The Catcher In The Rye...

[naomi24]

...by J D Salinger, a book somehow missed from my 'should do' list as a student and only recently read - and what an extraordinary little book it is. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone - it really isn't everyone's cup of tea - but for me it was a real page-turner. The language alone fascinated me. It has now been added to my collection of 'favourites'.

Does anyone have any thoughts about it?

[JimF]

It's such a classic, that you're almost supposed to find it wonderful. And you're supposed to somehow know why Mark Chapman killed John Lennon or why every American teenager is into all that weird stuff.

I find it tedious in the extreme! I guess I'm just not interested in the "David Copperfield crap".

[Jackdaw33]

It was on our list at school during the 60s but I only read the first couple of pages.

[Jackdaw33]

I agree with Jim. I have never got past the first few pages of any Jane Austen book yet some think it's wonderful literature.

[elliemay1]

I remember it being on the reading list in the '60s but can't remember what it was about!

[Mozz71]

Holden Caulfield must be the most whiney, unlikeable protagonist in literature. Having said that, when I read it many years ago, I really enjoyed it, maybe because of Holden's unlikeability.

[shoota]

Thank goodness for that - I'm sure I read it too but I'm damned if I can remember the first thing about it...

[JimF]

I get the point about Jane Austen. I simply can't find any frame of reference to hook into it. Same with Dickens, who bores me rigid.

[hellywelly4]

I started to read it a few weeks ago but it didn’t hold my interest at all. Now - To Kill a Mockingbird - well, I was there, in the Deep South on that dusty road......wonderful.

[margarettom]

I love To Kill a Mocking Bird too. And I think the film is very good. I have even seen a very good production at the theatre a few years ago.

[tiggerblue10]

I read it many years ago but must admit I found it a bit boring.

Never read any Dickens but I've read a few Thomas Hardy's which I enjoyed. And Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice.

[pastafreak]

I know I read it...it was de rigueur in the '60s. But remember it...no.
I tried Austen also in the 60s, and didn't understand it. Read them all about 10-12 years ago, and loved them...along with all the Brontes. Need to read them again.

[sanmac]

Hellywelly4, you might be interested in this author. He has to be, in my opinion, the best descriptive fictional authors I have read...You can feel, hear, smell, and envision what you are reading: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/james-lee-burke/dave-robicheaux/

[sanmac]

Oops, I forgot to mention that all his novels are set in New Orleans.

[Hopkirk]

I just don't get Shakespeare. Am I alone?

[tomus42]

I studied it at school as part of the English Lit O level syllabus. I loved it at the time.

[tonyav]

I started to read it as part of an English exam ( very early 1970's ), read the first couple of pages and decided it was boring carp and gave up on it, blagged the written summary.

[tomus42]

You missed out on a good book on account of your short attention span Tony. You should try it again now you're older.

[tonyav]

Nope, I knew carp then just as I know carp now when I read it.

[tomus42]

Ok, well done for knowing carp very quickly. Probably steer clear of books and stuff in the future.

[douglas9401]

Some folk just don't know what's good for them.

Apparently.