friendlypoet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Mental illness, and Grief
greenrequiem's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Violence, Sexual assault, and Addiction
Minor: Murder, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Cancer, Child death, Religious bigotry, and Adult/minor relationship
sincerelyadah's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I feel like I have a lot of empathy for Holden. It’s really clear that he’s deeply depressed to the point that everything in the world depresses him even more. He’s hyper aware of how much and how often people pretend, or are being “phony.” And I think that is why most depressed him—at least as far as I can tell.
Spoiler
Holden also was probably abused or harassed (sexually) on at least a few occasions. When the whole thing happens with his old english teacher, he mentions how that kind of stuff has happened plenty of times before. And at the end, he seems to be with a psychoanalyst. I’m not sure what that means, but it all points to him being very traumatized. This further leads me to empathize with him.Spoiler
Another thing I think the book really shows is how deeply Holden desires real connection. I think this is why seeing people be shallow and fake is so depressing. He wants so bad to have relationships that are real with people who are real. Especially romantically—
Spoiler
him with the prostitute definitely shows that.Spoiler
I definitely understand that desire so another reason I empathize with him.Moving away from the actual plot and characters towards the style, I want to mention the way Salinger writes. It’s not necessarily mind blowing, many have written books in the form of a letter, like Perks of Being a Wallflower. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable style. I really love the mystery, that we don’t know who he’s writing to, it adds something to the story as a whole.
And lastly, the ending. IM CONFUSED. Ill have to read some kind of explanation because even though I have my thoughts and theories, I don’t know if they’re right. If anyone does, please LMKKK
Anyway, that’s my review. I liked the book a lot. I wouldn’t say it’s absolute favorite but it’s definitely up there!
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
grizzlysnack's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
We're shown 3 days of 16 year-old Holden's life, and the text is trying to make you feel empathetic towards him, who is struggling with the loss of his innocence. Almost everyone can relate to that.
Salinger has a unique prose when it comes to Holden's perspective and how Holden sees the world. I think that those who dislike The Catcher in the Rye either couldn't grasp the idea of putting themselves in someone else's shoes when they read through it, or were expecting a completely different type of writing (like I said, Salinger's writing style is meant to be distant from the reader, it's what makes Holden relatable).
Holden Caufield has been treated so poorly by the 'adult world' that he is making terrible decisions to get the attentions of people who couldn't care less about his well-being. I think that's where the message gets blurred, and what leads to those poor reviews of the text.
Overall I think that The Catcher in the Rye is a wonderfully written novel, coming from a 19 year-old who never read it in high school (where/when most people read this book). If you're in the mood to reflect on a fictional character's life instead of worrying about the action that is happening, this would be a perfect read for you.
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pedophilia and Homophobia
aylin05's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Cursing, Addiction, Suicide, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
krystaltyong's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cursing and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Pedophilia, and Suicide
ncason93's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault
raccooonhands's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Ableism, Transphobia, Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Child death, and Bullying
Minor: War, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Forced institutionalization
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Here's my favorite part of this book, this quote is just everything:
“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.”
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Misogyny
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death
mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, and Homophobia
Minor: Suicide