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Title: Even better the second time around...
Review: One of those classics that I read as a teenager. I don't remember my reaction then (except for the nagging feeling that it was something I was supposed to appreciate because it was a classic and because I was right around Holden's age). So here I am 40 years old, reading it again. And I think it's magnificent. As a teenager, I probably thought Salinger was a lot like me because of the voice he has created for Holden. As an adult, I think Salinger is a brilliant stylist because he obviously "captured" the voice of an angst-ridden (and for good reason!) teenager. There is so much complicated stuff to consider amidst a seemingly uncomplicated tale. And it's always fascinating to consider what literature sticks around and what doesn't. Just for grins, I checked out the Pulitzer site and discovered that Conrad Richter's The Town won in the same year that Catcher in the Rye was eligible. Makes you wonder which 2005 titles will still be around 55 years hence.
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