After reading the first half of the novel Catcher in the Rye. I am able to make connections from the book to my own life. The main character Holden Caufield portrays an average teenager trying to fit into today's society. Holden has attended many private boarding schools and does not put any effort into his school work. Therefore, Holden flunks out of every school that he has attended. Holden is having trouble determining where he is in his life. Holden does not know who he fits in with. He has a room mate who is popular, and treats him very poorly or asks him to do favors for him. He also has a neighbor who is very unpopular and Holden treats him very poorly. This causes Holden to question who he is and what he wants to be and who he wants to be. When ever Holden has a problem he does not know where to turn because no one would understand what Holden was going through.

Again, when Holden tries to communicate to people, especially his family, Holden is confused. He has an older brother, D.B., but he is older that Holden and is a writer in Hollywood. Therefore, Holden tends not to communicate with his brother too much. He also has a sister Phoebe. His sister is ten and is still a child therefore, he finds it hard to communicate with her. He does not know where he stands in his family. Holden, is trying to find himself and whether or not he is a child or if he is an adult.

In my opinion, Holden is neither. Holden and I both are very confused as to which group or friends we fit into. I know that I am not popular, but I am also not unpopular. I have an older brother who is very smart and sometimes very confusing. He and I do not communicate very well. Then, I have a twin brother. My twin seems to be obnoxious and immature. He often tells me that I act too mature for my age and then I feel as if I don't fit in. All of my friends know what they want to be and what they want to do when they grow up. I feel as if I am the only one who does not know and I am so confused. I also have so much stress with homework and after school activities, and I am losing my friends. My friends and I are spreading farther and farther apart and I am not able to keep in contact with them. I feel as if I am the only one who does not fit in and that I am out of place around people, whom I call my friends.

Much like Holden, I am having a tough time fitting in with the world around me. I feel lost in the process of growing up. Somehow, I know that I will grow up, because growing up is inevitabe, but I know that I will try to keep in touch with my friends and that I will somehow survive. The process of finding ones self is long and confusing and I know that I have not found my real self, yet. I realize that Holden is going through a period in his life where he does not know what he wants to do with his life and he does not know where he fits in with the his surroundings. I feel that this book will be about Holden finding himself and him learining to compromise to fit in with the world around him.

Another important issue that has arisen in the novel Catcher in the Rye, is the issue of Holden and his position in his family. Holden was close to his brother Allie, before his death. Now with Allie gone, Holden is sad and is afraid of losing him. Holden carries a glove that Allie used for baseball. Allie had written poetry all over the glove so that he would not be bored out in left field waiting for a ball to come his way. Holden carries Allie's glove with him no matter where he goes. Holden is afraid of growing up and losing the memories of his loving brother Allie.

The death of Allie had a huge impact on Holden. To Holden, Allie was the kindest person he had ever met. Holden would remark about how loved Allie was and how he was nice and caring to everyone. Now with Allie gone, Holden is lost. In my opinion, Holden no longer feels important to the family. Holden has lost someone that was so special to him and someone who made him feel so important. Now Holden is confused. He does not know what he wants to do in the future and does not applied himself to anything. Holden, still carries the memory of his beloved brother in his heart. I think, that Holden is afraid to grow up because if he grows up, then he will lose the memory of Allie. To Holden, losing Allie is devastating.

Holden brings up the ducks on the pond where he and Allie used to visit. Holden keeps on wondering why the ducks know where to go when winter comes. This fascinates Holden because he does not know where to go. He is lost without his brother and is wondering why the ducks know where to go but he does not. Holden is lost in the maze of growing up and does not know which way to turn.

Also, the title of the book brings up another topic. I wonder why the novel is called Catcher in the Rye, it seems to me that it represents Allie. Allie is a cater in the rye. He played left field out in the grass and his glove with all of the poetry on it. The title is a symbol of Allie and how Holden is growing up and trying not to lose Allie, while trying to find himself and his place in today's society.