FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Bethany:

This novel is off to a slow start. The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is about a young man named Holden Caulfield. Within the first 20 pages, or 2 chapters, Holden has been expelled from his school and spoken to a teacher about it. In my opinion, this is and is not a great way to start the novel. It is a great way because it establishes what kind of character Holden is and how interacts with others. From what I have gathered, he is an involved student that does not focus on his studies because he simply does not understand. It is not a great way to start the novel because there is already so much negativity within the novel's first 2 chapters. Though the plot has not developed very far, a lot of character development has already been provided for Holden's character. He is very mischevous, mysterious, and and full of a bad-boy esque.

Melissa's Response:

I can understand how you think the novel was off to a slow start, it did have a lot of negativity. You also make good points about how Holden's character was slightly revealed. However I would have to disagree with you when you argued that it was not a great start to the novel. Although you argued for both sides, I did not see how you thought it was not a great start. Despite the fact that it was a little slow, this had a mysterious atmosphere. I thought that it was pretty interesting how very limited background information was given at the beginning of the novel. The fact that there was all that negativity made me curious. In my opinion, this was a great way to start the novel.

Melissa:

The Catcher in the Rye is written from the perspective of a seventeen year-old boy named Holden Caulfield. After reading the first twenty pages of this novel, Holden reveals himself as a troublemaker. He has been in and out of multiple schools and has just flunked his way out of another. Holden also uses coarse language as most teenage boys (or teenagers in general) are stereotypically known for.I thought that this was interesting and could be relatable. From what Holden says about himself, it makes me want to find out more about him. It makes me want to understand his character and see his story unfold. I would say that Holden's mischievous and peculiar personality makes him mysterious and pushes me to want to continue reading the novel.

Anita's Response: I agree with your thought about how it makes Holden's character seem mischevous, his peculiar personality makes him mysterious and how it wants to make you continue reading the novel. However, I do not understand your point about how using coarse language would make the story seem interesting and almost relatable, also being flunked out of multiple schools. Yes, flunking your way out of school does happen but to some, not all people in the world. Overall, our opinions on the book and the protagonist are similar.

Amarjot:

The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger starts off with the protagonist conveying somewhat of an autobiography about himself and his life. The novel is written in the perspective of the protagonist whose name is Holden Caulfield. Personally I think it is a great way to read the novel in perspective of the main character. We get a chance to acknowledge and feel the emotions in a stronger way rather than reading in third person. The beginning of the novel so far has grabbed my attention because the protagonist begins by talking about his life and how he had been through many schools and just through one more at this time of the novel. I believe this is a great way to start the novel because now the reader (myself) wonder what this whole “madman stuff” as he calls it himself,and why the character is a troubled kid. It gets me predicting and inferring just as the novel begins and makes me want to continue the novel.

Anita:

When I first read the first three chapters of the Catcher in the Rye I thought the protagonist, Holden was a stuck-up, arrogant, and ignorant seventeen year old but then re-reading the chapters gave me a sense of where he was coming from. His thoughts and opinions are those that I cannot relate to but for some reason spoke to me. The only time I could relate to him was when he mentions talking to the headmaster about leaving Pencey Prep to his History teacher, and Holden says that life is not a game that you play according to the rules, it's only a game if get on the right side where it is most successful but if you're on the other side, then is it really considered a game. Whilst reading, I pictured Holden Caulfield as Brian Johnson, physically but with a John Bender, and Patrick Verona-esque to him. I was intrigued in the character of Holden because he is a mystery, an enigma that cannot be broken. According to Holden, he is seventeen years old, who's family life isn't all that great, that goes to Pencey Prep in Pennslyvania but has just been kicked out just as he has been in his last two boarding schools. I pictured the setting as the mid 1970s because of the whole "boarding school" deal, I imagined Pencey Prep as a modern day university, with their huge halls, campuses and dormatories. Overall, the Catcher in the Rye has caught my attention and I cannot wait to read into greater depths about Holden, and his life.

Amarjot's Response

I agree with you that Holden Caulfield, the protagonist came across as a very stuck up and ignorant person, however now that I've read further on into the novel I believe that my perception was incorrect and that he pretends to be tough and is really “yellow” as he calls it. I also agree that Holden has a mysterious side however I disagree with your opinion on him and his family’s relationship. I believe that he has a strong relationship with his family especially his younger siblings. However I do respect your opinion on the relationship, I just do not agree with it. I also cannot wait to read deeper to discover more about Holden and his life.