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Reviews tagging 'Cursing'
L'attrape-coeurs by Jerome David Salinger by J.D. Salinger, J.D. Salinger
158 reviews
Graphic: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Vomit, Religious bigotry
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, Classism
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood
Minor: Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Vomit
Moderate: Child death, Suicide
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Abandonment
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Violence
I detested this so-called ‘great novel’ when I was compelled to read it as a teenager at secondary school. But that was decades ago, so when I mentioned my loathing recently and someone claimed it was well-written, I decided to read it again. But no, I didn’t find it well-written either: probably because it is a first-person narrative of a puerile, self-absorbed, cynical adolescent, the writing reflects that too.
To be clear, I have enjoyed novels whose MC is unattractive and selfish. But for me there needs to be something else for the novel to be ‘great’, moving, impactful and absorbing – some wider perspective, perhaps, or beautiful writing or something.
Yes, I understand that the MC, Holden Caulfield, is grieving for his dead brother, estranged from his parents and is grappling with the anguish of a teenager growing up. But his deep cynicism of everything, shallow appreciation of others, selfishness and general sordidness in thought and word is just plain ugly and unappealing. The MC only shows a bit of human warmth towards his younger sister, and even then he struggles not to be a selfish moron. (Now, if the MC had been his sister instead – she comes across as a sensible, decent human being – with a disturbed older brother to cope with, that might have been a ‘great novel’).
In short, I still regard this novel as the ‘type specimen’ of a largely meritless novel that some others regard as superlative for reasons I can’t really understand.
Or in words Holden might use: The MC is such a pain in the arse and phony sonuvabitch who annoys the hell out of me. The whole novel is a dumb, stinking goddam story that makes me want to puke.
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide
Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Grief
Moderate: Cursing