Holden says, 'I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.' What reading does he mention?

• A. He reads 'Out of Africa'.
• B. He reads 'The Great Gatsby'.
• C. He reads 'War and Peace'.
• D. He reads 'Moby-Dick'.

Answer: (A)

Holden’s quirky, ironic voice is at play here: he acts self-deprecating about being “illiterate,” yet he claims to read a lot, which shows his habit of dropping breezy, worldly references to sound knowledgeable while undercutting himself at the same time. The specific book he cites—Out of Africa—fits that tone perfectly. It’s a sophisticated, adult memoir, which makes his claim to serious reading feel both sincere and a touch pretentious, a blend that matches Holden’s skepticism toward phoniness. The other famous works listed aren’t what he mentions in this moment, so they wouldn’t align with the line or with his voice.