Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Catcher in the Rye

This book is an amazing glimpse into so many themes. Sexuality, mental illness, social isolation, family, and many more are explored. Despite Holden having many flaws, I grew to love him. This book had a profound impact on me.

Content Warnings

neki's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.0

Some people would probably say that Holden Caulfield is one of the most despicable characters they’ve ever met in their entire bookish journey. I agree with them. Holden is, in fact, a little douche and a stuck-up teenager who does nothing but whine and wander.

But this book explores a much more important concept about people and reality.

(spoiler alert – just my two cents)

Holden knows how much society has changed us and convinces us to become something we’re not just so we could fit in to the so-called norms and standards. In the book, he believes that every person he meets is a phony and he hates himself for gradually becoming one so he tries to defy the rules and be who he want to be (which makes sense since he thinks he’s better than anyone else just ‘cause he’s ✨ not like other people ✨).

That’s why Holden is so hell-bent about wanting to be the Catcher in the Rye and strives to make a difference by saving the children from running off the edge of the cliff because he is aware that the moment they fall and land, no one will save them from the abyss (a metaphor for growing up).

Content Warnings