the thing i will remember most about this book is that i read this because i work at a gym and a guy reading it in between his weightlifting sets lent me his copy after i told him i respected him for such a unique and intense visual (we are friends now btw). i never read it in school and honestly think i would have gotten much more out of this if i did because i kind of have the basic "this was annoying" opinion about it. i do respect that it's an accurate portrayal of a sensitive young man but the 40s slang was really irritating to me personally.

even though holden being male is obviously a huge aspect of the perspective of this book, i think part of my annoyance with him is because i see myself in him. if i had to guess, this identification is probably why a lot of people who like and hate this book either like or hate it. i read this in less than 2 days so i can't complain too much about the experience, i liked the stretch from when he runs away from the teacher to seeing the "fuck yous" written everywhere and of course the last sentence.