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angelo_vossen'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
3.25
Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Alcohol
trees_louise'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
4.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
rory_john14'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
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
literatureboysmelancholy'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
lawbooks600's review against another edition
- 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
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read The Catcher in the Rye since I saw it circle my recommendations, and when I saw a library having this, I immediately wanted to pick it up. I couldn't glance at the blurb, since there was no blurb. However, I went in with high hopes. When I closed the final page, the book was enjoyable.
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, and Alcohol
Full trigger warnings: Smoking, alcohol use, gun violence, racism, racist slurs, suicidal thoughts and suicide mentioned, emesismskingbean69'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
3.5
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, and Abandonment
happysoullovesyou'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
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Forced institutionalization
exceptionallyrainytuesdaynight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Drug use
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Violence
jodar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
I detested this so-called ‘great novel’ when I was compelled to read it as a teenager at secondary school. But that was decades ago, so when I mentioned my loathing recently and someone claimed it was well-written, I decided to read it again. But no, I didn’t find it well-written either: probably because it is a first-person narrative of a puerile, self-absorbed, cynical adolescent, the writing reflects that too.
To be clear, I have enjoyed novels whose MC is unattractive and selfish. But for me there needs to be something else for the novel to be ‘great’, moving, impactful and absorbing – some wider perspective, perhaps, or beautiful writing or something.
Yes, I understand that the MC, Holden Caulfield, is grieving for his dead brother, estranged from his parents and is grappling with the anguish of a teenager growing up. But his deep cynicism of everything, shallow appreciation of others, selfishness and general sordidness in thought and word is just plain ugly and unappealing. The MC only shows a bit of human warmth towards his younger sister, and even then he struggles not to be a selfish moron. (Now, if the MC had been his sister instead – she comes across as a sensible, decent human being – with a disturbed older brother to cope with, that might have been a ‘great novel’).
In short, I still regard this novel as the ‘type specimen’ of a largely meritless novel that some others regard as superlative for reasons I can’t really understand.
Or in words Holden might use: The MC is such a pain in the arse and phony sonuvabitch who annoys the hell out of me. The whole novel is a dumb, stinking goddam story that makes me want to puke.
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Suicide
wiktoria_bojda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content