I haven’t read many classic books. Or shall I say I have completed only a few of those books which can be considered a classic?
I am presently reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I have started reading it yesterday; so it hasn’t been much that I have read. I am liking it so far. I haven’t read any of the work of Charles Dickens to my heart’s dismay. I am stuck in between of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I never completed To Kill A Mockingbird; I had crossed the half-way mark but then something came between me and the book.
The book I have read and liked a lot is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
I liked the character of Holden Caulfield which is subjected to a lot of criticism. Many people believed him to be a selfish, heartless, ignorant, while I saw in him the quality of being a normal teenager. He has his own viewpoint which is quite strongly depicted in the whole novel. I could relate with his confusion and the feeling of just running away, that is a normal part of teenage. He is quite a cynic and resents others for somethings that do not even matter much. But aren’t many of us just like him?
He may anger you but think about it. What is wrong about him? He is not wrong; the society has deemed him wrong. I sometimes feel myself into his shoes and that is when I could see him clearly for who he is. He has his faults but I won’t consider his thoughts to be one of them.
Another book which I quite liked was The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. The depression and the journey of Esther Greenwood was too concrete for me. I would rather not discuss more about it.
That is all. 🙂
HA's Place 
Don’t feel bad. There are lots of books I should have read when younger that are very strasnge reading now. Catcher is unfortunately not one of them.>KB
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Charlotte Bronte gets a bit long winded in some descriptions, but I still loved that book. Never read Catcher in the Rye. The Bell jar was featured in my book Red Clay and Roses, as you know, Sybil was reading it shortly after suffering a bout of depression.
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Yes, I remember that. 🙂
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I liked “Catcher in the Rye” but it’s a book I can’t say I’m crazy about. It’s still a good book but one I think is considered a classic mainly because it was so “edgy” to a lot of baby boomers or whatever growing up. I always felt Holden was supposed to be selfish and arrogant but not so much more than a typical teenager. While he’s clearly alienated from society I didn’t get the sense that society is “wrong”. The scene where he’s in the bathroom and sees the word “Fuck” (I think that was the word) on the wall and goes on a rant is supposed to present, not so much of society’s faults, but Holden’s mentality toward his surroundings. Holden is a pathetic loser, but one whose thoughts were interesting to read because we get to see how fucked-up he is.
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Interesting thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
I agree Holden’s thoughts about everything was the basis of the novel. Because the novel depends exclusively on that.
I meant to say that Holden came out to take decisions out of the context of social norms. He was a rebel in a way. That is what I considered about the story; a fact that I believed in..
🙂
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He is a rebel and I think that’s one reason why kids liked the character. I just think that one people criticize the book they always point out that he’s an annoying asshole, which he is in a way but he’s still a likeable, or at least interesting, character.
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“Catcher in the Rye” is one of my favorite books of all time. If you’re going to read Dickens, I would say that “Tale of Two Cities” is incredible, and the only one I’ve read more than once. Another classic you might really like is “Lolita”–I explain why here: http://licenseofinkblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/dont-be-afraid-to-read-this/
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I love both of these books… The Bell Jar has always seemed liked a female version of Catcher in the Rye to me so it is interesting that you posted them together. 🙂
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Oh yes… that is so true.
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