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Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'
L'attrape-coeurs by Jerome David Salinger by J.D. Salinger, J.D. Salinger
32 reviews
Graphic: Death
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Blood
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny
Moderate: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, 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
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: Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Alcohol
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Alcohol
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Blood, Suicide attempt