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Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'
L'attrape-coeurs by Jerome David Salinger by J.D. Salinger, J.D. Salinger
236 reviews
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was really fun. I don't condone all of Holden's behavior or attitudes, but boy was he an entertaining narrator. I don't know if all of his slang was common in the 50s or if J.D. Salinger made it up to serve the character. Either way, I truly felt like I was reading the musings of a troubled 16 year old kid. I laughed quite a bit at Holden's wild exaggerations, his contradictions, his ability to focus and comment on the quirky behaviors of those around him, and how he refers to everyone as "old so-and-so"; even his little sister is "Old Phoebe." With its smoking, swearing, school hating, and talk of sex, I can see why this was a controversial novel in the 50s, but I adore it. Those elements don't define the story, which in the end is about a depressed and lost teenager finding his way and purpose in life through his wanderings and conversations in New York. It was a quick read and likely one that I'll return to.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the extremely slow pacing of some parts in the book make it a slog to get through, but the catcher in the rye is overall still an intriguing story with lots of memorable and emotionally impactful highlights.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Vomit, Religious bigotry
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger is a novel that has sparked intense debates and discussions since its publication in 1951. Set in the 1950s, it follows the story of Holden Caulfield, a disenchanted teenager expelled from his prep school as he navigates through the streets of New York City over a few days. Through Holden's first-person narrative, readers are taken on a journey through his inner thoughts, observations, and encounters, providing a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the mind of a troubled adolescent.
Salinger's writing style, characterized by its colloquial language and stream-of-consciousness technique, immerses readers in Holden's world, allowing them to experience his disillusionment, loneliness, and search for authenticity alongside him. The novel's title, inspired by a misinterpretation of a Robert Burns poem, reflects Holden's desire to protect the innocence of childhood—a theme that permeates the story as he grapples with the complexities of growing up in a world he perceives as phony and corrupt.
Holden Caulfield has been both celebrated and criticized as a protagonist. Some readers sympathize with his struggles and appreciate his honesty, while others find him to be whiny, self-absorbed, and unreliable. His cynicism and tendency to criticize the people and society around him can be off-putting to some readers, leading to divided opinions about his likability and relatability. I certainly am more on the critics‘ side. As far as I am concerned, Holden Caulfield is kind of hypocritical and pretentious. While complaining about everything being phony, he himself acts like a brat throwing money out of the window left and right.
Even though Holden Caulfield as a character aggregated me quite a lot, I have to admit that J.D. Salinger achieved to portray him as a caring brother. Despite his pretentious behaviour and tendency to be quite annoying at times, he shows to care a lot about the people he loves, especially his siblings. I even felt sorry for him during some parts of the book, because the lasting grief and sadness he faces due to his little brother‘s death comes through strongly between the lines. I caught myself thinking that the character should try therapy once in a while to learn how to cope with all his struggles, so I was glad to realize he seems to be in a mental health clinic during the entirety of the novel while telling the reader about his crazy days.
The novel's exploration of themes such as alienation, identity, and the loss of innocence resonates with many readers, especially adolescents grappling with similar issues. Holden's quest for authenticity and his resistance to societal norms and expectations strike a chord with those who have felt out of place or disillusioned with the world around them.
However, "The Catcher in the Rye" is not without its flaws. Critics have pointed out its repetitive narrative, lack of plot development, and the meandering nature of Holden's thoughts, which can make it a challenging read for some. Additionally, its use of dated language and cultural references may distance modern readers and limit its relevance to contemporary audiences. I did not mind the language used in the novel too much. It definitely fit the time the book was published in and set the tone for the main character quite well.
Despite its shortcomings, "The Catcher in the Rye" appears to remain a significant work in literature, influencing countless writers and resonating with generations of readers as research allows me to say. Its exploration of the universal themes of adolescence, identity, and the search for meaning continues to make it a relevant and thought-provoking read for those willing to delve into the mind of Holden Caulfield and confront the complexities of youth and growing up. That‘s what it is in the end: A story about an adolescent who is being confused and lost in life and who is trying to figure out their own role in this world while doing reckless teenage stuff.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
No hate please, but I loved it! Really connected with darkness of it all. Wish I had read it in school when I was experiencing all my fresh pubescent angst.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
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
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Abandonment
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Violence
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
Some novels have engaging characters or an absorbing plot or are delightfully written. Some even have two or all three of these elements. But then there are novels like The Catcher in the Rye that has none of these features.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide