JD Salinger - novel - 1951 - p. 198

In The Catcher in the Rye, a discontented teen named Holden Caulfield offers his perspectives on life, school, his parents, romance, and more. He has been expelled from an elite prep school in New England and takes a train to New York City, dreading his parents’ discovery of his expulsion. The story consists largely of Holden’s encounters with peers, a favorite teacher, a prostitute, a romantic interest named Sally--and his ruminations on all of them. He feels fond of his little sister, Phoebe, and resents the often cruel ways the world wrests children from their innocence.

In a brief coda to the story, Holden reveals that he will start at a new school in the fall after having spent an interval in an institution. He reflects that relating his experiences to others has created apparently undesirable positive feelings toward those involved in those experiences whom he previously shunned, suggesting that personal storytelling is thus inherently risky.

Considered by many to be one of the greatest American novels ever written, The Catcher in the Rye has been frequently challenged, banned, or censored for its vulgarity and sexual content. Notably, it has been cited as an inspiration in several prominent murders and assassination attempts, including those on President Ronald Reagan and John Lennon.

Key elements: homosexuality, mental illness, teacher