The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 7: Holden Leaves Pencey in the Middle of the Night | Banned Books Podcast

Holden can't sleep. He's lying in Ackley's stinky room, torturing himself thinking about Jane and Stradlater in that car. So he does the only logical thing—packs his bags, sells his typewriter for a fraction of what it's worth, and screams "Sleep tight, ya morons!" down the hallway before disappearing into the night. He's 16 and heading to a hotel in New York City alone.

Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter—we don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.

Things To Listen For:

• Holden telling Ackley he got in a fight "defending your honor" (Ackley believed it for a second)
• The description of Stradlater's "technique" with girls—and why it made Holden so worried about Jane
• Holden asking Ackley about joining a monastery at 2am
• Jennifer admitting she'd steal Stradlater's wallet on the way out
• The exit line: "Sleep tight, ya morons!"

Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? This chapter has a teenager running away from school in the middle of the night, references to "giving girls the time," and a kid who's clearly struggling with depression and loneliness. The book banners don't want kids to see themselves in Holden—or realize that running away might make more sense than staying somewhere that makes you miserable.

If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).

This episode includes short clips from "Hey There Hobo" by The Hackensaw Boys. All rights belong to their respective owners and are used here under fair use for the purpose of cultural commentary and education.

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Disclaimer
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.

The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.

This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to J.D. Salinger, his estate, or the publishers of The Catcher in the Rye. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.

Topics Covered:

The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Chapter 7, Holden Caulfield, Ackley, Stradlater, Jane Gallagher, running away, teenage depression, loneliness, The Hackensaw Boys, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast