Reviews with content warning for Suicide - L'attrape-coeurs by Jerome David Salinger

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

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

190 reviews

o3tri's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

samugranjo's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional funny

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I know this book is known as a 'red flag' read and although I can see how it could be taken out of context and made into a shrine for thinking everyone else is fake and everything sucks. However, while reading this the only thing I could think of was how lonely and depressed Holden was, how much unprocessed guilt he had and how lost he seemed. Yes, it is full of teenage angst, because we are seeing the world through the eyes of a kid that just once again gave up on school and continuously fails to find joy in the world around him.
Although some of the middle part was a bit dull, this book and the Bell Jar are, in my opinion, some of the best portrayals of depression I have ever read and I need to give credit when credit is due.

Content Warnings

louiserj's review against another edition

3.75

lighthearted reflective fast-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

sebsie's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

islamccormack's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Alcohol

I honestly wasn’t expecting that book to be so amazing. I know that it’s a classic, but sometimes classics can be dusty and complicated to read. This was far from that, despite its slight slow pace sometimes (hence 4.75 stars). I have never felt so connected to a character in all the times that I’ve read in a VERY long time. Holden is such a complex but heartbreakingly innocent character. He is exposed and is exposing himself to self destructive behaviours and experiences a series of chaotic events during this novel which he chooses to pursue, yet he is so in pain, which makes me sympathise with him so much. I was so incredibly moved by this story - I’m actually speechless. And the twist at the end was even more heartbreaking. Holders attention to detail, his observant nature, his immaturity yet his mature tendencies, his wit and humour, his melancholia (that “killed me”) and his pluckiness that initiates these illicit activities that he pursues on these adventures around New York make for a amusing yet harrowing tale. Its like I was simultaneously laughing but nearly crying the entire way through the novel. One, because I have a brother the same age as Holden and I was imagining him in this mischievous position of trying to claim his masculinity and maturity around a big city. But two, I was so deeply saddened by Holden’s depression which overarches all of the mischief that it almost brought me to tears. The relationship he had with his sister was also very touching and personal to me. I felt even the nuances of a sibling relationship was executed perfectly, and the carousel scene had me in tears. Salinger’s ability to capture the complexities of the human mind, dialogue, inner turmoil and nuances of American people and society from the naive yet tormented mind of a 16 year old boy was eye opening, pivotal in challenging Americanism and essential in shining a light on internalised melancholia and grief. And all under the shadow of a post war society to top it all off! This is the work of a genius. I definitely can stand with everybody now when they dub this book a classic.

carrrrrrrrmen's review against another edition

4.5

reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i read this for school this year and loved it more than i expected

Content Warnings

enoemo's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous emotional tense 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

This was not at all the way I thought it would be. Gotta say, it takes a lot of reading between the lines to find the depth and layers in this one - it is too easy to write off the main character as the phoniest one of them all. But then again, him being edgy and annoying is a very 16-year old thing to be. His sister Phoebe sees through it all, and I thought she was the most loveable character out of the bunch.

Content Warnings

irisgoldson's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-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 main character is supposed to be an unlike able teenage boy with mental health issues and you are no supposed to like but understand him.

Content Warnings

remlo's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring reflective 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

Salinger’s writing and the way he describes the world around the main character, Holden, really captures Holden’s personality. As a reader and teenager currently learning to grow up in this world, I found a lot of myself in these pages - likely due in part to the fact that the writing feels like the main character is just talking to you like an old friend.

Content Warnings

qu1ncy's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

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