h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger - A2023732
Author: tom_56 - U528185

I did a search on h2g2 and found that there were no good entries for Catcher in the Rye. This is my attempt, basically I want people's thoughts on it. BTW, this is my first ever entry to the Guide.

Hi there, welcome to Peer Review!

Have you seen this entry here? A809912 That one isn't in the Edited Guide either, but perhaps you and Amy (the author of this other one) might be interested in combining your two entries? I think they each have a bit of what the other lacks, and the combination might make for an excellent Edited Guide entry.

Take a look, and let me know what you think.

You should also remove the first-person bits, ie replace 'I' with something like 'this researcher.' As for opinions, I think this book is a pointless and overpriced waste of paper full of the bu[[$h1t opinions of a guy who obviously hasn't talked to a teenager in God knows how long and there are far better books out there. If you want something with all the good qualities that you mention in this entry, there are far better books out there. May I rccomend John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men'?

Well, I really like the book - and all - but I do recommend a look at the <./>Writing-Guidelines<./>, particularly point 12

Sorry, I meant the Writing-Guidelines ...

better?

There's still a first person left here: 'To better explain what I mean'

Well, I read it in class 11 and the only things I remember are huge numbers of 'sob's (of course he used the full-fleshed form) which our English teacher wouldn't want to explain to us (now I know, of course), and that Stradlater must have suffered from a severe case of akne .



Bossel

Given that Salinger lives a reclusive life (as Holden intended to), do you think the book might be autobiographical? Or at least semi-autobiographical?

There's still an 'I' in the footnote, and some of the sentences the ol' personal pronoun used to be now read a bit clumsily. For example:

>>To better explain what one means, here is the first sentence:

Perhaps rewriting it as:

>>For example, have a look at the first sentence:

Or something like.


Geggs

"Over the course of the book we get to know Holden very well, and come to like him." I have to disagree here - I read the book, hated it, and hated Holden. I couldn't see the point of the novel, and couldn't stand the main character.

How strange, and all I take it you were never a bit of an indie kid, Cyzaki?

Myself, I found Holden very resonant, particularly the age I was when I read it for the first time.

Nevertheless, I suppose you've a point there... how about saying we get to know him very well and are given ample opportunity to make up our minds about him.

Looks like tom has Elvised.

I propose a move to the Flea Market.


Geggs

I hated Holden Caulfield too... first time I read it when I was at school (aeons ago) right up to about the 5th time (right after The Big Read made such a song and dance about it) and I still hate the character.

the fact that I can't stand the style of the book, the story or anything about it is actually irrellevant to a comment on the entry, though.

Flea Market it is then