriptive statement about a person. It's brilliant writing. This right here! It's my favorite book. I've read it more than any other. I can't even explain why I like it; I just do, like a favorite pair of sweatpants. |
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Aug 23, 2014 23:15:14 GMT
I have never read it .... Some parents got together at he beginning of my senior year and I was banned from our school . Guess maybe I should.
I didn't like david copperfiekd in hs so as an adult I tried again and LOVED it..... Went on to read all kinds of dickens
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Post by melanell on Aug 23, 2014 23:49:27 GMT
Yes, and I find that I dislike him even more now than when I read the book as a teen. So it was a brilliant job of making me dislike him--my dislike just keeps growing.  |
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Post by melanell on Aug 23, 2014 23:51:47 GMT
ha! was just having this discussing with a co-worker yesterday and mentioned CITR. Our kids are in the 6th grade and one of the books they have to read is Wrinkle in Time. I hated it as a kid and don't get why it's worth reading now!!!! Wait, what? Are you dissing A Wrinkle in Time??   I loved that book as a kid. |
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I loved that book as a kid.