The Catcher In The Rye

by J.D. Salinger

In Brief

Four days in the life of seventeen-year-old Holden Caulfield, in his own remarkable voice, as he kills time in New York City to avoid telling his parents he’s been kicked out of school again. His encounters with friends, teachers and strangers gradually reveal his undiminished grief for a lost brother, and his attempts to rediscover meaning in the world.

Why you should read it

Holden’s fresh, witty voice is the number one reason to read The Catcher in Rye, nearly 60 years after its initial publication. In a culture where someone can become a celebrity, however briefly, by being the most obnoxious voice in the room, Holden’s sharp, original take on adult convention and his mania for exposing phoniness wherever he finds it still resonate.