katniss_li's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Death
mikala's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i liked that this book was easy to follow as it just focuses on holdens thoughts and opinions. that being said, nothing really happens in this book. the parts of holdens life that slowly unravel and give you an idea of why he’s so depressed are interesting, but you can only listen to a privileged white man whine so much to be honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual harassment
luckyone's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Mental illness, Cursing, Death, Grief, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content
meldelen's review against another edition
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
He abordado este librito sin haberme informado mucho de la trama, simplemente sabiendo que es uno de los clásicos estadounidenses y que su autor gozó de mucho renombre por la publicación de este libro.
Dicho esto, no me ha parecido nada del otro mundo. Cuenta en primera persona las desventuras de Holden Cauldfield, un chaval de dieciséis años que acaba de ser expulsado de su enésima escuela de élite privada porque no le gusta dar un palo al agua. Temiendo volver a casa antes del miércoles - en que llegará la nota de su expulsión - decide matar el tiempo por Nueva York. Y ya está. Eso es la trama.
¿Decepcionados? Supongo que en su época este libro debió ser transgresor y sorprendente, pues Holden denuncia sin tapujos la hipocresía de las instituciones privadas, la falsedad de las hermandades de estudiantes y la vacuidad de la supuesta educación de élite que sus padres insisten en darle mientras él insiste en desperdiciarla. Holden no sólo está desmotivado, también está deprimido. Nada le gusta lo suficiente. Nada lo atrae ni vale la pena. Ni siquiera es capaz de estar con chicas o de conservar un amigo. No sabe lo que quiere. No se aguanta ni a sí mismo.
En defensa del librito diré que se lee muy rápido y que rara vez aburre, porque Holden tiene bastante chispa y no deja de ser un personaje entrañable en su patetismo, pero es que no pasa absolutamente nada en toda la novela. Se emborracha, se escapa, le dan una paliza, da vueltas, va a un bar, habla con alguien, vuelve al hotel, sale de nuevo... así ad infinitum.
No sé, puede que fuese la primera novela sobre un nini que se publicó, pero hoy día hay tantas que no destaca en absoluto. Ha envejecido mal. Es más, está totalmente superada.
Dicho esto, no me ha parecido nada del otro mundo. Cuenta en primera persona las desventuras de Holden Cauldfield, un chaval de dieciséis años que acaba de ser expulsado de su enésima escuela de élite privada porque no le gusta dar un palo al agua. Temiendo volver a casa antes del miércoles - en que llegará la nota de su expulsión - decide matar el tiempo por Nueva York. Y ya está. Eso es la trama.
¿Decepcionados? Supongo que en su época este libro debió ser transgresor y sorprendente, pues Holden denuncia sin tapujos la hipocresía de las instituciones privadas, la falsedad de las hermandades de estudiantes y la vacuidad de la supuesta educación de élite que sus padres insisten en darle mientras él insiste en desperdiciarla. Holden no sólo está desmotivado, también está deprimido. Nada le gusta lo suficiente. Nada lo atrae ni vale la pena. Ni siquiera es capaz de estar con chicas o de conservar un amigo. No sabe lo que quiere. No se aguanta ni a sí mismo.
En defensa del librito diré que se lee muy rápido y que rara vez aburre, porque Holden tiene bastante chispa y no deja de ser un personaje entrañable en su patetismo, pero es que no pasa absolutamente nada en toda la novela. Se emborracha, se escapa, le dan una paliza, da vueltas, va a un bar, habla con alguien, vuelve al hotel, sale de nuevo... así ad infinitum.
No sé, puede que fuese la primera novela sobre un nini que se publicó, pero hoy día hay tantas que no destaca en absoluto. Ha envejecido mal. Es más, está totalmente superada.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Bullying, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Panic attacks/disorders
bronaghd07's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Classism, Racism, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Cursing
sara_berlin's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In one word: overrated.
I can admit that it wasn’t as terrible as I thought at the start, but it’s definitely not a masterpiece or one of the best books ever. Honestly I considered dnfing it but I wanted to finish it so I could a) say I’ve read it and b) properly trash it.
If this was released today and critiqued as a piece of literature, I don’t think it would get good reviews. I will never understand how this is some people’s favorite book.
The actual process of reading it was not fun and not worth what little I got out of it. Sure, there’s some interesting (although in my opinion pretty basic) reflections, and Holden is a somewhat interesting character, but beyond that, there wasn’t much substance.
I feel like if it was at least fun to read I would’ve given it a pass for not have any like “lesson” or “deep meaning”, although I would still not consider it one of the best books of all time. I probably just have very high standards for classics, I mean something had to make it so popular and everlasting. but this was not that good. Honestly I only actually liked the last part, but the rest of the book was quite a bore. I dunno, I kind of get the point of it, but it wasn’t for me.
I can admit that it wasn’t as terrible as I thought at the start, but it’s definitely not a masterpiece or one of the best books ever. Honestly I considered dnfing it but I wanted to finish it so I could a) say I’ve read it and b) properly trash it.
If this was released today and critiqued as a piece of literature, I don’t think it would get good reviews. I will never understand how this is some people’s favorite book.
The actual process of reading it was not fun and not worth what little I got out of it. Sure, there’s some interesting (although in my opinion pretty basic) reflections, and Holden is a somewhat interesting character, but beyond that, there wasn’t much substance.
I feel like if it was at least fun to read I would’ve given it a pass for not have any like “lesson” or “deep meaning”, although I would still not consider it one of the best books of all time. I probably just have very high standards for classics, I mean something had to make it so popular and everlasting. but this was not that good. Honestly I only actually liked the last part, but the rest of the book was quite a bore. I dunno, I kind of get the point of it, but it wasn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Cursing, Violence, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, and Child abuse
evawertz's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is one of the few books where I felt like mental illness was shown from the perspective of the person experiencing the mental illness in a very accurate way. Holden's superiority complex is precisely how it is to have one in real life, you feel justified to point out everything you find wrong in people while excusing your even worse faults. You act rashly because everything seems to lack value and time zooms by or stretches on forever in your mind. Unlike most books, there's not a final destination or moment in someone's life that completes the book. The book is a snippet of the plain but complex days in someone's life. There is no happy or sad ending just a pause and let's see what happens. It portrays how life isn't a story with a perfect beginning to end and how you never know what's next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Cursing, Alcohol, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Bullying, Child death, Death, Blood, Gore, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/injury detail, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Vomit, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Excrement, Vomit, and Addiction
emilywoodsmall23's review
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
it's no surprise to say that the book is amazing, i mean it's considered to be a great american novel. honestly i just want to give holden a really big hug and maybe that makes me a walking red flag but i can live with that!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, and Child death
hoey_girlboss_queen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
hadlihawkins's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Child death