The Catcher in the Rye is, personally, one of my favorite novels of all time. It is said that the author, J.D. Salinger, channels most of his personality into the young teen Holden Caulfield. Holden is rich and spoiled and living in New York, and is well aware of just how rich and privileged he is. He tends to use this to his advantage. Through the whole book, you get to experience just how cynical and sarcastic he is, edging to when you get to see him be a child and his little cold heart melt away a bit. Be prepared for the word 'phony', and a lot of humor from his simple, critical mind. The story takes place over the course of three days, and within those days Holden manages to get himself into plenty of awkward situations and smokes more cigarettes than the average teen ever should.
J.D. Salinger's classic of adolescent angst is now available for the first time in trade paperback. Holden Caulfield, knowing he is to be expelled from school, decides to leave early. He spends three days in New York City and tells the story of what he did and suffered there.