It all started a few months ago. What started, you ask? My existential crisis. This past year, I was confused, lost, and so much more. Most of all, I felt lonesome as hell. Over the course of the next few months, things started to go a lot better, and that's all thanks to a little novel known as The Catcher in the Rye. My dad drove me to the bus stop every morning, and out of all people, he could especially tell how miserable I was. My dad being the English teacher he is, insisted that I read the cult classic because I could relate to the novel so much. Luckily, my honors English teacher was thinking of another novel to assign for Summer reading and was kind enough to take my request to read the novel to heart. Thus, I was able to kill two birds with one stone. Now I am going to be honest here, I am not really much of a bookworm. But I can easily tell you that without a doubt, I have never enjoyed a novel nearly as much as I have enjoyed this one. In J.D Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, readers follow the life of troubled adolescent, Holden Caulfield. Throughout the novel, readers witness the many troubles Holden experiences while attempting to make the frightening transition to adulthood. Hell, that's something I'm having trouble with at this very moment. It's scary, growing up. As a child, I have constant memories of the adults around me repeating the phrase, "time flies". It wasn't until last year where I truly realized, that time really does fly. Reading this novel, I had a major realization. I realized that I am Holden Caulfield. I may not relate to Holden on every single level, but I have related more to this fictional character more than I have ever related to an actual person. Just like Holden, I was having trouble accepting the fact that life moves fast and that I am growing up; Just like Holden, I am an intovert and I also use alienation as a form of self-protection; Just like Holden, I attend a private school and have the same exact perception of my school as his towards Pencey and most of all, I have Holden's perception of life, itself. I even have the same lexicon as Holden. Obviously, it is no surprise why I liked this novel so much. Besides its raw relatability, what I loved about this novel was the significance of Holden's red hunting hat. The red hunting hat is still known today as one of the most notable symbols in American literature. The Red hunting hat is significant in a variety of ways, but most notably for its representation of indivduality. Holden wears the eccentric red hunting hat in order to differentiate himself from the rest of the crowd. Last year, I tried incredibly hard to be liked by everyone and act like them as well. I have come to realize that only I am in charge of my happiness and that it is a hell of a lot better to stand out, rather than blend in with the crowd. Despite all of Holden's bad habits such as swearing and alcohol consumption, I think we should all try to be like Holden in the sense that we should all try to be our individual selves, despite what people will say. Another major theme in this novel, would be the loss of innocence. One of the main reasons why I believe people my age should read this incredible novel is because of how real it is. At one point in our lives, we lose our innocence, and it is quite frightening. But it is in that very moment, that we begin to grow up. I am currently sixteen and a junior in high school, and everything is moving a little too fast. However, I have come to realize that that's life. Life is kind of like a drive if you think about it;everyday goes by fast, the big moments go slow, but one day it is going to come to a screeching halt. I know, I know, that sounds really scary. What matters is that we make the most of every moment, because life in itself is tremendously short. The greatest thing this novel taught me was to take risks. In the novel, Holden takes a daring risk to run away to New York City and leave everything at Pencey Prep behind (He flunked out, so he had to leave anyways) . While taking risks can be scary as hell at times, it can make life a bit more exciting too. This novel is full of wit, emotion, and most of all, truthfulness. Whether you are sixteen or fifty-two, this novel is bound to make you laugh, cry, or even both. If you are currently looking for a good read, I highly suggest J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Trust me, you will not regret it.
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