The Rye is Catching

Book 14 - A banned book

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean a band book. Pronunciation is everything people.

As I had already decided that this was to be my banned book, I spent the entire novel trying to figure out why it has been banned in so many places. Although it is not banned everywhere, it is one of the more commonly banned novels in North America.

The novel was interesting. 

This is a way of say that I felt it was neither bad nor good. Some parts were more interesting than others. The entire novel I was stuck with the almost impossible task of figuring out why it was so banned in the first place.

If it had been banned for not being such a book novel, I would have believed the banning far better than if it had been banned for the use of inappropriate language or underage drinking. Many a time in my day have I read a novel that is of more inappropriate language or alcohol/drug abuse. I can't remember really enjoying those either.

I've just read a review as to why it would be banned. I realize that many of these bannings occurred in the mid-late 1900s, which were apparently a more fragile/innocent time period, but that makes it more confusing to be an 'okay' book today. The content in the novel is no worse than that which occurs in almost every movie rated 18A or up. Should we be concerned about the fact that books which have inappropriate content are far more likely to be banned than something that is recorded, advertised on public television and played for all the world to see? 

This novel is about 16 year old Holden Caulfield who gets kicked out of school three days before Christmas Vacation. Instead of going home he decides to spend his time and savings in New York City. After about two hundred pages of underage drinking, constant smoking and many emotional breakdowns, we find Mr. Caulfield in a bit of a pickle. Should he go home to his parents and little sister, or should he run away, get a job and build himself a cabin in a wood? This combined with the ever present struggle to deal with his brother's death makes Mr. Caulfield out to be a bit of a hassle to the readers mind.

I won't spoil the novel for you, but the ending very easily helps the reader to realize that the decisions the character makes are not okay. Many times I stopped to remind myself that Mr. Caulfield must have some sort of mental disorder which is causing him to not think entirely clearly.

I don't know that I will ever need to read this novel again. I have read and understand that the themes are not necessarily ideal. If I never come across it's words again, I will just keep right on living.

However, I feel that it could be instrumental to the lives of teenagers as they grow up and learn what is socially acceptable and what is just downright wrong. Mr. Caulfield is unfortunately a misguided soul and I think there is much to learn from his situations. 

Sunny Sunday to all, this is t-bear signing off