Catcher in the Rye (1-4)

Even after reading only four chapters I can tell Holden is a very complex character. One thing I like about him is that he doesn't take life too seriously and doesn't fret about the future too much. "The whole team ostracized me the whole way back on the train. It was pretty funny in a way." One thing Holden is constantly reiterating throughout the book is how many 'phonies' there are, which is one reason I think he chooses to not associate with many others. I like the fact that Holden can see all of this. He seems to be thinking about much more than what other kids his age would be. Especially when he was talking of life being a game with his teacher. "Game, my ass. Some game. If you get in the side where all the hot-shots are, then it's a game... But if you get on the other side, where there aren't any hotshots then what's a game about it? Nothing." I think it's really cool that Holden can see through this false image of who we are and what society wants us to be. Holden also doesn't seem to apply himself at all, which I do not understand.  Maybe this lack of motivation is coming from a past experience or maybe even from his parents lack of interest in him. He is failing four out of five subjects, but is supposedly extremely good at writing. He also seems to really enjoy reading, which was a surprise to me. That kind of makes me think the whole 'I don't care act' is just a coverup. I mostly sympathize with Holden. From what I understand it doesn't seem like he has had the best childhood, or the best influences around him while he was growing up.  Also, he is  not very close with his parents, considering they didn't find out he was being kicked out of school for awhile. I feel like Holden had to mature quickly in order to take care of himself and sometimes doesn't know how to handle things. When he found out his friend, Jane, was at the school he remembered the smallest details about her and couldn't get her off his mind.  This shows Holden really does care and Jane is in some way very important to him.  Why else would he remember how a neighbor played chess?