If we ask a adult over thirty or forty which book does he prefer, the Catcher in the Rye or the Harry Potter, we will probably get the answer of "the Catcher in the Rye". Because back to the time he was young, the character Holden has a lot of common with him. However, if we ask a teenager which book does he prefer, i would say we might get the answer of "Harry Potter". So what causes the difference of choosing book between the two generations?
Apparently, the reason why the young teenagers don't like the Catcher in the Rye is because it is not interesting enough. The character Holden in the book is a way too different from the teenagers today, so and the teenagers could not find any common between Holden and themselves. Besides, what Holden did are just like the things that a bad guy would did, so although we can see that Holden has sincerity deep inside his heart, his behaviors were still too abnormal. And why the adults like it? Probably is because they know what happened at that time, what is the "beat generation", and what it feels like to be decadent outside and sincere inside. But the teenagers could not feel it, or even understand it.
But Harry Potter is different.Harry Potter began with an identity which is basically a boy who does not have very good skills and capability of controlling magic power. But after all the things he has been through, he became a brave boy who is able to against the bad guy. This actually makes the young readers feel like they have something common, and also makes their dream come true - to become a hero. Besides, the friendship and romantic relationship in Harry Potter also make the young readers more into it. I think the difference between Harry Potter and Holden Caulfield is just Harry is more optimistic and positive, while Holden is more pessimistic and negative.
All in all, the young readers do not prefer Holden Caulfield because he does not have any commons with them. The world is changing, and people's thoughts are changing as well. Maybe it is just because they cannot feel what it is like back to the "beat generation" time.
Apparently, the reason why the young teenagers don't like the Catcher in the Rye is because it is not interesting enough. The character Holden in the book is a way too different from the teenagers today, so and the teenagers could not find any common between Holden and themselves. Besides, what Holden did are just like the things that a bad guy would did, so although we can see that Holden has sincerity deep inside his heart, his behaviors were still too abnormal. And why the adults like it? Probably is because they know what happened at that time, what is the "beat generation", and what it feels like to be decadent outside and sincere inside. But the teenagers could not feel it, or even understand it.
But Harry Potter is different.Harry Potter began with an identity which is basically a boy who does not have very good skills and capability of controlling magic power. But after all the things he has been through, he became a brave boy who is able to against the bad guy. This actually makes the young readers feel like they have something common, and also makes their dream come true - to become a hero. Besides, the friendship and romantic relationship in Harry Potter also make the young readers more into it. I think the difference between Harry Potter and Holden Caulfield is just Harry is more optimistic and positive, while Holden is more pessimistic and negative.
All in all, the young readers do not prefer Holden Caulfield because he does not have any commons with them. The world is changing, and people's thoughts are changing as well. Maybe it is just because they cannot feel what it is like back to the "beat generation" time.