f I had to pick one classic that’s more revered than deserved, I’d still stand by “The Catcher in the Rye.” It’s treated like gospel for teenage alienation, but once you strip away the nostalgia, it’s mostly a kid wandering around New York complaining about phonies. Important for its time, yes — but not the timeless revelation it’s made out to be.
Another contender: “The Great Gatsby.” Gorgeous writing, but it’s often praised more for its symbolism than its story. It’s a slim novel about obsession and class, not the grand American epic people make it out to be.
Which one do you think gets too much credit — or do you have a different “overrated classic” in mind?
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