Why do some people not like Catcher in the Rye?

To remember J. D. Salinger is, of course, to remember The Catcher in the Rye—though not, perhaps, how some critics didn't like it in 1951. read more

And yet others like, and many love The Catcher In The Rye, so it must have virtues I do not see. read more

To remember J. D. Salinger is, of course, to remember The Catcher in the Rye—though not, perhaps, how some critics didn't like it in 1951. Catholic World noted its"formidably excessive use of amateur swearing and coarse language," and there seemed to be some question as to whether an alienated, hard-drinking, chain-smoking flunkie like Holden Caulfield was going to prove a good influence on the young. read more

And while I recommend The Catcher in the Rye as independent reading to some of my students, I (much like miss_trombone37) find J.D. Salinger’s novel vastly overrated. To be fair, some of this is not the author’s fault. I liken this to people hyping a movie for months and months, only to see the film and leaving the theater underwhelmed. read more