On Why We Still Read Catcher in the Rye

I believe we still read Catcher in the Rye because of the message it sends about adolescence.  Catcher in the Rye tells us that everyone goes through the same things as a teenager, and that you are not alone in your feelings.  As I was reading, I noticed Holden and I shared a lot of the same feelings: depression, anger, frustration, and confusion. Holden was angry and frustrated a lot of the time just as I am. He knows that there are things he likes, but they don't happen as often as he'd like.  Holden also talks a lot about depression, and I believe that many people feel this way when they are trying to deal with their lives.  Holden finds things depressing because he knows they aren't true as they appear to be.  He knows people put on fake smiles and that people act in certain ways only to impress people.  The reason this is depressing to Holden is because he is just now realizing it.  It makes him realize that not everything was how it seemed as a child, and now he has to rethink his childhood to see what was really going on.  I know that this happens to me, and I too find it depressing.  Something else Catcher in the Rye talks about is sexuality.  Holden spends much time thinking about sex.  He seems to wonder if he is interested in partaking in sexual activities, or if he should wait and keep it sacred.  Many teens have this thought too.  Another reason we still read Catcher in the Rye because it brings to light how phony people can be.  As I said before, if you catch on later in life, it can make you believe you life had been a lie, and that is a depressing thought.  When people are phony it can be frustrating because it is often see-through, meaning that people can tell when you are being fake.  In conclusion, I believe we still read Catcher in the Rye because of the messages it sends about adolescence.  Also, the story is good too.

Salinger, J. D. Catcher in the Rye. New York, NY: Little, Brown, 1991. Print.