Reviews

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

sagabrodersen's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

“I’m sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody” 

annafox's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective medium-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

4.0

in0x's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

katarina2003's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.5

Ikke lige en bog for mig umiddelbart, men jeg fik givet den videre til en “English literature”-major, som sagde, den var god. Den første bog jeg fik byttet på Asienturen (Filippinerne), så der er noget vibey over den her bog

eggjen's review against another edition

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3.0

I was on the fence about how many stars to give this one. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. It made me think (a little bit) but also nothing really happens.

In a nutshell, this is a book about two siblings who are so smart that they can barely function in normal society - they are just incapacitated by their own cleverness. 2/3rds of the book is literally the world's longest lecture. Then there is a phone call and both Too Smart For Their Own Good characters seem to come momentarily to their senses and then it ends.

It's a short story, so it's not a big time commitment and there were definitely interesting moments and thoughts. But it isn't one I'd jump up and down to recommend.

knuckledown's review against another edition

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4.0

I have come to a conclusion about reading J.D. Salinger. Half the time I don't feel like I understand, but I know that he does. Then he leads me along by the hand until I understand them too. Salinger turns Holden Caulfield inside out for the reader, and in this book he does the same with Zooey Glass.

I like how the book begins with Franny, Zooey's younger sister, and the events that lead up to the breakdown of her faith in humanity. Then the majority of the book comes from Zooey trying to figure out Franny and himself. Also the fact that it isn't immediately revealed that they're sister and brother makes for a nice mini-surprise.

The them of this book comes out more obviously than The Catcher in the Rye. If you want to find some meaning or faith in life, do what you have a "hankering" to do. do it the best you can because that's the urge you were given. Now that's a theme a writer can hold on to.

heatherwardlaw's review against another edition

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reflective 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

3.5

ciyaturnip's review against another edition

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

4.0

Franny and Zooey are my darlings forever. Because of the nature of short story and novella, there's not a ton of plot but if you love academic, introspective dialogue and the general Sallinger way of being, this is for you. 

simplycelestial's review against another edition

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

2.5

reluctant_conversationalist's review against another edition

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funny reflective

4.5