Somehow I've managed to steer away from the dreaded classics genre, excluding over analytical English lessons, for my entire life but a beautiful copy of The Catcher in the Rye has been within my possession for over 6 months now and I felt it was finally time to embark on my first classic.
For starters, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. For some reason I seemed to think that classics would be written in a complete different English to what I know but that definitely wasn't the case. Of course I was unfamiliar with the occasional word but for the most part it was just like reading a normal young adult novel and I enjoyed the more formal narrative and older setting.
To summarise the story would make it sound boring, it follows a troubled teenager named Holden who has recently been expelled from school. It's about his journey home and the people he meets which, as I said, doesn't sound particularly interesting however, it was. It was an unknown adventure being inside Holden's head. From the start we know he is ill but we don't know why or how, as the book goes on we become more accustomed with Holden's mind and vision on the world. He's different and pretty darn cynical but it's as you continue to be immersed in the story, that he becomes a friend you can't help but keep talking to.
My favourite book is The Perks of Being a Wallflower and this one has often been compared to it. Looking back, I can see many similarities as Holden and Charlie share very similar narratives. It was refreshing to be back in such a different mindset to most characters and I hope I can continue to find similar books. The Catcher in the Rye will take up another slot on my list of favourite books, I thoroughly enjoyed the dark, unknown themes; they made me feel like I was reading a forbidden diary of modern taboos. I recommend it to everyone as yes, it was just that good, but especially to fans of books with darker undertones. Also, if you're like myself and slightly terrified of classics then I urge you to give it a go! Some of the themes are a little grown-up so if you don't think you'll be comfortable reading it, then maybe wait a year or two and revisit it in the future.
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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