Absolutely love this take. I feel like this book influenced me a lot. From both empathizing with Holden, and with finding him whiny. I felt like at times I was reading from myself. I didn't want to be whiny or annoying. But I also noticed the phonies around me. Maybe even noticed that I was phony too and just wanted to become something else. Like he says he wants to be a "catcher in the rye." It's honestly hard not to empathize with his struggle even if he does tend to state things from the young man that doesn't understand the world.
I'm glad you liked it! And I'm definitely glad I read this book a bit later in life. I'm not sure I would've had the self-awareness to recognize all that was going on with him had I read the book at his age.
Absolutely love this take. I feel like this book influenced me a lot. From both empathizing with Holden, and with finding him whiny. I felt like at times I was reading from myself. I didn't want to be whiny or annoying. But I also noticed the phonies around me. Maybe even noticed that I was phony too and just wanted to become something else. Like he says he wants to be a "catcher in the rye." It's honestly hard not to empathize with his struggle even if he does tend to state things from the young man that doesn't understand the world.
I'm glad you liked it! And I'm definitely glad I read this book a bit later in life. I'm not sure I would've had the self-awareness to recognize all that was going on with him had I read the book at his age.