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

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Reviews tagging 'Grief'

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

112 reviews

emmiesbooks16's review against another edition

1.5

emotional reflective sad medium-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

May I say I had to read this book for English class so yea. Anyways I truly did not enjoy this book most of the book I only really started to enjoy it was the last couple of chapters. I really did not like Holden because he was hypocritical and honestly a bit of a misogynist. I thought some of his ideas of life were a bit out there like his whole stance on movies. Though I can say I did enjoy how you could see how unstable he was at the very beginning of the book and how his mental health declined throughout the books, by the way he became more erratic, desperate, the way he spoke so fast and thought a million thoughts so fast. I also did enjoy some of the messages in the last few chapters and the interactions with his little sister Phoebe. Because if Phoebe I felt I saw more of Holden true character and what he could be. But it’s only really then ending with his sister that redeemed a bit of the book for me, for most of the book I was miserable at the least.

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.

ursulazc's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional 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

Re-lectura.
Leí este libro por primera vez a los 15, un regalo de mi mamá, y de algún modo se quedó conmigo. Lo que más recuerdo de mi primera lectura es que solo quería darle un abrazo al personaje principal, Holden.

El libro es simplemente la historia de unos días locos que vivió Holden en New York luego de que lo echarán del colegio y antes de volver a su casa a afrontar la realidad de esto, comienza y termina con nuestro protagonista en el hospital.

Holden es un adolescente que en pocas palabras no quiere crecer y anhela su niñez donde no todo era triste y deprimente en su mente.

No es un personaje que necesariamente caiga bien, no es agradable ni carismático, y no se supone que deba serlo. Si es un personaje con el que creo muchos pueden empatizar de una forma u otra, durante todo el libro nos enfrentamos a su monólogo mental, sus ideas locas e inconexas teñidas siempre de un sentimiento de soledad.

Siento que en esta segunda lectura se me hizo mucho más claro, lo mal que se encontraba Holden en términos de su salud mental, cosa de la cual no me percaté conscientemente la primera vez que lo leí. Era un libro mucho más triste y fuerte de lo que recordaba, lo cual no es necesariamente malo.

Content Warnings

stuckduck's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-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

Content Warnings

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-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

hbella's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Content Warnings

vividvoid's review against another edition

4.5

emotional sad medium-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 don't care if I'm a red flag for liking this book. This boy is just a teenager! I am fond of him and I would show him some love if I were to exist in his world.

Content Warnings