Reviews tagging 'Death'

El guardián entre el centeno by J.D. Salinger

80 reviews

nomatophobia's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

1.0

You know that game where somebody gives you a prompt and you have to rant about it as if you had years worth of bottled up anger on the subject? That's how this book was written. In the end they try to make it seem like MainCharacter will stop being so pessimistic but it was said in a way that was so unsatisfying to me.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pedophilia, and Death

Minor: Homophobia

alisonnicholslol's review against another edition

emotional sad 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

1.25

Holden is a whiny bitch. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Grief, Addiction, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Classism, and Death

grace_cr1's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Sexism, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Death, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Cancer

naomistrom06's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Spoilers Ahead!!

Firstly, I wanna say that I read this as a teenager - which may affect the way I view this book. Holden is a very unlikeable character who hates everything and there is a repeating theme of: walking around New York, I hate this, memory, walking around, etc. But I was so interested in what Holden thought about everything and how he would reveal more about his life and memories to the reader. Some people feel like the beginning was too slow and unbearable to read. However, of course it is not as good as the ending, but I enjoyed how there wasn’t a point he was reaching or a goal he had in mind. I think that points towards the message of the book as well.

The teacher whom he stays with at the end of the book points of that Holden is headed towards a falling trajectory. Holden has been looking for something to hold onto and he just can’t find it.

I wasn’t until Holden spent time with his younger sister (one of the only people he has high regard for) and saw her playing on the carousel. The entire book the reader sees how depressed he is and how he hates everything. All of a sudden, he feels immense happiness.

I’m going to be completely honest, I cried so much that chapter. Seeing someone depressed thrn their lives around made me so emotional. 

I am not depressed or anything, but I related to Holden’s point of view and gave me hope and motivation for my own future.

 thanks for reading :)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Bullying, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

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. 

---

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

libbykerns's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.5

An interesting read, though not one I necessarily enjoyed. My main takeaway is that Holden desperately needs a good therapist. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, and Cursing

Moderate: Misogyny, Child death, and Death

Minor: Suicide

Holden is super depressed and this book is, frankly, very sad.

maliciouslesbian's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Sexism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Homophobia, Classism, and Sexual harassment

mirandajatib's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

It was kind of a difficult read since it was quite slow, but it tackled trauma, immaturity and fear of growing up in a very interesting way. It was a book that the more you thought about it, the more you liked it. 

i loved phoebes character and how her saying she would join holden is he left was a parallel to how holden never grew up after Allie’s death

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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

2.0

I can understand the appeal of this book historically, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I felt like Holden’s character was one that needed help (after his brother Alfie’s death, after being expelled from a few schools etc.) but wasn’t sure where to find it. His criticisms of everyone externally seemed to reflect on inner turmoil (for example, him disliking ‘phony’ people seemed like a projection of his neuroses that he too, was ‘phony’). I tried reading it because my friend said it was a classic and something that everyone should try, but I just could not connect to it 🥲 I have seen reviews for this book and they are mixed, so I am glad to see I’m not the only one that didn’t connect to it. I did feel some love for Holden though, after discovering his depression 🥺

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Death

tatianars's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol, Child death, and Death