Writing Style

The unique writing style that is found in the novel The Catcher in the Rye cannot really be called traditional. The author, J.D. Salinger, uses Holden as the narrator, and so it is Holden narrating his own story. The writing style of the entire novel is the same as the style that he uses in his own every day speech- Holden talks directly to the reader, saying things like "you would have like him" instead of using a more proper writing format. Holden also swears and using slang words that are not traditionally used, but the different writing style is very appealing and makes parts of the story a lot easier to relate to or understand. Also, Holden uses italics to place emphasis on certain words, which allows the reader to understand the way that Holden is talking about something.

Instead of using this kind of writing in just the dialogue, J.D. Salinger uses it in the narration as well, through the storytelling of Holden Caulfield. At the time, and even now, this style of writing is not often seen. However, while this is unusual, it is often important to the novel. The writing is unique and a little different, just like Holden. It may not fit in just right, but that is exactly the way Holden is too. I think that the way the writing style ties in with the personality of the main character is one of the things that makes The Catcher in the Rye a classic that isn't completely awful to read.

The writing style is also a good way to understand some of the vernacular of the story, especially because it was written decades ago, before any of its readers were even born. Because the novel is written in first person narration, Holden is also providing his own running commentary to the events and people in that he encounters in the novel, making them seem more vivid and descriptive.