The Catcher in the Rye is a book based upon alienation, set in the 1940's in America the story follows a 16 year old boy named Holden Caulfield who narrates the book from his bitter and cynical view point. Holden's father is a wealthy man and has paid for him to have a very expensive education however Holden hasn't tried and has only got one qualification that is English.
The book starts with Holden admitting to the reader that he is writing from a rest home this instantly leaves the reader guessing as what has gone so terribly wrong in the young boys life as to how he has got there, however he doesn't want to talk of his life previously. Holden's narration throughout the book varies dramatically and leaves the reader wondering as to if what he writes is actually the true version of events or Holden has changed what has happened in his imagination. As the book continues the reader starts to get the sense that Holden believes that he is superior to everyone else and therefore feels that he shouldn't interact with them.
J.D. Salinger has a fantastic and unique writing style and although I have never read any of his works before I thoroughly enjoyed this one although it made a change to my normal style of novel. The book has many hidden twists and can be interpreted in a number of ways depending on the reader, much of the book can be related to by many youths I believe in terms of principles and actions but maybe not in quite the same way Holden's life has played out.
After initially having trouble getting into the storyline and plot of this book I can honestly say I have really enjoyed reading it, by the time I reached the second to last chapter, that in my opinion contains the climax of the novel I was really enjoying the book. The novel ends with the reader wondering what happened to Holden after his day in the park as he never explains it to the reader the book ends with the reader full of curiosity and suspense.
