Holden's personality

Throughout the book, Holden changed, as did my opinion of him.  When I first started reading Catcher I though Holden was going to be a shy person that had very few friends and did not view school as a priority.  But, then when I learned about his brother Allie when he wrote the paper on his baseball glove, I knew there was a whole story behind Holden. As the book goes on Holden is viewed as very insecure and he made up lies everywhere he went.  This is mainly to hide because he is ashamed.  More than half way through the book, I started to feel different about Holden and viewed him as a lonely boy who just wanted someone to open up to about everything that was happening in his life.  His sister Phoebe was that person that Holden needed.  When he is able to have one of the first honest conversations with her, I felt that this is all Holden wanted to do.  It also showed that Holden was in fact caring and thoughtful.  Especially when he made the effort to get Phoebe's favorite record that unfortunately broke before he could get it to her.  Towards the end of Catcher, Holden felt that he needed to get away and escape, to yet again hide and not face any of his problems.  I was angered with Holden because I felt that this would make everything worse.  When Phoebe was able to convince him to stay, I felt Holden was doing the right thing and it was brave that he went home and stuck it out with his parents and everything else he needed to do.  

Catcher in the Rye

Hi Everyone~

So this is what I think about Catcher so far... I find the book interesting because J.D. Salinger really takes you into the childhood and journey of Holden. I love how he is so detailed in his writing. You can really picture yourself in Holden's shoes at times and the places he is at throughout the novel. For the most part, I find the book realistic and bizarre at the same time. For example, towards the middle of the book when he is in NY at the hotel and he is going to clubs, drinking, ect.  I find it bizarre that he is only 16 and he is acting like an adult where as other times he is getting into fights and acting like a little kid. 

Holden Caulfield comes off as being negative and bitter at times.  I think it is mainly as a sense of self-protection.  Holden has not been able to let go of the death of his brother Allie and brings him up many times.  I think that Holden really wants to find his sister Phoebe so he can talk to her about everything that is going on in his life.  He probably feels that Phoebe is the only truth-full person he can talk to right now.   

I am more than half way through the book and about close to where he is going to go home to his parents after being kicked out of Pencey.  Do you think that Holden will go back home Wednesday, since he seems to be stalling? If he does go back, how do you think his family will react?  

- JZ