Never read this before, and didn’t know anything about the plot. Quite a bit shorter and simpler than what I thought it would be – pretty much just a first person narration of a few days in the life of Holden Caulfield, a rich kid with something of a chip on his shoulder, who keeps getting kicked out of his private boarding schools and who thinks he’s got life all figured out (and it kind of stinks).

Beyond the tough guy/smartalec facade, there are hints of great tragedy in his young life. Particularly about his little brother Allie who died when Holden was 13. Allie seemed like a sweet kid; he wrote poems on his baseball glove so he wouldn’t get bored in the outfield in between batters. Holden’s also plenty confused about what he wants out of life, flitting about from one life goal to the next in a matter of minutes (maybe a touch of ADHD?). He also suffers from angst and ennui – so much of his life is taken care of, and girls/booze don’t provide as much of a thrill as he thinks they are supposed to. What’s the point of it all?!?

If I were to give Holden some advice, I’d tell him to find a purpose. Doesn’t matter much what it is; just something meaningful to him. Then stick with it, and get involved with others who want it too. Also, he needs to get better sleep at night! He stays up all night drinking and wandering around town … no wonder he feels sick and like passing out the next day. What’s the “tiredness” equivalent of “hangry”? I think he’s got it.

The title comes from a misquoting of a Burns poem: “If a body meet a body comin’ through the rye” – Holden misremembers it as “if a body catch a body.” He pictures himself standing in a tall field of grain next to a cliff, with kids running around who he must catch before they fall off the edge. Perhaps an indication of his great longing to have a decent purpose in life (as a protector of children – this theme also touched on via his relationship with his little sister)?

Published October 19, 2024