So I went out on a limb and took up a challenge from a friend of mine to read what is a so called "American Classic". The book is The Catcher in the Rye. This is read by children in schools all over North America and is regarded highly by critics, for what reason I am entirely unsure. You can find it on Amazon here http://www.amazon.ca/Catcher-Rye-J-D-Salinger/dp/0316769487/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297968223&sr=8-1.
So I first off have to thank my friend Ian Torry for challenging me to read this novel. I would like to thank him with a quick punch to the nut sack. This book might possibly be the most useless and boring piece of fiction I have ever read. It is about a boy who gets kicked out of school and you follow his life as he heads home for winter vacation a few days early before his parents can find out he has been kicked out. Seems alright from there and the premise, although not my cup of tea, is not too terrible. It is the fact that this entire book is written from this little bastards point of view. I have to listen to him constantly comment on how he hates people who seem to be his friends, and then constantly saying but hey I put up with it because I am a nice guy. From start to finish there seems to be no big point, he doesn't come to some life changing revelation or have anything of worth even happen to him. Its more like a random string of events with this little kid I hate commenting and narrating his way through, all be it, some pretty weird situations. I mean who orders a prostitute then decides hey thanks for coming but I am not really in the mood. Especially when all this young man can talk about is how awesome he is, and how sexy he is. If I ran into this kid on the street I guarantee you he would have one of those faces you just want to punch. If this book had been any more than 210 pages long I might have opted to quit my entire literature run here just 5 books in. But then I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, the last page and was henceforth saved from the unbearable pain.
My suggestion if you ever buy this book, use it to prop up a desk, or burn it. The warmth provided by this book burning will surely be more useful to you than the zero bars of enjoyment this book will give you if you read it. For those who had to read this during their time at school, I feel for you. We can start a support group together just to overcome the sheer awfulness that we were forced to endure. Be ready Ian, next time I see you a junk punch is in order.
For the record I told you to read it and tell me why anyone thinks this book is anything other than shit. The fact that you hated it should not be suprising. Also worth noting that reading this book alledgedly caused John Lennon's assassination. I have no idea why because the only person I wanted to kill while reading this was myself until the book was done. To attone for me setting you onto this one read "The Game" by Neil Strauss. I promise you a much better read.
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