The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
By: Josh Blevins, Assistant Librarian of Young Library
“I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes.” 
The above quote is the novel’s most famous. At face value, we already see an issue with offensive ableist language. If you care to look up the expanded quote, you’ll encounter profanity. If you care to ponder the whole quote, these words are more than an empty threat from a dispirited teen - they are a thinly veiled scream for help from protagonist Holden Caulfield who is in the midst of a mental health crisis. For expectant readers, this novel has been banned and challenged for issues beyond language; violence, immorality, anti-authoritarianism, and obscene sexual content are constant thematic elements throughout. At this point, one may wonder why I’m promoting this book, especially regarding my position as a librarian at a Christian university...
"I’m just going through a phase right now. Everybody goes through phases and all, don’t they?"
This book encapsulates every challenge a young man faces whilst becoming an adult. It addresses many questions we are too afraid to ask our parents. It’s a glimpse at the terrors of adulthood from a child’s perspective, but a child who has experienced and understands much, yet loathes it all the same. Ironically, Holden’s philosophical ponderings are naively optimistic but his actions and their consequences reveal the impotence of our ideals.
"That's the whole trouble. You can't ever find a place that's nice and peaceful, because there isn't any."
Despite this, despite Holden’s failings as a protagonist, narrator, student, friend, brother, and as a son, he is loveable. Partly because his trauma is relatable. Mostly, it’s because he always seems to make the right decision at the most critical moment. A college professor of mine once described tragedy as “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.” Holden seems to do this over and over throughout the story. However, Holden repetitively abandons his temptations immediately before the payoff. He shows the reader it’s never too late to stop sinning, there is redemption in defeat, and that desire need not become deed.
"I mean how do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don't.”
I’ve shared with you my favorite banned book, but now I’ll share with you why I love reading. Succinctly put, it’s an opportunity to encounter the uncomfortable and challenge one’s beliefs. It’s easy to lock oneself in echo chambers which prohibit growth and undermine empathy. While this book didn’t transform me into a bookworm (thanks, Harry Potter), it has influenced my discipleship to college students who are in the midst of their own transformations from children into adults. I am reminded of all the Holden Caulfields I encounter daily who are scared and broken and in pain, on the cusp of making a decision which will alter the course of their life. Instead of shunning or ignoring them, I hope to minister to their needs and show them Christ’s love through humble service.
