The Next Chapter – Rereading Catcher

One of the books my mother suggested I read was J. D. Salinger’s classic tale of teenage angst, The Catcher in the Rye. I really related to Holden Caulfield, who is the main character and narrator. He was a kid who saw through the “phoniness” of adults. The book tells of his lost weekend in Manhattan during post-war Manhattan. Holden leaves the prep school that he’s being kicked out of and lives in a room in a shabby hotel. He goes dancing, hires a prostitute but then only wants to talk, goes on a date with Sally, who he insults when she refuses to run away with him and he sneaks into his sister Pheobe’s room, where she tells her that he wants to be a catcher in the rye, saving children from falling off the field of rye and become an adult. Eventually, Holden winds up in a mental ward, where he narrates his story.

I was lucky to have the chance to reread the book a couple of years ago when I was in my 50’s. I was able to see the book from a different perspective. Many times through the book he says he’s depressed. In fact, he says at one point he would jump from the roof from his hotel, but he didn’t want people to stare at his dead body. I saw that Holden never got over the death of his younger brother Allie from Leukemia. Suddenly, I didn’t see Holden as an anti-hero or someone to emulate, as I did in teens, but as a kid having a nervous breakdown. It made sense that he wound up in a mental ward. I read the same book but 40 years later I saw it with fresh eyes.

So is Holden the kid who sees through adults or is he a kid having a nervous breakdown. Will the real Holden Caulfield stand up!

As always, I appreciate your feedback. Let me know what you thought of  The Catcher in the Rye. I know some people who don’t “get” or appreciate this book as much as I do. Let me know what you think.

Later and happy reading, everyone!

About the author: Don Levy

Don Levy has been part of the Albany poetry scene since 1989, when he first read at the QE2 open mic. He has read at various venues and events in Albany, including The Albany Public Library, Poets in the Park, Poets Speak Loud at McGeary’s (where he was once roasted), and the Third Thursday Poetry Night at The Social Justice Center. He has hosted a number of readings over the years, the first being at The Albany Art Gallery on Jefferson Street, to his last, a featured reader / open mic series called Live From the Living Room, a straight-friendly reading held at The Pride Center of the Capital Region.

Don was one of the editors of Open Mic: The Albany Anthology., a fantastic book that featured work from the poets who frequented the local open mics in the mid-90s. He published 2 chapbooks with local artist Kevin Bruce: How Green Was My Big Eden, a collection of gay fantasy poems, and Super Queer Poet Saves the Day. He currently writes a book blog called The Next Chapter right here on the Albany Poets website.