The Catcher in the Rye
I bought this book a while ago. Usually, I don't buy books, I don't have the time (or the effort) to read, but this one sort of found its way into my arms.

I know its just human nature to relate things, like seeing patterns in clouds, but I couldn’t help it with this book.

Holden Caulfield, the protagonist, goes to a private school. I did too... I'm a posh bastard, and not afraid to admit it. I hated every single second of it though.

He says in the opening chapter, that the more expensive a school is, the more crooks it has. I can confirm, that this is 100% true. Most people at my school were thieving cnuts and I hated them.

One of his Holden’s friends, (Ackley) is a big, dumb, lazy, insecure lad, who is often lying about his sexual encounters.... that would be my best friend Morgan then...

There is a teacher at Holden’s school called Mr. Spencer. There was a Mr. Spencer at my school, but he's a communist, and I despised him.

Anyway, in the story Holden runs away, to New York, and although I’ve never done that myself, the fact that I seriously considered leaving for good, without telling a soul is basically parallel.

The final thing about the book, is that like my teenage years, I thought it was utter shite...

Something else I found out about, post reading the book, as that John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman, also hugely identified with the book, and believed himself to be Holden.

Bugger.

I may have to go and kill a musician turned peace activist.

I choose Bono.
(DanS like you've never DanSed before!, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:59, 10 replies)

I read that at school..
...took it out of the school library with no idea it was a famous book.

Read it, took it back. English teacher asked me what I thought of it - I rememeber wondering why he cared - probably impressed with me.

"'s'allright." said I.

"What did you think it was about?" asks teacher. I had no idea this was a standard 'catcher in the rye' question and I was supposed to get all deep and metaphysical.

'Snot about anything. It's about a bored bloke who doesn't do much'

It was a few years later before I found out it was such a 'classic' - explains why my teacher looked disapointed at my reply.
(inflateable, Thu 15 May 2008, 20:41, closed)

Garbage...
Absolute garbage, refuse, rubbish, excrement - an utterly pointless story, a few hours of my life I will never have back. What a waste of paper.
(aeon chicken Like the Millenium Falcon, only slower and noisier, Thu 15 May 2008, 23:57, closed)

I read this at school too
and never really 'got' it.

But if it makes you want to go and kill Bono, then woo! Go J D Salinger!
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 16 May 2008, 8:46, closed)

I'm not alone!
I read this on the recommendation of a guy from school saying it was the greatest book he'd read. And I always thought I must have missed something, but I couldn't be bothered to read it again as it wasn't at all interesting.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:40, closed)

I went through a period of seeking out standard school-curriculum books and reading them
because a lot of people said that these books were great books that are ruined by being forced to read them at school.

I never finished Catcher. It pissed me off way too much, and I hated it.

P.s. If you need any help with the Bono thing, let me know.
( Mockingbird Practitioner of SCIENCE, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:52, closed)

RE: Bono
Yes! Yes! Yes!

And King Dork by Frank Portman is a great book for anyone that hates Catcher. Read it a few months back and thoroughly enjoyed it.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Fri 16 May 2008, 12:28, closed)

Bonocide
Friend of mine knows his babysitter - let's make this happen!
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Fri 16 May 2008, 13:07, closed)

re: mr spencer
There is NOTHING like the spoilt children of the rich to aid the spread of communism.
( willenium Fist bump for verification, Fri 16 May 2008, 13:33, closed)

Swapsies?
What would it take to get you to swap Bono for Janet Street Porter?
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Fri 16 May 2008, 14:17, closed)

Catcher
The problem is that Holden, and presumably J.D. Salinger, has no sense of humor. One of the main benefits of adolescence is learning not to take yourself too seriously. Otherwise you will indeed be miserable, as Holden was.
(not here, Mon 19 May 2008, 9:41, closed)