Best Sites

Exploring Catcher in the Rye -- This is a wonderful site that includes an index of references in the book, a photo tour, and art gallery and more. Unfortunately, it is on a limited-access site and gets so many hits that you sometimes can't view the site because it has exceeded its data transfer limit. View when you can. [Go here for the index when this site is down.]

Fisher-Price Theater -- Go here for an intriguing comic book version of the novel.

New York Times Featured Author -- This page collects reviews of the novel over the years, with links too related articles from the newspaper. You have to register to login, but registration is free.

Fan Site -- This fan site has some interesting links and a unique impression of the book.

Fan Fiction -- Alternate endings, added chapters, and other fiction in the style or on the subject of Catcher.

Biography

A Brief Biography of J. D. Salinger -- Somewhat idiosyncratic biography of Salinger, but actually includes more about the author than most other sites.

Salinger -- Another site with some biographical information.

Dead Caulfields -- Kinda strange and overly focused on Salinger's reclusive nature, but nontheless interesting.

Reviews

New York Times July 15, 1951 -- Original Release

"With Love and 20-20 Vision" -- Original Release, Time Magazine, 1951.

"Holden Today - Still in the Rye" by Stefen Kanfer -- Time Essay as an update on Holden's post-novel life.

"Holden, 50, Still Catches" by Fred Bratman -- New York Times retrospective and analysis of novel's impact.

Cover as requested and specified by J. D. Salinger

 Articles*

"Love and Death in The Catcher in the Rye" by Peter Shaw -- offers a psychoanalytic interpretation of Holden's social observations and mental state, placing his actions and emotions in the context of "the peculiar patterns of adolescent crisis."

"Kings in the Back Row: meaning Through Structure - A Reading of Catcher in the Rye" by Carl F. Strauch -- analyzes the novel's symbolic structure through language, motif, episode, and character.

"Holden at Fifty: The Catcher in the Rye and what it spawned" by Louis Menard -- An analysis of the impact and reputation of the novel over a fifty-year period.

Just for Fun

Comin' Thro' the Rye Lyrics

Central Park's Official Website

Central Park Carousel

"Aw, the World's a Crumby Place" by James Stern -- parody review of the novel.

"The Dimwitted Legacy of Holden Caulfield" by George Will -- Chicago Sun-Times retrospective ad analysis of novel's impact by George Will in imitation of Holden's Style.

Assignments for the Novel

Pre-AP English 10 -- Read the book lke a professor and be prepared for assignbments the first day of school.

English 10 - Due First Day of School: Design a poster derived from the Teaching Poster Project Sheet. Other assignments will follow, so bring your copy of the book.

To Be Completed After School Starts

In Holden's Syle: Creative writing assignment emulating Holden's style.

Writing about Literature: Directions for your essay on The Catcher in the Rye.

ABC Book: Group project to create an alphabet book using characters, symbols, events, etc. from The Catcher in the Rye.

Understanding Character: Using the handout, analyze Holden's character and use your analysis and imagination to determine appropriate answers for each of these strange questions.

Poetry Project: Creative writing assignment requiring four original poems derived from The Catcher in the Rye (limerick, ode, viewpoint, and found).

Character Poems: Compose a series of poems and/or songs in the voices of characters from the novel. You may want to imagine that you have been hired to turn the novel into a musical or even a modern opera.