Pete Reads: Catcher In The Rye

I had a funny thought when I saw the movie Gravity.

I mean, the thought itself wasn't that funny, but it was funny that I had it while watching Gravity, you'll see what I mean. But let me first set the scene: I was a little buzzed and I was in the movie theater 100% alone. It was like a tipsy private screening for just me! It was awesome. I like to see movies alone and this was as alone as you can get this side of an extinction level event. I was going to say zombie apocalypse but if a swarm of zombies burst into the theater while I was watching Gravity that would not be enjoyable in the least!

I watched Gravity and loved it. Afterwards I was marveling at what humans are capable of (still buzzed, can you tell?). First, people go into space, that's intense, good for them (astronauts) and us (person-kind) and U.S. (USA! USA!). Second, the filmmaking was pretty incredible. I was like, well, they must have filmed that in space, that was a documentary, George Clooney and Sandra Bullock are astronauts... sexy astronauts...

It got me thinking that yes, this is a very good modern movie, but there are so many incredible works of film, literature, music, PAINTINGS, for goodness sake!! I need to step up my game and take in the best art that I can. We only have so much time on this Earth, do I want to spend any of it watching the 4th Final Destination movie for the 3rd time!? (The answer to that question is yes by the way, so, bad example, but you get my point).

Pete, why are you telling me this? you may be thinking. And I would respond that that was my roundabout way of explaining why I just read Catcher In The Rye for the first time. It's a classic, I didn't have to read it in high school, and I've heard about it a bunch but I didn't even know what it was about. All I knew was that comedian/podcaster/actor/etc Moshe Kasher titled his memoir of his tumultuous teen years "Kasher In The Rye." And also there's that joke in The Good Girl when Jake Gyllenhaal (by the way just spelled that right on the first try, blammo) tells Jennifer Anniston that he's named after Catcher In The Rye and she says "What's your name? Catcher?" 

Also Ash owns the book and it was sitting around the house lookin' all fine and I just hadta read it.

I was delighted when I began Catcher In The Rye. I love Holden Caulfield's voice and the style with which he's written. In hindsight I've read that teens identify with his worldview, which I sort of get, but reading him as a 30-year-old I thought he was immature and spoiled and sheltered. His descriptions of people and events were hilarious. Since I didn't know the 'plot' of the book I kept waiting for the story to kick in but it never does and I was still along for the meandering ride.

Overall I give it 4 out of 5 Catcher's Mitts. Very enjoyable.