If I told you how long it’s taken me to read this 234 page book, I assure you would be just as surprised as I still am. I started this book last summer because it was a classic book I never read in school. I felt that I was getting to an age where I would be expected to have read it by now. I have a whole list of books like this that I am slowly working my way through. I started this book last summer because I thought it would be a good idea to do a bit of easy reading when I wasn’t studying for the LSAT. However, life has a funny way of being busy, and I am very guilty of falling asleep with the TV still on. If I want to get a bit of pleasure reading done, I have found that reading a chapter or so in the morning on my balcony with my coffee is the best way to make a dent in some of my books, for the ebs and flows of the school year make it difficult to consistently work on any book that isn’t for a class.
To say that I was sold hook, line, and sinker from the very first page would be an understatement. The only reason it took me almost a year and a half to finish is that I kept picking it up and putting it back down again. Of the American classics, I would probably argue that this is one of the easiest ones to read. The chapters are short, and the language isn’t prissy by any means. The Catcher in the Rye is told from the point of view of a witty teenage boy, Holden Caufield. He details the events of a few days after being expelled from yet another east coast boarding school. However, the tone of this book is oddly refreshing. Holden has many problems, as many of the best characters often do, but he is captivating from the get go. I genuinely cannot say that many characters are capable of just that. While overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read, my one criticism would probably be that the actual plot of this book is lacking. It just feels like a series of wandering destinations and encounters, yet you don’t seem to mind it one bit as a reader. The Catcher in the Rye doesn’t have the traditional beginning, middle, and end that most stories do. Instead, you watch as Holden evolves (or devolves) over such a short period of time, and you follow the entire thing from his perspective.
Truly one of the most captivating books I have read in a while, The Catcher in the Rye is a story of innocence and mental health, which are two ideas very pertinent in regard to the teens of today. However, it is Holden’s connection to his family, specifically his little sister Phoebe, that I find to be most interesting. For a seemingly tough guy that has been on his own in boarding schools for quite some time, he has the biggest sweet spot for his sister. As an only child, I can only imagine sibling relationships, but the connection between Holden and Phoebe is enough to make my little heart melt.
After taking forever to finish this book, I was on the hunt for a book club. I want to read the classics, and I want a sense of urgency to finish them in a timely manner. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find a book club in Los Angeles?! It’s like this city doesn’t even read anymore! There are a few book clubs online, but I don’t think they would be a great fit. I want to find other people my age, but I don’t think book clubs are popular for people in their early twenties. I’ll keep looking, but I might just have to start my own!
xx
Emily
