Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

77 reviews

floatinthevoid's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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? Yes

4.5

I don't care if I'm a red flag for liking this book. This boy is just a teenager! I am fond of him and I would show him some love if I were to exist in his world. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Cursing, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape

literaryinluv's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Cancer, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Suicide attempt

cherryfreckle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Sexism

Minor: Pedophilia and Homophobia

bexi's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Sexism

Moderate: Cursing, Lesbophobia, Violence, Body shaming, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Misogyny, and Suicide

Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Gore, and Sexual assault

thewritetofight's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The ending was more like a cliffhanger in the sense that it wasn’t an end all be all, but it was very good

I found it very interesting how they implied towards the end of the book that Holden was abused sexually, you don’t see that often in books or any forms of media about boys

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Grief, Violence, Misogyny, Mental illness, Cursing, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Addiction

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

0.75

I'm sure there are folks who relate to Holden Caulfield bc they read this as teens or idk and those people are valid but the people who felt despair at being forced to read this book for high school English class and forced themselves to read this drivel and analyze it and find meaning, but as they read on felt how their joy or love for reading vanished and subsequently never picked a book up again are equally, if not, more valid bc this book is stinking garbage. I can agree Holden is probably autistic, depressed and grieving for his dead brother, and is a traumatized teen boy for what he saw at Elkton Hills, but the way Salinger writes evaporated any bit of empathy I could have for this kid and I just don't care. If kids can relate to this guy, more power to them, but there's nothing ingenious or nostalgic enough in this book to justify reading it as an adult, or for any reason for that matter, and the TCITR haters are right. There are so many enjoyable books you could read! Don't make the same mistake I did. Never pick up this book or DNF it once you start feeling like bashing your head against something or crushing small things.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Death, Grief, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Minor: Child death

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

friendlypoet's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Mental illness, and Grief

sasquatch_3's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Hate crime, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Blood, Cursing, Grief, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

kimib79's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

I deeply hated Holden to begin with and then it sunk into pity. He is pathetic, depressed, awkward boy who tries to be cool by cussing excessively and talking about sex. That said, he did say a few funny things and a couple poinient things. It's a quoteable book. "Sleep tight, ya morons!"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts