Reviews

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

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qu1nny's review against another edition

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4.0

holden is a hypocrite! also JD writes mental illness very well, holden is NOT well!

togidemi's review against another edition

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3.0

if any writer out there keeps preaching about Show Don't Tell but this is one of their favorite books?? don't even bother. don't. they're a PHONY. this book is like... 70% rambling monologue, 25% rambling dialogue, and 5% actual story. IT'S JUST A KID DICKING AROUND.

Maybe I'm not smart enough to care about all the symbolism and whatnot that's in this book? I just. I just do not care. That being said, I discovered I DO think Holden's an edgy bastard, but I'm not actively irritated by him. Like, he's just a lonely rambly kid, being tormented by ghostly "fuck you"s on the wall, courtesy of God/Salinger. I genuinely don't understand why so many people think he's this cool, deep guy - he's not, lmao, anyone who harbors extended fantasies of being shot in the gut for shits and giggles is automatically a BIG DORK.

also i know the writing style is hit or miss with folks but i deadass talk like him - you just have to replace "sort of" with "like", "that killed me" with "deadass", and a handful of those "goddamn"s with "fucking"s, and i could've written half those damn monologues myself - so i have no right to complain

oscarwildesghost's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I thought that I would hate holden Caulfield based on what I'd heard on the internet but he is actually a good person. Holden Caulfield is a romantic at heart. He pays attention to the little things inspite of the angst he carries. He can be a misogynist sometimes but I guess that's because he is a product of his time. Finally, holden Caulfield is an annoying little bitch but so is everyone else at 16 so who cares.