Study Guide The Catcher in the Rye offers something for every reader. You may relate to Holden Caulfield's angst and alienation; you may be drawn to his rye humor or cynicism; or you may be offended by his pursuit of relationships, intimacy and sexuality.
Even though The Catcher in the Rye first appeared in 1951 (parts of the book appeared as short stories earlier), this classic still taps into some of the same raw emotions.
He's the modern Huckleberry Finn, making his epic journey of dysfunctional alienation from school to New York. It may not sound like the stuff of great or lasting novels, but Salinger tapped into something with this depressed cynic of a teenager. It's something that not every reader will be able to grasp and/or hold onto, but it's something you'll never forget (even if you hate the book).
