The“brilliant,funny,meaningfulnovel“(TheNewYorker)thatestablishedJ.D.SalingerasaleadingvoiceinAmericanliterature--andthathasinstilledinmillionsofreadersaroundtheworldalifelongloveofbooks.“Ifyoureallywanttohearaboutit,thefirstthingyou’llprobablywanttoknowiswhereIwasborn,andwhatmylousychildhoodwaslike,andhowmyparentswereoccupiedandallbeforetheyhadme,andallthatDavidCopperfieldkindofcrap,butIdon’tfeellikegoingintoit,ifyouwanttoknowthetruth.“Thehero-narratorofTheCatcherintheRyeisanancientchildofsixteen,anativeNewYorkernamedHoldenCaufield.Throughcircumstancesthattendtoprecludeadult,secondhanddescription,heleaveshisprepschoolinPennsylvaniaandgoesundergroundinNewYorkCityforthreedays.