Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

34 reviews

libraryonthemoon's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cancer and Child death

lizziertaft's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I was gifted this by my older sister when I was 18 and I never got around to reading it. She said it was intended to read before college, I didn’t understand until page 189. I found the words very comforting, unfortunately they came from a character who is suspect of preying on Holden sooo…He’s one of the many predators talked about in this book, to the point where I have to believe the author wanted us to understand how perverse men are. 

The POV of Holden gets old quick. The book is slow and severely overrated. What many consider a classic, I think is just outdated and dull. I do have empathy for Holden and hope he found healing where it was he was getting help for at the end. He reminds me a lot of an old best friend I had, I’m convinced Holden was a Gemini moon.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexism, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Transphobia

xjr's review

emotional funny reflective fast-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

3.0

Holden is a true teenager. It was funny how he kept complaining about the phoniness of his peers as the way he viewed himself and the way he talked often came across as phony to me ! The book was a quick read, maybe cos I read him as a mostly chaotic fast talking/thinking teenager trying to be smooth while doing so. And as most of this is a reflective retelling of his little adventure most of the book was quick-paced in my reading (plus it's relatively short ~200 pages).

But as the book continued and more emotional highlights were put in the book (albeit often adressed lightheartedly or joking) I started to feel for him. Especially the last dozen pages were quite good, hopeful even.

That said, little actually happened but I enjoyed some the smaller details of Holden's character and life that I wish I could've seen more on. I think it works thematically with his personality and escapism, or yellowness so to say, to not delve into it purposefully. Doesn't mean I'm into that though...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cancer, Blood, Sexual assault, and Violence

mme_carton's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

sabrinalefebvre's review against another edition

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

2nd time reading: 
At first, I was gonna give it a lower rating, maybe a 3.5 ⭐️. But I had too much fun annotating and analyzing this book. Finally understand it’s meaning and the underlying themes now that I’m older was truly magical.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Cursing

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Pedophilia, Cancer, and Violence

grace_cr1's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexism, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Death, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Cancer

sunny_not's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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

2.5

Just a weird teenage boy hating everything, being sexist, racist and homophobic at the same time. Definitely of its time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Suicide

pabi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Suicide, and Bullying

Minor: Cancer and Child death

kxtekss's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

Truly, this is one of my favorite books of all time. We read it for English last year, and I decided to re-read it because of some things going on in my life at the time. I really connect with Holden's desire to preserve the innocence of those who still have it because he lost his so abruptly, and at least personally I was hoping that he could recover even though all of that was happening to him. His story just breaks your heart.

And I think at the end, when he watches Phoebe go around on the carousel and grab for the golden ring, it shows he'll get better. He realizes that even when kids reach for that golden ring, even when they make risks that threaten their innocence and even fall or lose their innocence, they still have that same heart on them that wants to go around the carousel even if they're too old for it. He can't save everyone from losing their innocence because it's inevitable, but there's still that same heart on everyone, no matter how innocent they are. That ending to chapter 25 always makes me cry because it feels like to me he realizes there's a way out of his emotional struggles, and I feel so happy for him.

. Also, it would be a crime to talk about this book and not talk about the symbolism, how "everything means something" in this book as someone once told me. It really challenges you to employ your highest levels of thinking with every sentence Holden says, and that's one of my favorite things a book can do. Overall, I do think this is a worthwhile read, especially for those who are in a place or have been in a place where they can relate to Holden's need to preserve innocence to a fault. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, and Child death

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Vomit

antra's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective tense 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

2.75

it was alright not something I'd pick up again got annoyed at the main guy for swearing and man I love swearing but just something about it does piss u off and especially his take on women his immaturity and his obsession with people being phony I did like the end tho

glad he got help he needed at the end loved his realtion with his sister so much she did keep him sane

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, and Sexual assault

I mean not an ideal pick for sure one read was enough for me