Fun Facts about The Catcher In The Rye

Here are some fun facts about The Catcher In The Rye courtesy of Wikipedia:

250,000 copies sold each year

65 million total sales to date

It is on Time’s list of 100 best English-language novels written since 1923

It was the most censored book in American High Schools every year from 1961-1982

It was on the 10 most frequently challenged books list from 1990-1999, 2005 and 2009

2009!! This book is 60 years old and people are still trying to get it thrown out of the classroom!

And maybe my favorite tidbit of information:

“In 2009 Salinger successfully sued to stop the U.S. publication of a novel that presents Holden Caulfield as an old man.” The book was called “60 Years Later: Coming Through The Rye” written by Fredrik Colting, a Swedish author.

And of course I had forgotten that J. D. Salinger had passed away in January of 2010.  I wonder if his wife will finally loosen the reigns on the rights to allow for a stage adaptation or a movie at some point.

January's book will be...

The Holden Caulfield fans have spoken, January's book...

The Catcher In The Rye!

I guess this is go big or go home time! It’s a little scary to start off with a book that’s so iconic but it will definitely force me to find something unique within the pages to write about. I can’t say for sure that we’ll be hearing Holden Caulfield sing, but maybe we will, or maybe we won’t.

Time to get reading!

January's Book

I want to get this project off the ground with a bang so I’ve come up with three choices for the first book that are all keystones of American Literature: “The Catcher In The Rye”, “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Slaughterhouse-Five”. I think most people had these books on their reading lists in either high school or college. All three have been on my list to re-read anyway as I honestly don’t remember a lick of any of them despite reading them all in high school.

Vonnegut has become one of my favorite authors right now, so “Slaughterhouse-Five” had to be on this short list. And after recently reading and loving Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” I’m excited to dive into “The Grapes of Wrath” as well. Of course “The Catcher In The Rye” is simply a no-brainer. My feeling is that all of these books may eventually make it into this project. 

So what do you think I should start with?

The Catcher In The Rye

The Grapes of Wrath

Slaughterhouse-Five


(Check out the poll to the right.)  ------->