Written by JD Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye is a classic fiction novel. Holden Caulfield, the main character, writes in a hospital about the events that occurred before the previous Christmas. In the text, Holden states: “…I keep imagining all these little kids playing a game in this big rye field and everything. Thousands of little children, and there's no one – no one big, I mean – except me. And I'm standing on the edge of a crazy cliff. What I have to do is catch everyone if they start going over the cliff - I mean, if they run and don't look where they're going, I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I would do all day. I'll just be the receiver of the rye and everything. I know it's crazy, but it's the one thing I'd really like to be. (163 Salinger) Holden's quote explains the title of the writing. All he wants is to make a difference in the lives of others, making him feel important. Holden's story begins in Agerstown, Pennsylvania at Pencey Prep High School in the 1950s. Holden had just been expelled for failing almost all of his classes. Once he leaves Pencey, Holden boards a train to Manhattan, where he stays at the Edmont Hotel. The rest of the story takes place over a long weekend. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is his own greatest enemy. Socially awkward, Holden struggles to maintain a solid relationship in any form. He struggles with trying not to judge others harshly, referring positively to few people in the novel. Holden is repeatedly told that he never applies himself and avoids his problems. After his argument with his roommate Ward Stradlater, Holden leaves Pencey early to avoid another confrontation. An elevator at his hotel offers Holden ...... middle of paper ...... angry in his efforts to scare them away. JD Salinger's strong and effective approach to both plot and themes makes this a worthwhile original story. while reading. The way the novel was written made it easy to understand and enjoy. Holden's story couldn't have been better told. Although the book is not recommended for young audiences due to its profanity and adult content, The Catcher in the Rye is considered a favorite by many. It's easy to see why Salinger's writings are considered important at different levels of education around the world. Works Cited Salinger, J.D. The catcher in the rye. Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1991. Print. SparkNotes Publishers. “SparkNotes on The Catcher In The Rye.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2007. Internet. October 1, 2013. LitCharts Publishers. “LitChart on The Catcher in the Rye.” LitCharts.com. LitCharts LLC. 2013. Internet. December 3. 2013.