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nixueq's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
The writing is poignant and beautiful while staying clear. Salinger clearly knows what he's doing, and the Glass family feel like beloved characters. However, on a personal level I failed to connect with the story. There were some interesting ideas, and what might have been a touching picture of deppression and dealing with consequences of a suicide in the family, but for me it was mostly an intellectual exercise, which I am not sure I typically search for in a short prose. I typically go for emotional engagement there.
Or, that just might be a book you need to read at a particular age to truly enjoy. I am not sure.
Or, that just might be a book you need to read at a particular age to truly enjoy. I am not sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Mental illness
frenzusca's review against another edition
I did not get into it. There was no clear storyline visible. There were some sequences, when I thought I’d finally be in…but then I was out again….
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder
snazzysie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don't know how to feel. Nothing really happened and yet so much happened. It wasn't so much a story as I felt it was trying to teach me something - but what? Did not expect it to be religious at all, let alone super preachy and kind of obnoxious at times as the characters think they're smarter than everyone else. Seems like smart kid growing up failing star burn out. I just don't know what it was trying to tell me? Also, Franny and Zooey are sister and brother! Did not see that coming either. Yes I could've researched it first but I like to just jump right in. Jump we did! I wonder why Jess thought Rory should have this book... Also, also, everyone was really rude to the mum in my opinion! Yeah she probably had a part to play in these kids turning out like this, but we weren't even really told about that, so having them be so disrespectful to her just made them all look bad.
I liked Franny's part and found it relatable, but then in Zooey's everyone talked so much but didn't really say much? I found their lives interesting but just felt there could've been so much more done with the setting with less of the religious "revelations" that didn't seem to land anywhere anyway?
I liked Franny's part and found it relatable, but then in Zooey's everyone talked so much but didn't really say much? I found their lives interesting but just felt there could've been so much more done with the setting with less of the religious "revelations" that didn't seem to land anywhere anyway?
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
jellogirl2010's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
That being said, I think I would have enjoyed this more if it were a full-length novel about the whole Glass family and Franny had gotten some sort of resolution. Proof that she was going to be okay. From the beginning, I felt like I was dropped in the middle of a situation I had no idea about and I was expected to piece together the story without much information. This also kind of reminded me of a blue print for "The Virgin Suicides", I don't know if I consider that a bad thing or a good thing.
Two stars for Franny and Franny alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
haileyeh's review against another edition
reflective
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
laila_a's review against another edition
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
5.0
This book really made me think. I loved it so much. It was given to me by someone special and I wish I would have read it just a bit earlier in life. It is so wise. It really made me look critically at past versions of myself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
pdxk8's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
3.5
Two formerly gifted and precocious children are navigating life as disillusioned adults. The Franny short story is damn near perfect, but the Zooey novella was maddening. It had moments of profundity, but mostly I just wanted Zooey to get over himself.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
teapotmoon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
elspethmigliore's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
why was this SO GOOD. franny is so relatable but also everything zooey told her about her freak out was real. i love their humor and bluntness.
i’m not a religious person, but these stories discussed religions in a completely different light and i found it very interesting. i also enjoyed just reading their conversations and about their lives through small snippets, even though the story was kind of about nothing in particular. i honestly was really comforted reading these stories and i appreciated how real all of the characters were.
i also really liked the writing style and how easy to follow the stories were.
this has definitely become a new favorite. i will 100 percent be rereading ✅
i’m not a religious person, but these stories discussed religions in a completely different light and i found it very interesting. i also enjoyed just reading their conversations and about their lives through small snippets, even though the story was kind of about nothing in particular. i honestly was really comforted reading these stories and i appreciated how real all of the characters were.
i also really liked the writing style and how easy to follow the stories were.
this has definitely become a new favorite. i will 100 percent be rereading ✅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal cruelty, War, Classism, and Bullying
maidinnah's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.5
Small but mighty, JD Salinger’s signature style comes through in this dual novella piece, following the perspectives of the disillusioned yet persevering Glass siblings. I don’t particularly love his prose, and can even find it insufferable at times (especially the middle portion) but I can appreciate the themes and messaging. Salinger, like his other works, explores the twin nature of faith and despair, innocence and ego, and how we as humans come to reconcile them. In the case of the Glass siblings, they rely on the power of sibling love, transcending even death. And isn’t that what faith truly is? To dare to hope beyond what we can see and live for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide