Book: The Catcher in the Rye.

I knew this would come at some point, for what teenager can (attempt) to blog about literature without mentioning The Catcher in the Rye? It is the epitome of teenage angst and sexuality, with a protagonist many people can relate to. It was published in 1951 and was written by J.D. Salinger. It is told from the point of view of Holden Caulfield, a 16 year old boy born into a wealthy family. He looks down upon his wealthy background, and the book tells of his days after he is excluded from Pencey prep. Please note, this post contains spoilers.

He encounters many people along the way, including a prostitute named Sunny. After seeing Sunny, he decides he just wants to talk and ends up being beaten by her pimp after refusing to pay more than the amount they had agreed on. The book continues to describe his days, during which he is rather lonely and often drunk. Further into the book, he tells his sister that he pictures himself as "a catcher in the rye" (Hence the books title). He pictures himself guarding a group of children in a rye field on the edge of a cliff; his job is to catch the children if they wander too close to the edge.

The Catcher in the Rye is interpreted differently by many people, and in my opinion I see him as depressed, possibly because he is not over his brother Allie's death. I believe that if a child were to fall off the cliff, it would become an adult and lose it's innocence, which is what Holden is trying to prevent.

The book was heavily criticised for it's vulgar language, sexual references and blasphemy. It became one of the most censored books in the US and went on to become one of the most taught books in schools. Many murders have been associated with the novel, including that of John Lennon, as his killer Mark David Chapman was arrested with a copy of the book. Since then, however, it has been listed as one of the best books of the 20th Century, and received praise from many people, such as New York Times critic Nash K Burger.

My copy, swiped from my parents bookshelf.

I recommend this book to everyone, as it truly is a brilliant tale. It is a story that deals with angst, loneliness, identity and belonging and is told in a way that allows people, especially teenagers, to relate.

Thoughts on the remake of All Quiet on the Western Front.

As you may or may not have heard, it has been announced that there will be a remake of All Quiet on the Western Front coming out in a few years. I found this out last night, and I thought the idea was utterly ridiculous. I think re-making such an iconic film would be a waste, as I sincerely doubt it will live up to the 1930's film, based on the novel by Erich Remarque. Perhaps I am just biased.

Daniel Radcliffe is playing Paul. Yes, Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe. In my mind, the only person who can truly play Paul well is the exceptionally handsome Lew Ayres. He was believable and passionate, whereas I'm not sure Daniel Radcliffe will be. Sorry mate.