George - 22 November 2012 05:23 AM

What’s wrong with The Catcher in the Rye, psik? I have created a book list for my kids I think they ought to read (just in case I drop dead one of these days) and Catcher is on top of that list. Did I make a mistake?

It’s a boring read.  I had a very difficult time keeping my attention focused on it when I was in high school.

Interesting. Is there anybody else here who didn’t like the book?

I didn’t like “Of Mice and Men” or that sickening book of a bunch of boys on an island being barbaric and tried to eat Piggy or did eat him either.  I really don’t want to remember either, because they made me so sick to my stomach.

George - 22 November 2012 05:23 AM

What’s wrong with The Catcher in the Rye, psik? I have created a book list for my kids I think they ought to read (just in case I drop dead one of these days) and Catcher is on top of that list. Did I make a mistake?

Doesn’t that book make people go crazy and go out and try to kill pop stars?... although we do seem to have an overabundance of popstars these days…

George - 22 November 2012 05:23 AM

What’s wrong with The Catcher in the Rye, psik? I have created a book list for my kids I think they ought to read (just in case I drop dead one of these days) and Catcher is on top of that list. Did I make a mistake?

It was an intense bore.

How about:  Voyage from Yesteryear by James P. Hogan

http://www.troynovant.com/Grube/Hogan/Voyage-from-Yesteryear.html

psik

TimB - 22 November 2012 10:58 AM

George - 22 November 2012 05:23 AM

What’s wrong with The Catcher in the Rye, psik? I have created a book list for my kids I think they ought to read (just in case I drop dead one of these days) and Catcher is on top of that list. Did I make a mistake?

Doesn’t that book make people go crazy and go out and try to kill pop stars?... although we do seem to have an overabundance of popstars these days…

You see what the nurture fanaticism does to you? It even makes you to fear books. 

psikeyhackr - 22 November 2012 11:08 AM

It was an intense bore

Oh, I thought you had something more objective as to why kids shouldn’t read it. Actually, you didn’t have to if you were a trendsetter—which you are definitely not. 

I didn’t like “Of Mice and Men” or that sickening book of a bunch of boys on an island being barbaric and tried to eat Piggy or did eat him either.  I really don’t want to remember either, because they made me so sick to my stomach.

Liked them both, and you’re talking about “Lord of the Flys” by Fielding. Talk about nature vs. nurture! The boys reverted to barbarism in a short period. And Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors. Him and Faulkner too. The Grapes of Wrath is a classic. Liked the movie Too.

Cap’t Jack

Thevillageatheist - 22 November 2012 02:36 PM

I didn’t like “Of Mice and Men” or that sickening book of a bunch of boys on an island being barbaric and tried to eat Piggy or did eat him either.  I really don’t want to remember either, because they made me so sick to my stomach.

Liked them both, and you’re talking about “Lord of the Flys” by Fielding. Talk about nature vs. nurture! The boys reverted to barbarism in a short period. And Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors. Him and Faulkner too. The Grapes of Wrath is a classic. Liked the movie Too.

 

Cap’t Jack

I thought those two books were just plain sick and horrifying.

George - 22 November 2012 11:40 AM

psikeyhackr - 22 November 2012 11:08 AM

It was an intense bore

Oh, I thought you had something more objective as to why kids shouldn’t read it. Actually, you didn’t have to if you were a trendsetter—which you are definitely not. 

A rich high school kid that wasn’t smart enough to get through high school competently is supposed to be worth reading about by high school kids.  Yeah, that makes sense.

psik

George - 22 November 2012 11:31 AM

TimB - 22 November 2012 10:58 AM

George - 22 November 2012 05:23 AM

What’s wrong with The Catcher in the Rye, psik? I have created a book list for my kids I think they ought to read (just in case I drop dead one of these days) and Catcher is on top of that list. Did I make a mistake?

Doesn’t that book make people go crazy and go out and try to kill pop stars?... although we do seem to have an overabundance of popstars these days…

You see what the nurture fanaticism does to you? It even makes you to fear books. 

I will forgive your implication that I am a fanatic, as you may believe that you were engineered at conception to ultimately make that comment (without regards to anything that you may have learned since birth).

George - 22 November 2012 08:51 AM

Interesting. Is there anybody else here who didn’t like the book?

It was somewhat boring IMO; there was some humor in it though.

I think when it came out in the ‘50s, it was mildly shocking to some middle class Americans - probably because of some vaguely gay things that happen to the main character.  Basically, the book is about a nihilistic teenager at a boarding school who drops out, and goes to New York in order to loose his virginity.

I don’t think it’s a bad book for your kids to read, however.

I didn’t like it so much that I never read it and never intend to..