The Catcher in the Rye has never been about Holden…
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The Catcher in the Rye has never been about Holden Caulfield.
Just finished reading this book for the first time (I’m (30F) very late to the party, I know), and I’m looking to discuss it with people!
How do we feel about Mr. Antolini? To me, he isn’t a creep but someone who genuinely cares for Holden like a little brother, and because Holden has been abused and never got that kind of care from his parents, he’s unable to see Mr. Antolini for who he is. But I’m also open to the idea that I just desperately want the wise teacher to be a good guy.
Why do people assume that those who love this book also love Holden? In reading negative reviews, that’s the idea that so many of them have in common. It seems people equate “I relate to and sympathize with Holden” to “I idolize Holden and want to \*be\* him.” In my opinion, these people are actually the ones putting him on a pedestal. TCITR could have been about John Smith who is overly positive about everything and tries his absolute hardest at school and is a major cinephile, and I still would have loved it if it was written in the same way (elusive and misdirecting). Sometimes a story isn’t even about its main character, but rather what they are able to teach you.
My review copied and pasted for reference:
*Five stars*
“How do you rate a book that started with you thinking, “This writing style is kind of flat. I don’t know if I’ll get into this,” then moved on to, “Okay, not much is happening. Kind of boring, but I like having to read between the lines,” and finally… “Holden’s story has changed me, mind, body, and soul. I have so many thoughts and no one to discuss them with,”? Yeah, sure, five stars seems about right.
The Catcher in the Rye’s genius lies in what it doesn’t say - what is refuses to lay out for its reader, plain and simple and packaged in an entertaining, obvious way. If you want to learn something from the story, you will have to give it something in return: time. Time to think critically and deeply. Time to analyze and reflect. Time to allow yourself to not be distracted by constant action and appealing but shallow packages. These are the kinds of stories that we need now more than ever.
As for Holden? He’s a rich kid being handed a plethora of opportunities. He has the world at his fingertips, but what is the world and all its riches worth to a traumatized, grieving kid who can’t see past the next hour? He’s whiny, pessimistic, and as phony as the phonies he pretends to hate. He’s also deeply depressed, abused, desperate for his parents’ attention, and loving people in the best way he knows how, even though he’s terrified that they will disappear just as easily as Allie did. It’s not about his supposed hatred for movies, just like it’s not about his fascination with where the ducks go. It’s only ever been about what those things represent.
The line “God, I wish you were here” has never been as impactful to me as it was on these pages.”
#entertainment
source
Just finished reading this book for the first time (I’m (30F) very late to the party, I know), and I’m looking to discuss it with people!
How do we feel about Mr. Antolini? To me, he isn’t a creep but someone who genuinely cares for Holden like a little brother, and because Holden has been abused and never got that kind of care from his parents, he’s unable to see Mr. Antolini for who he is. But I’m also open to the idea that I just desperately want the wise teacher to be a good guy.
Why do people assume that those who love this book also love Holden? In reading negative reviews, that’s the idea that so many of them have in common. It seems people equate “I relate to and sympathize with Holden” to “I idolize Holden and want to \*be\* him.” In my opinion, these people are actually the ones putting him on a pedestal. TCITR could have been about John Smith who is overly positive about everything and tries his absolute hardest at school and is a major cinephile, and I still would have loved it if it was written in the same way (elusive and misdirecting). Sometimes a story isn’t even about its main character, but rather what they are able to teach you.
My review copied and pasted for reference:
*Five stars*
“How do you rate a book that started with you thinking, “This writing style is kind of flat. I don’t know if I’ll get into this,” then moved on to, “Okay, not much is happening. Kind of boring, but I like having to read between the lines,” and finally… “Holden’s story has changed me, mind, body, and soul. I have so many thoughts and no one to discuss them with,”? Yeah, sure, five stars seems about right.
The Catcher in the Rye’s genius lies in what it doesn’t say - what is refuses to lay out for its reader, plain and simple and packaged in an entertaining, obvious way. If you want to learn something from the story, you will have to give it something in return: time. Time to think critically and deeply. Time to analyze and reflect. Time to allow yourself to not be distracted by constant action and appealing but shallow packages. These are the kinds of stories that we need now more than ever.
As for Holden? He’s a rich kid being handed a plethora of opportunities. He has the world at his fingertips, but what is the world and all its riches worth to a traumatized, grieving kid who can’t see past the next hour? He’s whiny, pessimistic, and as phony as the phonies he pretends to hate. He’s also deeply depressed, abused, desperate for his parents’ attention, and loving people in the best way he knows how, even though he’s terrified that they will disappear just as easily as Allie did. It’s not about his supposed hatred for movies, just like it’s not about his fascination with where the ducks go. It’s only ever been about what those things represent.
The line “God, I wish you were here” has never been as impactful to me as it was on these pages.”
#entertainment
source
| 4,000 mlx | |
| 5 | |
| 0 |