JG said (April 18, 2022):

Ya, I had to read it in high school like everybody else. I got lucky, I never really understood it and that turned out to be a good thing.
If you're lost and looking for answers don't go any further than God's Word and the Holy Scriptures, I guarantee that it will save you a lot of pain and unhappiness.

Tony B said (April 18, 2022):

Gee, Henry, I must have had good instincts. Tried reading this really promoted book as a youngster and couldn't get through even a few pages after several tries. Said to myself, "This is crap," and tossed it. Pretty much the same with every promoted fiction writer of the time.

Struggled through "Cannery Row" and wondered why I wasted my time; another non-story. Went back to real fiction with real stories. You know, those old dead writers and poets.

Still the best. "Captain From Castile," for instance, was a great drama for a young boy. Later movie of it with Ty Power wasn't too bad either.

Matthew (author) said (May 22, 2010):

I thank Paul for sharing the Tarpley passage connecting George Bush with the book. I could see how one, with no knowledge or understanding of extremely sophisticated mind control technologies, might think that the most logical explanation is that Salinger based Holden's character on Bush, given the parallels. Tarpley uses a whole paragraph to quote some lines from the book, but doesn't connect them
to the persona of Bush. Only when Sally's friend "George" is mentioned is there some connection. But Tarpley is a long way from convincing me. Why would he have chosen George Bush of all people to base Holden's character on way back then before he became well-known?

However, in light of this book's notoriety in connection with Manchurian Candidates and possible Monarch slaves (Winona), as well as
understanding how covert mind control works, creating multiple programmed personalities by traumas and advanced technologies, it
makes more sense that George Bush was programmed with the book's content. This would have made him assume the identity of Holden,
including his demented outlook on the world, which would have made him useful as ruthless puppet in his roles of leadership for his handlers
and controllers. This also might explain some things Bush said which sounded a lot like Holden to Mr. Tarpley. If Bush was programmed with
it, how many other ruthless puppets have been too, I wonder?

So I think it's the other way around - Bush is based on Holden, rather than Holden is based on Bush. I don't think the psyops involved had
anything to do with warning anyone about attempting to expose something - I think Salinger was in on it the whole time and was told
not to ever talk about the project, which would explain his reclusiveness.

The film "Conspiracy Theory", a film about government mind control, features "Catcher in the Rye" as the book that Mel Gibson's character,
an MKULTRA mind control victim, compulsively buys but never reads.

Paul said (May 21, 2010):

Hi Henry, one more to add to the list as far as Catcher in the Rye is concerned:

“One more to add to the pot is Robert John Bardo, who took a bus from Tucson, Arizona to Hollywood because of his obsession with Rebecca Schaeffer an actor of TV sitcom “My Sister Sam”. Bardo carried a copy of the book (Catcher in the Rye) with him when he shot the actor in front of her apartment. There is some evidence that all three of these men were in a state of “being out of it” when apprehended and interviewed afterwards.”

This is taken from the book that I am currently writing.

Jo said (May 21, 2010):

Catcher was required reading when I was 16. We were asked to identify the causes of Holden's angst in writing, then the class discussed how to avoid those causes and those brought up in the discussion. We discussed his nihilism then why it was an inappropriate response to angst. We also talked about appropriate ways to express angst (e.g., keeping a journal, talk to a trusted sibling or parent, speak with the school counselor, etc.).

Holden wasn't presented to us as anything other than a human being with human experiences and human emotions, certainly not any kind of role model.

But that was back in 1975 in the US...

--

Jo,

Yes but why focus on this subject at all? Why this novel instead of one about a young man with a positive energetic philosophy of life?

henry

Paul said (May 21, 2010):

First see: http://tarpley.net/?s=salinger. J D Salinger acted like he was afraid following his success. Supposing that Webster Tarpley is
right and that he insulted George H W Bush by basing a character on him, then might it not make sense to conjecture that the black ops
assassination team control either resided with H W and or served him.

The use of the book was a psyops indeed and it warned anyone who might follow in J D Salinger's tracks. That is, a warning to "sensitives"/psychics/intuitives to back off from insulting, let alone identifying That Hideous Strength that seeks to overturn morality and
stamp upon humanity's throat. Salinger likely knew how corrupt and controlled everything was and as such, simply retreated into his realm. Not unlike Stanley Kubrick - another related story. See Jay Weidner for that.

ROBERT said (May 21, 2010):

As the author of the article cited at the end of this piece, I must say that I never stated that my workplace was infested by Freemasons (a commentator hypothesized this), although, considering the bizarre goings-on in the House of Commons, the possibility certainly often crossed my mind. It would not be surprising; as investigative journalist Paul Palango revealed in his 2008 book, Dispelling the Fog, about the RCMP: "A police force acting like a cult is not a new idea. Police live in a world of 'them against us' where it is easy to become isolated from the rest of society. They eat, drink and, all too often, sleep with each other. ... Because of [the unhealthy bond police officers often have with each other], police forces are havens for secret societies like the Masons Order--the mafia of the mediocre, as it has been dubbed. One can't get ahead, even today, in the Calgary Police Force without being a Mason, police insiders say. The Masons are also prominent in the RCMP..." (p. 248). Few members of the public are aware of these affiliations.

Carmen said (May 20, 2010):

Today's article by Mathew is very enlightening. Several years ago I took the bait after hearing incessantly "The Catcher in the Rye" referred to and purchased a copy. I only made it through a few pages and was more repulsed than curious as to why it had been so lauded; and literally threw the book in the trash. My spirit feels confirmed after reading this post that it really isn't worth reading and can be quite damaging especially to young male psyche's.

high preistess said (May 20, 2010):

While I was in school, I had to write a paper for English literature on a Catcher in the Rye. My main thoughts were toward
asking the question, why were these books present when two assassins perfected their plans? First I obviously looked at
Ronald Reagan and his would be assassin John Hinckley, was carrying a copy of A Catcher in the Rye.

John Lennon's assassin Mark Chapman rented a hotel room and then staked out Lennon's apartment. In his room was
not the Bible, but a copy of A catcher in the rye. Thought you would find that interesting.

Maybe mandatory reading for manchurian candidates?? I always thought there was a conspiracy around this book.

Jason said (May 20, 2010):

I'm unaware of any unusual connections here but I do recall reading that Bill Gates (Microsoft) most favorite book is The Catcher in the Rye.

Some may doubt this however I should note that his youngest daughter's name is Phoebe.

Phoebe is Holden Caulfield's younger sister and only living sibling. She is the only one that Holden does not find to be a "phony" and therefore completely trusts....due to her innocence etc. In return Phoebe looks up to Holden as her hero.

David said (May 20, 2010):

Dear Henry, glad to know there are thoughtful individuals like Matthew who question why books like Catcher In the Rye have to be forced down the throat of every generation of schoolkid since their publication. As if there weren't 10's of thousands of other worthy books out there that deserve to be read!

As a native of the American South, I have seen the same phenomenon with To Kill A Mockingbird, the one and only published novel of the eminently forgettable Harper Lee. The subliminal intent there is obvious: keep the races divided and ripping at each others' throats, while ensuring that every new generation of Southerner continues to be regarded as the damned of polite society. Educators are always aghast when they hear you haven't gotten around to reading both these books. You're like a psyche ward patient who refuses to take his meds.

I'm sure if there was a concerted effort to retire Catcher for favor of other works in the Western literary canon, we would no doubt hear shrieks that its removal from the curriculum is tantamount to book-burning by the Nazis...which, come to think of it, is just the kind of knee-jerk reaction that suggests it is a psy-ops.

Bob said (May 20, 2010):

I thought this was fantastic.
It raises an issue I've been
thinking about for a long time.
Namely, the role of the state in
selecting literature syllabi. In
a word, I think it's brainwashing,
by definition.

I don't think the state should have
any role whatsoever in storytelling.
Sounds like an extreme, yet flat
point of view, but defensible nonetheless.
Agents of the state cannot develop
sustainable art, culture and literature,
such activity leads to nihilism and
grotesquerie. There's a book written
about this that the Mises Institute.