Written by JD Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye is a classic fiction novel. Holden Caulfield, the main character, writes in a hospital about events that occurred before the previous Christmas. In the lyrics, Holden states, “…I keep imagining all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and everything. Thousands of little children, and there's nobody around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I find myself on the edge of a crazy cliff. What I have to do is catch everyone who starts falling off the cliff - I mean, if they run and don't watch where they're going, I have to go out somewhere and catch them. That's all I would do all day. I'd just be the dreamcatcher and all that. I know it's crazy, but it's the only thing I'd really like to be. (163 Salinger) Holden's quote explains the title of the paper. All he wants is to make a difference in the lives of others, allowing them to 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 every class. 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 greatest enemy. Socially awkward, Holden struggles to maintain a strong relationship of any form. He has difficulty trying not to judge others harshly, referring positively to few people in the novel. Holden is told repeatedly that he never applies himself and avoids his problems. After the argument with his roommate Ward Stradlater, Holden leaves Pencey early to avoid further confrontations. An elevator man at his hotel offers Holden... half a paper... them angry in an attempt to scare them. JD Salinger's strong and effective approach to both plot and themes makes this a noteworthy original story. reading. The way the novel was written made it easy to understand and enjoy. Holden's story couldn't have been told better. Although the book is not recommended for younger audiences due to its vulgar and adult content, The Catcher in the Rye is praised as a favorite by many. It is easy to see why Salinger's writing is considered important at various levels of education around the world. Works Cited Salinger, JD. 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. Network. October 1, 2013. LitCharts Editors. “LitChart on The Catcher in the Rye.” LitCharts.com. LitCharts LLC. 2013. Web. 3 December. 2013.