The clocks went forward this morning and, I am sure I am not alone is saying my mind is a little foggy from losing that extra hour in bed! As if you need any more of an excuse to spend the morning curled up with a book, but this is certainly the day to do it! Last week’s ‘Book of the Week’ was Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and I am sure you all flew through it and even had an afternoon spare to watch the film adaptation – which, by the way, is just as good as the book!

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LIBrary’s ‘Book of the Week’ – Sunday 25th March – The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger 

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I first read The Catcher in the Rye when I was in Sixth Form and, I have to admit, it did take me a while to fully get into the book but, once I did, boy was I glad I’d persevered. Whilst I know this book has been met with a lot of controversy and, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I honestly think there’s a few of you out there who just NEED to read it! Set in the 1950s, Salinger’s novel is a capturing and compelling read, laced with a harsh reality of America at the time, doused with wry humour contrasted with occasions of depression.

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Regardless of this novel being almost 70-years old, I know many of you will relate to the various themes of rebellion, identity and independence – especially, if you are like me and crossing over from that period of uncertain student life into responsible adulthood! – presented in the book. The Catcher in the Rye is a modern classic of the coming-of-age genre and, the protagonist, 17-year-old Holden Caulfield, is indeed intriguing and mesmerisingly eloquent for someone of this age.

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Join Holden in his path to nostalgia as he recounts the events over a three day period from last December. A period where he leaves his life at Pencey Prep, a prestigious boarding school, where he is failing as a student and escapes home to New York for a time.