1951
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger · 1919–2010 · United States
Why it matters
Three lost days in New York with Holden Caulfield, hating phonies and mourning lost innocence. Salinger's voice of adolescent alienation has spoken for disaffected youth for seventy years.
At a glance
bildungsromanpsychological novel
Difficulty 3/10fast pace234 pagesA colloquial, first-person voice reads quickly despite its psychological undercurrents.
Deep dive
What Holden's detour to the frozen dioramas at the Museum of Natural History reveals about what he actually wants from adolescence — and why he can't bring himself to go inside.
Where to go next
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