Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 1951

I was forced to read Catcher in the Rye when I was in high school, needless to say much of the central theme was lost on my underdeveloped mind (thanks US public school system). How can a kid understand the idea of not growing up or understanding the idea of growing up. Holden Caulfield is obviously attached to childhood, immaturity and innocence. He still talks to his dead little brother, cherishes moments spent talking and interacting with kids and admires of all people his little sister. He is only interested in honesty, authenticity and the genuine. He sees these characteristics as inherent in childhood and slowly fading through adulthood. Caulfield picks apart just about everyone in his life, admiring them for thier childlike moments and then immediately hating them when they try and act like "mature" adults. Such situations as using phrases or the use of formal language in a conversation bothers him. He is staunchly anti-consumerist and slightly against socially acceptable representations of masculinity, making comments on the whole idea of buying into this culture of cadillacs, gray suits and cigars. Also Holden is very hesitant about his own sexuality, a proclaimed virgin, holden dislikes the idea of sex and even turns away a prostitute that he drunkenly invites up to his new york hotel room. The corruption imbedded in the idea of the archetype of the city plays on Holden's mind as he declares his hatred for New York. His hatred is reinforced through situations like the prostitute and the pimp and the questionable encounter with his former male teacher in which he awakes to the man petting his hair. Holden goes as far to plan ways that he could finally escape the city, such as his idea to hitchhike to california by himself or when he decides to live in a cabin for the rest of his life while he's talking to his on/off girlfriend, Sally. Ultimately holden is defeated in his desire to escape and settles for returning home in the end. One could say the entire experience represents the stubborn struggle of humanity against the inevitable idea of time. There is something very romantic about the way that Holden thinks about the world even if it is set for failure and doomed in nature. He wants to return to a state of total innocence, perhaps because he was forced to grow up quickly due to the traumatic nature of his childhood in which his younger brother fell victim to lukiemia. In this way, the book is very depressing, realizing that Holden is a truly tragic hero and even more so once you begin to understand and relate to him as a person. Something I could personally only really do once I'd experienced my own personal tragedies not too long after high school and was forced to grow up a little sooner than I would have liked. I recommend the book to anyone that hasn't read it in awhile or since public school, since you may just find that you can relate better as an adult.