The Catcher in the Rye

LEXILE 790

Just finished the classic The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Now I can say I read it. Problem is, I don't get it. Really I don't. Old Holden is a swell character and all, maybe a little precocious and kinda sophisticated for a 16-year-old, but it was difficult for me to connect with him. If you want to know the truth. Sure teenage boys from any decade are definitely a foreign species to me. I'm not kidding. Take my schizophrenic relationship with my 14-year-old son for instance. It's crazy, I tell ya. He's a madman sometimes!

So, I fell asleep several nights reading this book. I really did. One time I even bit my goddam tongue when my head bobbed while I was holding the book up reading about some boring conversation with old Mr. Antolini, the pervert teacher drinking his highballs.

Okay, this neat little tidbit near the end of the book did catch my attention:

"The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them."

Angst. I can relate to that. Gorgeous!