Begining thoughts: Reflective essay on favorite book.
CATCHER AND THE RYE.
I chose this book because I read it at a young age and absolutely loved it. It is about a complex teenager that struggles through life and it's intricate challenges. He seems lost in the world, that maybe doesn't hold a place for him. I found that the book became powerful for me and I could relate to his emotions and thoughts. He strives for something more but doesn't see whats in store for him.What was unique is that his life wasn't the average teenager's.It was very mellow, with complex emotions. Nothing was too exciting and nothing was too boring. It was the perfect read for me and was one of the most unique books I've ever read. the book flowed nicely as it revealed his life and struggles, struggles I recognized and connected with. The connection lasted with me forever. To this day I will never forget this book and can re read it over and over again.I found something in the character that helped connect to myself. I ended up following the character through his life, through the struggles. When the character struggled, I struggled. The writing however had a different quality to it. The style didn't stand out as good writing material, but what the author did successfully was the angst of teenage or young adult life. The author articulated it in a way that allowed me to connect with the story.
The time i was reading this book, i was also having my own personal struggles as a young adult. So the character's struggles and my struggles were connected as I followed him through the story. In contrast, after reading this book, I read The Picture of Dorian andy Grey. This book is written completely different. The style of writing is beautiful and is considered one of the best pieces of literature ever written. But as for me, I didn't consider it be be beautiful at all. I made no connection on the writing or the character. The way the book was written prevented me to follow the character or relate. Thats what makes the The Catcher and the Rye so powerful for me. Because the literature wasn't well written, but the story and the character had an intense impact on me.
This book did more for me than I expected. It helped me think in a different way, to gain a different perspective of the world. It allowed me to view my own introspective look within myself. The character allowed me to compare and analyze his responses to life, to my own life, to determine how to respond to my struggles. Reading this book helped me compare my own responses to the situations confronting the protagonist. That comparison forces the reader or me re-evaluate the character's own choices and decisions about the world around them
