2-7-15: I finally read this. I really did. I would say it killed me, but it didn't. Didn't miss it by much, though. 4.5 stars, I think. And that's enough parody; it's probably been done to death on here already, but I haven't checked it out yet. 
 Being in stupid-level classes in high school, I managed to miss this book during my adolescence. I probably would've hated it because it didn't have anything I would've found interesting back then. The plot is a snoozefest. (view spoiler)[This kid is going to get kicked out of school, then just bums around NYC for a couple of days. He stays at a hotel, goes to a bar, goes to a restaurant, talks to a couple people on the phone, meets a couple of people, almost hooks up with a hooker, meets his sister a couple of times, and zzzzzzzzzz. Not a lot going on here in the action department. (hide spoiler)] This actually reminds me of Hemingway as far as plot is concerned, but unlike Hemingway, Salinger can write. Hemingway takes a boring plot and loads it up with boring people. Holden Caulfield is at least complex and an interesting character study. 
 I was told this excellently represented typical teenage boy angst, cynicism, and rebellion, but I don't really see it that way. Caulfield is certainly a whiny little shit, but as the book was going along I felt Salinger was laying it on a bit thick. I could relate to all the feelings and contradictions, but it was a little heavy handed for your typical kid. All guys go through these kinds of feelings in their mid/late teenage years, though not everyone to this degree. Then we get something important: the death of his little brother whom he loved. We also get indications of some other childhood traumas (possible molestation). Suddenly his level of shittiness makes a lot more sense. This isn't about your typical teenage boy, it's instead about your typical traumatized teenage boy. There's a difference. (view spoiler)[Hell, he ends up in an institution, and is a 16 year old with wisps of gray in his hair. Clearly something else is going on besides your average growing pains. (hide spoiler)] 
 When I started reading I thought this book would end up with two stars, but by the end I was ready to give it all five. I'm not sure why I'm withholding the last star in the final review, now that I think about it. I enjoyed reading it. I found myself wanting to read it when I wasn't reading it. I was upset when other life events showed up that prevented me from spending as much time with the book as I would like (It took 11 days when I should've been able to get it that first weekend)... You know what, stand by... There, that's better. Five stars now. Anyway, it seemed like the writing style would get annoying, but it didn't. I could hear Holden's voice perfectly, and it was exactly what it was supposed to be. The repetition of certain phrases and disjointed stream of consciousness worked very well, and had me convinced I was hearing a 16 year old jackass who felt misunderstood. 
 As for the title: It's explained in the book. Holden mentions the old song "If a body catch a body coming through the rye," and I was confused. I could've sworn it was "When a body meets a body coming through the rye." Turns out I was right. Later Holden's sister corrects him on this point, and I found out it was originally a poem by Robert Burns. I knew it as a song first, though. As for what the poem and the title symbolize, your guess is as good as mine. Actually, your guess is probably better. I looked it up earlier this week and have since forgotten. Something about keeping kids sexually innocent, I think. 
 Here's a version with John Denver and Karen Carpenter. It's hardly the best version of the song, and the video quality is pretty crappy, but I really like Karen Carpenter's voice, so she wins. Holden would hate this, but he hates almost everything, and he'll just have to deal with it. 
 I guess this book is filled with symbolism, and fancy literary stuff I typically don't follow. At least that's the rumor, so check it out if you're into all that. If you want good action or any kind of villain you should go elsewhere. However, if you want an excellent character study then I strongly suggest checking this out. That's pretty much what it is, but don't confuse that with character development, for very little (if any) change happens between page one and the end. It has a ton of conflicting emotions and actions going on, but it's all genuine. This kind of person actually exists, and he's not unique. I'm not sure that he's even rare. I can relate to him myself, and rather well, though I didn't act like Holden; I did a few things differently, but I certainly felt the way he felt. And thank God I didn't stay that way but grew and worked on the problems. This is great for identifying but not all that good for suggestions on how to change though it doesn't need them. That's not what the book is about. Very well done Mr. S. 
 1-27-15: I saw in the paper that Salinger died five years ago today, so I decided to give this a go and get it off my "to read" shelf. I wonder if I can get it done before tax season starts to pound me and I feel compelled to switch to simpler books that won't strain my brain to unwind at night such as One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish or perhaps Fun with Dick and Jane? Only one way to find out!