Catcher In The Rye

[Tweed]

Was "Catcher In The Rye" a cult novel prior to the Mark Chapman murder of John Lennon or did it become so because of it?

[plautus]

It was a bit of a cult thing before the Beatles even became famous. I have vague memories of reading it at school but never quite understood it.

[starone]

I never read it, but have always been curious about it. It has been there forever long before the Beatles were thought of.

[DrFilth]

we had to read it at school in the sixties same as plautus

read it twice since very enjoyable

[Tweed]

Many thanks for the quick answers folks. I suppose the Lennon connection just raised its cult status somewhat.

[R1Geezer]

It's a US standard school study book, bit like, we have "Kes", "late night on watling st", "Brave new world", etc. It has featured in several films after the Lennon incident though.

[heathfield]

It was published in 1951, and was acclaimed from the start. Never understood why, unless it was because it woke America up by letting parents know the sort of delinquents their children were growing into. Later it became popular among the younger set, who seemed to want to use it as a sort of role model book. Forerunner of the whole James Dean 'rebel' concept for adolecent behaviour.

[Old_Geezer]

No expert but I think it was popular before the Beatles.

I chose to read it once, and at he end wondered what all the fuss was about. It was an ok read, but nothing to write home about.

[jno]

it also became famous in part because the author was so reclusive - didn't write much more, didn't give interviews. It seemed to capture the confusion of being a teenager, at a time when the concept of teenagers was just beginning.

[carmalee]

I hate to admit this but it was one book on my syllabus that I never read - (mind you we were still writing on stone slabs then) - I sort of 'winged it' in the exams. Just recently have thought I may like to actually read it. I believe it had a following before the connection with the Lennon murder but of course afterwards it took on iconic status.

[jno]

it was iconic well before that, carmalee, it's always been famous.

[carmalee]

jno - agree, my point was that the Lennon murder catapulted it into overdrive. There's no question that more people knew about the book after the event.

[Khandro]

Some books, and many other forms of art, - painting, cinema etc. had their greatest resonance when experienced within the time of there creation (Zeitgeist). Later studies can be academic, of historical interest, but lack the spirit felt by the readers/consumers at particular moment.

[Tweed]

Thanks again for your answers folks. It's been a while since I last checked in.

[andy-hughes]

It is a book of its time - it makes tame reading to modern eyes, but it was ground-breaking in its day.

I confess i didn't really enjoy it all that much - I found the same notion of growing up far better expressed in Nick Hornby's 'High Fidelity' - but avoid the film.

[jenius]

when i was in high school in the 60's, it was a a very big deal. I never saw why, it never impressed me that much. but i would say yes, it was a cult novel way before then.