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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
I have to say, I was on the Holden Caulfield hate bandwagon too, and the first few chapters I said to myself there’s no way this classic is 200 pages worth of a privileged kid complaining about everyone and everything. I’m really glad I stuck with it in hopes of seeing the point eventually because I did. I thought Holden Caulfield was insufferable at first. Honestly, I still do. But that is precisely the point. He’s a child dealing with the loss of his brother, alienation from anyone his age or really anyone at all except Phoebe. He just got kicked out of school and is really struggling, with no guidance from anyone in his life and the inability to face any of his feelings. I had depression as a teenager, and though I had a really good support system, unlike Holden, I was still negative ALL of the time and everything made me sad or angry. I was a kid with a mental illness. And I think the most interesting thing about this book and what makes it so important is that, the way people are so quick to write of Holden as an asshole who doesn’t deserve the time of day (even though he’s literally a child), we as a society treat people struggling with mental illness and grief the same way. Not getting help when you feel like this at a young age? Of COURSE Holden is problematic. He has no direction or hope. And the way we look at him and say “he’s just an asshole” is the way we look at people who are also not the healthiest of mindsets and need help. I think this book is really good at not romanticizing or glorifying teenage depression and instead showing the really ugly parts that people don’t have sympathy for. There are plenty of Holdens in the world, we just don’t get to read 200 pages of their thoughts. But if we showed more compassion to people like Holden then there would be less Holdens. I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to read about a privileged kid and his negative thoughts, but I think if you do choose to read this it’s worth keeping that in mind. As a whole we just need to foster more empathy for people. Then the Holdens of the world wouldn't feel like they couldn’t seek help and they wouldn’t have to feel like Holden does.
Honestly by the end of this book I grew extremely sympathetic toward holden and really emotional about the way he saw the world, and how alone he was in feeling that way.
Honestly by the end of this book I grew extremely sympathetic toward holden and really emotional about the way he saw the world, and how alone he was in feeling that way.
the constant "... and all" was SO annoying. there wasn't really any point. wasted my time
ugh holden got on my nerves so much, he was just a self-pity party constantly and very frustrating. but a very complex and intriguing story
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If ever a book described my teen angst, it was this one. Holden is me. Troubled by family life, emotional demons, and too smart for his own good. Holden's psychiatric sessions are cleverly hidden and a tale of his adventures in school and traveling around NYC. As a young child, I empathized with him. As a teen, I felt like him. As a young adult I was happy I found my way. Every time, I read it over I find a new reason to love Salinger.
reflective
slow-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
Read for school, around 1979 or 1980. Did not like at all -- felt vulgar and depressing. Would probably experience it differently today but have no desire to reread. Let those who love it enjoy it, but if you didn't like it don't feel guilty.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes