bexi's review
- 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
I wanted to see if it would still hold up. Well... if you can get past the problematic elements (and WOW I didn't realize how problematic it was when I was younger), it's actually a well done book. Listen I know that allegedly makes me a red flag and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to lie and say I didn't like the book.
I know many people hate Holden Caulfield because they think he's a rich, privileged white boy who whines a lot. And he is. But he's also a deeply traumatized person who obviously has mental health issues that were not being treated. So while I didn't like Holden half the time, I also felt sympathetic towards him given what he'd been through.
So, it's not a favorite anymore but I do still think it's a good story.
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Body shaming, Homophobia, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual harassment, Gore, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
diana_raquel's review against another edition
- 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
Partially published in serial form 1945â46 before being novelized in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye is considered to be one of the best modern American novels. It follows the events in Holden Caulfield's life for a weekend after being expelled from his boarding school. Originally intended for adults, it is often read by adolescents because of its themes of alienation and angst. It also deals with complex issues of innocence, identity, belonging, loss, grief, connection, sex, and depression.
I think that this is one of those books that you have to read in a certain mood or at a specific time in your life (teenage years). Maybe because I'm not in the right mood or in my teenage years, this book did nothing to me. It's a "meh" to me. I know that Holden isn't intended to be a likable character but I just roll my eyes because he can be very annoying. Most of the time, I was just "Grow up already!".Â
I liked the writing style and even with my annoyance with Holden, I have to say that he is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator. But, alas, it is still a "meh" to me.Â
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Misogyny, Alcohol, Violence, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Lesbophobia
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
littlemissmuffet's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Cancer, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Dysphoria
Minor: Classism, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide
sara_berlin's review
- 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
I can admit that it wasnât as terrible as I thought at the start, but itâs 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 Iâve read it and b) properly trash it.Â
If this was released today and critiqued as a piece of literature, I donât think it would get good reviews. I will never understand how this is some peopleâs favorite book.Â
The actual process of reading it was not fun and not worth what little I got out of it. Sure, thereâs some interesting (although in my opinion pretty basic) reflections, and Holden is a somewhat interesting character, but beyond that, there wasnât much substance.
I feel like if it was at least fun to read I wouldâve given it a pass for not have any like âlessonâ or âdeep meaningâ, 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 wasnât for me.Â
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
- 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
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
marte846's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
cdelmage24'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
2.0
Graphic: Cursing and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Grief, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Lesbophobia