Reading notes: Catcher In The Rye
Catcher in the Rye is a difficult book to really assess. This beloved classic has a reputation to live up to, and for me it fell somewhat short.
I can see some of the reasons people regard it so highly. The prose is very accessible, conversational even, the mental and emotional state of the main character is interesting, particularly towards the end of the book where there is some more reflection. However for me, the writing was quite poor, and after reading it I longer for some prose of which I could appreciate it's beauty. The main character, Holden Caulfield, is not an enjoyable soul to spend time in his shoes. Holden is a narcissist, hates everything and everyone as his sister points out, and is constantly whining about everything, making for quite an annoying experience.
For me, Catcher in the Rye was a mixed bag, but due to it's simple prose and short length I recommend everyone to at least try it.