Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

L'attrape-coeurs by Jerome David Salinger by J.D. Salinger, J.D. Salinger

236 reviews

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Absolutely delicious, if you’re into introspective and complicated characters. I devoured this book.

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adventurous reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thought provoking but not really enjoyable for me. The character has a distinct voice that gets into your head (and to quote his sister, “stop cursing so much”)
I definitely looked up some study guides to help with analysis a little bit. This seems like it’d be fun in a lit class or book club but maybe not just for a fun read

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dark funny reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
reflective sad fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
fast-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

Novel dedicated to the og incel Holden Caulfield. As troubled outsider lit surely we can do better than this in terms of highschool curriculum. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

There are 2 kinds of people when it comes to their opinion of this book:

1 – Loves Holden, loves this book, relates to the protagonist's struggles, and if a teenager, there's a high chance they think all people are liars and hypocrites except them.

2 – Hates Holden, hates this book, doesn't understand its purpose, and hates the teenagers that think all people are liars and hypocrites except them.

I'm neither (I know, how un-phony of me).

I don't love Holden or this book, but I don't hate them either. I like the way Salinger portrays the fear of growing up and this idealistic memory of childhood, showcased through Phoebe. Holden's love of her is not only that of a big brother to his little sister, but also to the innocence he thinks is distinctive of a kid, even when Phoebe shatters that idea. She understands Holden's depression, she knows he seldom enjoys things, and she wants to escape with him not because she needs him, but because he needs her.

Another aspect I really liked was Jane Gallagher. She's never shown aside from what we hear from Stradlater, who only sees her through the lens of classic juvenile lust, and Holden, who sees her through the lens of classic childhood love, impossible of wrong and, more importantly, change, that he's afraid to face if he calls her and sees that he probably didn't know her as well as he thought he did.

Other themes such as grief, PTSD, and loneliness are also well written and probably relatable to many. That's why I'm afraid to say that I can't possibly give this book more than its current rating...

It served its purpose; it's a story that opens the doors for others. (For example, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which, surprise! I also thought was meh.) But I didn't connect with Holden, even when I'm just the right age, and that feels essential for even remotely caring about anything that happens in this story (which isn't a lot, to be honest).

I feel like the only reason it's this popular is because of the author's way of writing teen angst in such a realistic manner (or at least at the time—I can see why currently the way the protagonist talks can be quite annoying).

I appreciate the book's contribution, I understand why Salinger is seen as a "genius," and it is certainly a fairly easy-to-read classic. However, aside from that, I feel like it carries a not-so-deep or thought-provoking message about growing up that more young readers or adults who also had their rebellious-I-hate-everything phase might appreciate more.

Maybe I just don't get it.
I like Phoebe though, she's cool.


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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