The Catcher in the Rye
by J. D. Salinger, Shao jia yun · first published 1945
26% recommend57% neutral18% critical
Why HN recommends it
Coming-of-age novel about adolescent angst and the anxious shift from childhood to adulthood, valued for its writing and emotional honesty. Suits teens and young readers, and works as a fun, rereadable pick.
Common criticism: Some feel it resonates mainly with teenagers or is overrated
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Story of Holden Caufield with his idiosyncrasies, penetrating insight, confusion, sensitivity and negativism. Holden, knowing he is to be expelled from school, decides to leave early. He spends three days in New York City and tells the story of what he did and suffered there.
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I guess it's a failed experiment the way Catcher in the Rye was a successful experiment. But it's kind of interesting despite that. I like how daringly he injects esoteric religious material into conventional 1950s settings. But it was too hard to pull off. None…
on “Ask HN: Which book are you reading?” ↗…from Hot Climates, Tom Robbins Homage to Catalonia, George Orwell Catch 22, Joseph Heller Timequake; Mother Night, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Seven Pillars of Wisdom, TE Lawrence The Histories, Tacitus The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger (caveat, it was most effective when I read it at 16) Redwall, Brian Jaques (got me really excited about reading when I was in the fourth grade) This list could be much, much longer, but…
on “Ask: Read a book that changed your life? Title?” ↗Catcher in the Rye is an adult book written for juveniles, and I mean that in the best possible way. It is about profound realization we all have at some point that adults are not the grown-ups we think them to be, but…
on “Books to Read in a Lifetime” ↗Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger is among my favorites of all time. The Dark Tower series (Stephen King) is one of the most amazing tales I have ever had the pleasure to become immersed in. There are plenty more, but…
on “What books would you recommend reading? Why?” ↗The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger because of the Holden Caulfield in me who couldn't tolerate all the phoniness around. Also enjoyed The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel. After reading about Hardy in this book,…
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why” ↗When you're slugging it out at your startup, it's important to read something fun at night: Catcher in the Rye Three Men in a Boat Cold Comfort Farm In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash And my personal favorite: English August
on “Ask HN: must read books for startup founders” ↗…all worth your time: Old Man And The Sea - Ernest Hemingway IQ84 - Haruki Murakami The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch On Writing - Stephen King When Bad Things Happen To Good People - Harold Kushner Catcher In The Rye - J.D. Salinger Notes To Myself - Hugh Prather
on “Ask HN: What are some Good Books you have read in past one year or so..” ↗…http://www.amazon.com/Catch-22-50th-Anniversary-Joseph-Helle... The Road - Cormac McCarthy - http://www.amazon.com/Road-Oprahs-Book-Club/dp/0307387895 To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee - http://www.amazon.com/Kill-Mockingbird-Harper-Lee/dp/0446310... The Catcher In The Rye - J.D. Salinger - http://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Rye-J-D-Salinger/dp/0316769487 For Whom the Bell Tolls - Ernest Hemingway - http://www.amazon.com/Whom-Bell-Tolls-Ernest-Hemingway/dp/06... For non-fiction…
on “Ask HN: Book recommendations?” ↗- Memoirs of Jacques Casanova - 1984 - Catcher in the Rye - Autobiography of Benvenuto Cillini - Catch-22 - CS Lewis’ Space Trilogy
on “Ask HN: Which one is your favourite book?” ↗Some of my favorites from this year: - The Brothers Karamazov - The Catcher in the Rye - Ender's Game - Dune
on “Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?” ↗…separate from the opinions of the world, but at a cost. Becoming a solipsist, iconoclast, nihilist.... Try Camus (Stranger), Cervantes (Don Quixote). Dostoyevsky (Notes from the Underground), Salinger (Catcher in the Rye), and there's plenty in Bronte (all of them), Blake and Hardy. But I suspect these aren't the droids you're looking for.
on “Ask HN: What are some good books on how to stop comparing yourself to others?” ↗…wait literal decades to publish the rest of his works. There was a bunch of controversy in 2013 when Three Stories leaked on what.cd. I'm not a Salinger expert by any means but having read and liked Catcher in the Rye and Three Early Stories, I didn't find Three Stories particularly exceptional. Maybe the estate is so sensitive because the unpublished stuff isn't as good as the published stuff?
on “Phonies: J.D. Salinger and Wielding Copyright as Self-Protection” ↗Catcher in the Rye, Salinger captures that feeling of being a lost teenager while at the same time thinking that we know everything. It's an amazing book to read as a teen.
on “Ask HN: What book had a big impact on you as a child or teenager?” ↗I feel like I just read The Catcher In the Rye, but for middle aged developers. It was fantastic.
on “The ideal candidate will be punched in the stomach” ↗The Catcher in the Rye by Salinger An Equal Music by Vikram Seth
on “Ask HN: Please name two of your most favorite books.” ↗