Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

39 reviews

rory_john14's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Alcoholism, Grief, Cursing, Alcohol, Suicide, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Homophobia, and Violence

Minor: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Vomit, Classism, Child abuse, Bullying, Racism, Gore, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Ableism, and Murder

lawbooks600's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

Representation: Minor Asian character
Score: Seven points out of ten.

I wanted to read The Catcher in the Rye since I saw it circle my recommendations, and when I saw a library having this, I immediately wanted to pick it up. I couldn't glance at the blurb, since there was no blurb. However, I went in with high hopes. When I closed the final page, the book was enjoyable.

It starts with the first character I see, Holden, who had to leave school after his expulsion and now the only action he can do is to wander around New York. He spends all of the narrative doing that and contemplating others, and, most importantly, himself. I was in Holden's mind throughout the fictional composition, and initially, I was disconnected from him and couldn't relate. I feared I wouldn't enjoy The Catcher in the Rye. Eventually, Holden grew on me and I liked it more and more. However, I still have gripes with it. A less repetitive writing style would've added to The Catcher in the Rye. The author could've put as much effort into the other characters as Holden. But he did not, making it difficult for me to connect or relate to them. For a novel over 200 pages, it's slow-paced. There isn't a genuine conclusion to The Catcher in the Rye, but I delighted myself in reading it nonetheless.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Racial slurs, Racism, Gun violence, and Alcohol

Full trigger warnings: Smoking, alcohol use, gun violence, racism, racist slurs, suicidal thoughts and suicide mentioned, emesis

catch_me_with_that_rye's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Cursing, and Racism

o3tri's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Child abuse, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Ableism

williamabookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Racism

Moderate: Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Violence

astrid111's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

This was a very fast read, that I enjoyed. Other than that the book was mid. Houlden is so homophobic, racist, sexist it was truly uncomfortable to read. I know this book was written in another time, where things like this were “acceptable”, but still, this aged like milk. 

Other than the problematic parts, again, this book was mid. Had no point. The ending is just like every other chapter. I was waiting for a huge twist that never happened. At the end the author basically says: “ this book was about nothing, and you waisted your time.”

Sure as hell felt like it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Sexual content

diana_raquel's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

 "Don't tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.”

Partially published in serial form between 1945–46 before being novelized in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye is considered to be one of the best modern American novels. It follows the events in Holden Caulfield's life for a weekend after being expelled from his boarding school.  Originally intended for adults, it is often read by adolescents because of its themes of alienation and angst. It also deals with complex issues of innocence, identity, belonging, loss, grief, connection, sex, and depression.

I think that this is one of those books that you have to read in a certain mood or at a specific time in your life (teenage years). Maybe because I'm not in the right mood or in my teenage years, this book did nothing to me. It's a "meh" to me. I know that Holden isn't intended to be a likable character but I just roll my eyes because he can be very annoying. Most of the time, I was just "Grow up already!". 

I liked the writing style and even with my annoyance with Holden, I have to say that he is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator. But, alas, it is still a "meh" to me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Misogyny, Violence, Body horror, and Cursing

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism

mushureads44's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia

gabriel_dingle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny slow-paced

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

2.0

I had to force myself to finish this. None of the characters are rather likeable and the plot was not interesting enough to keep me reading. I do not understand the hype around this novel, and it’s no wonder this is the only novel Salinger is really known for if his writing is similar in his other novels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Cursing, Homophobia, and Pedophilia

Minor: Racism

This novel reflects the period of time in which it was written, meaning that there are scenes of minor racism and homophobia, sometimes even by the main character. There is a depiction of a masculine attracted teaching preying on a student which is rather uncomfortable and it is implied that all gay people are perverted like that.

raccooonhands's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Ableism, Transphobia, Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Child death, and Bullying

Minor: War, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Forced institutionalization