Weirdo book that reminded me of my self in high school minus the alcohol, smoking, promiscuity and failing school. Mostly because I isolated myself from most other high schoolers due to my hatred of anything phony.
last night over poached pears I was made aware that this book has something to do with terrorism.
Why? Well I'm no authority, but I think it's stems from the title. Holden's dream job is to act as a catcher in the rye - grabbing kids before they fall off a cliff while they are running in rye fields. He feels sorry for outcasts and becomes extremely angry when he finds vulgar vandalism in his sisters elementary school. He hates movies, especially ones about war. He drops out of school because the headmaster is a phony - only giving attention to those who are rich. Basically, he refuses to "play the game" or "jump through hoops" as some would say. Although all of his actions in the book are driven by hatred for selfish "phony" ways of the world, he is somewhat of a hypocrite as his self righteous decisions cause harm to others (especially his family). Although Holden frequently verbalizes that he is a nut job, I think it is his manic thought process - his self righteous hatred for the natural man that leads him to anger, fighting, running away, alcohol, lonliness, and promiscuity - that links the book to terrorists.
But I don't really know. Anyone read this book that has more insight? What do you think about the book? Would you let your high-schooler read it? I learned a lot from the book - but I don't know what I would have thought had I read this in high school.
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