Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

7 reviews

jodar's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

Some novels have engaging characters or an absorbing plot or are delightfully written. Some even have two or all three of these elements. But then there are novels like The Catcher in the Rye that has none of these features.

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Cursing, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Child death, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders

qu1ncy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Body shaming and Violence

Minor: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Blood

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

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

hunterlovesneilperry's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

2.0

how you all liked this book is insane and you terrify me. the sexism makes this book worthy of being burned. only thing I liked was how easy it is to read and the old man at the end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence

frrock's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• 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

This book does not live up to the hype. I just could not get into it, it’s was very hard for me to read I think it might be because I hated the repetition. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Blood

Minor: Transphobia

puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Cancer, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship