Cover of The Catcher in the Rye

Classics · Literary

The Catcher in the Rye

Bestseller: about 65 million copies (estimate)

After being expelled from his prep school, sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield wanders New York for a few days, telling the story in a restless, sarcastic voice that hides how lost and lonely he feels.

First published
1951
Pace
slow
Length
short
Format
Standalone

Read this if you want a sharp, voice-driven portrait of teenage alienation and don't need much plot.

Skip this if you tire quickly of a complaining narrator or a story with no clear destination.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Mental illness
  • Suicide

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