The novel Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salanger, was a story of the normal human being growing up and trying to fit into a cookie cutter world, where everyone is the same and you are the one who is different. Everyone, especially myself, has felt as if they do not belong. This novel portrays Holden Caufield trying to 'fit in' with the world around him and have people accept him for who he is.

While reading this novel, I went through many emotions toward the main character. In the beginning, I could not stand the sarcasm and pessimism that Holden had. To me he was someone who did not try at anything and seemed not to care about anything. He seemed to be a sense-less character who did not care about anything. However, as the story progressed my feeling began to change toward Holden. Instead of being angry with him, I was forlorn toward him. I felt so bad for him and how he was depressed all of the time. I couldn't imagine someone feeling so dejected from society and so afraid of death and losing people he cared about, he just had so much hurt inside. At some points in the story I would question why Holden had the will to survive.

Holden brings up the topic of Allie's death quite frequently in the novel. He brings up the topic that when he was at the cemetery once and it started raining "All the visitors could get into their cars and turn on their radios and all and then go someplace nice for dinner-everybody except Allie."(p.156) Holden still thinks of his brother as still being alive. He cannot get over the fact that Allie is gone. Holden is so afraid of losing Allie and losing something that is so close to him. When Holden brings up the topic of when he will die, he seems afraid to die. He seems afraid to lose all of the things in life that are important to him. Holden feels that when he goes the people that he cares for will forget about him. Holden realizes that people are forgetting about Allie and that people are getting on without him. However, Holden is unable to. Holden is so lost and does not know where to go. He does not understand why things happen and what he is supposed to do with his life. Holden is giving up on life. He is giving into it, because it is unfair. Life has taken his brother away from him and he hates it. Holden does not understand and does not care for that matter what he is to do with his life. Holden realizes that life is short and that no matter how hard he tries and how much he cares, something could go wrong and he knows no matter what he does he is going to die. He sees that when ever something is going good and every time he starts to fit in something goes wrong and he just gives in, into not caring and into not trying.

In the end of the novel, Holden stops talking about his life and lets the reader just hang there. I was somewhat disappointed with the ending because I thought that it might have a meaning or happy ending. Then, I was reminded of reality and how not all stories have happy endings. In the novel, Catcher in the Rye, it shows that there is really no answer to lives questions. I reminds me of how Holden doesn't know if he is going to apply himself. He shouldn't know, it's life, it's reality, you never know if you are really going to do something until you do it. Therefore, this novel should not have an ending, because it would be like solving all of the problems Holden has and ending the story of where life leads him. Yet, Holden has nothing solved. He is still as lost as he was when the book started and by not really having a conclusion you know he really has not been found, his life is just beginning.

The novel Catcher in the Rye, is a great example of growing up. This novel shows what it is like to be a 'not so perfect' person who actually displays their feelings and fears. It tells of how everyone is lost and confused and always searching for answers. It also shows how life is unfair and almost cruel to us. The novel portrays an average person trying to compromise with the world around them and how to survive when bad things occur. Catcher in the Rye displays how life is not always fair and how some people don't always come out on top. This novel shows reality. It is not a picture perfect book. Therefore, when people say that they don't like the main character and that they don't like the book, it is easy to understand. This is because, people in general don't like to hear the sad stories. People don't like to hear about the underachievers and pessimistic bums. Instead they rather read of someone who becomes something and someone who is someone. Not an average everyday person. Not Holden Caufield.