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Reviews tagging 'Grief'
L'attrape-coeurs by Jerome David Salinger by J.D. Salinger, J.D. Salinger
112 reviews
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ending was more like a cliffhanger in the sense that it wasn’t an end all be all, but it was very good I found it very interesting how they implied towards the end of the book that Holden was abused sexually, you don’t see that often in books or any forms of media about boys
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
challenging
dark
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
I'm sure there are folks who relate to Holden Caulfield bc they read this as teens or idk and those people are valid but the people who felt despair at being forced to read this book for high school English class and forced themselves to read this drivel and analyze it and find meaning, but as they read on felt how their joy or love for reading vanished and subsequently never picked a book up again are equally, if not, more valid bc this book is stinking garbage. I can agree Holden is probably autistic, depressed and grieving for his dead brother, and is a traumatized teen boy for what he saw at Elkton Hills, but the way Salinger writes evaporated any bit of empathy I could have for this kid and I just don't care. If kids can relate to this guy, more power to them, but there's nothing ingenious or nostalgic enough in this book to justify reading it as an adult, or for any reason for that matter, and the TCITR haters are right. There are so many enjoyable books you could read! Don't make the same mistake I did. Never pick up this book or DNF it once you start feeling like bashing your head against something or crushing small things.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt
Minor: Child death
emotional
reflective
medium-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
"Don't tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.”
Partially published in serial form between 1945–46 before being novelized in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye is considered to be one of the best modern American novels. It follows the events in Holden Caulfield's life for a weekend after being expelled from his boarding school. Originally intended for adults, it is often read by adolescents because of its themes of alienation and angst. It also deals with complex issues of innocence, identity, belonging, loss, grief, connection, sex, and depression.
I think that this is one of those books that you have to read in a certain mood or at a specific time in your life (teenage years). Maybe because I'm not in the right mood or in my teenage years, this book did nothing to me. It's a "meh" to me. I know that Holden isn't intended to be a likable character but I just roll my eyes because he can be very annoying. Most of the time, I was just "Grow up already!".
I liked the writing style and even with my annoyance with Holden, I have to say that he is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator. But, alas, it is still a "meh" to me.
Partially published in serial form between 1945–46 before being novelized in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye is considered to be one of the best modern American novels. It follows the events in Holden Caulfield's life for a weekend after being expelled from his boarding school. Originally intended for adults, it is often read by adolescents because of its themes of alienation and angst. It also deals with complex issues of innocence, identity, belonging, loss, grief, connection, sex, and depression.
I think that this is one of those books that you have to read in a certain mood or at a specific time in your life (teenage years). Maybe because I'm not in the right mood or in my teenage years, this book did nothing to me. It's a "meh" to me. I know that Holden isn't intended to be a likable character but I just roll my eyes because he can be very annoying. Most of the time, I was just "Grow up already!".
I liked the writing style and even with my annoyance with Holden, I have to say that he is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator. But, alas, it is still a "meh" to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Alcohol
emotional
reflective
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
I deeply hated Holden to begin with and then it sunk into pity. He is pathetic, depressed, awkward boy who tries to be cool by cussing excessively and talking about sex. That said, he did say a few funny things and a couple poinient things. It's a quoteable book. "Sleep tight, ya morons!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(Maybe one day I can finally put into words how this book makes me feel.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War
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
Based on the years of people telling me this book was terrible or it sucked, I believe it's because they didn't wrap their mind around the fact that this book is supposed to show you some form of empathy.
We're shown 3 days of 16 year-old Holden's life, and the text is trying to make you feel empathetic towards him, who is struggling with the loss of his innocence. Almost everyone can relate to that.
Salinger has a unique prose when it comes to Holden's perspective and how Holden sees the world. I think that those who dislike The Catcher in the Rye either couldn't grasp the idea of putting themselves in someone else's shoes when they read through it, or were expecting a completely different type of writing (like I said, Salinger's writing style is meant to be distant from the reader, it's what makes Holden relatable).
Holden Caufield has been treated so poorly by the 'adult world' that he is making terrible decisions to get the attentions of people who couldn't care less about his well-being. I think that's where the message gets blurred, and what leads to those poor reviews of the text.
Overall I think that The Catcher in the Rye is a wonderfully written novel, coming from a 19 year-old who never read it in high school (where/when most people read this book). If you're in the mood to reflect on a fictional character's life instead of worrying about the action that is happening, this would be a perfect read for you.
We're shown 3 days of 16 year-old Holden's life, and the text is trying to make you feel empathetic towards him, who is struggling with the loss of his innocence. Almost everyone can relate to that.
Salinger has a unique prose when it comes to Holden's perspective and how Holden sees the world. I think that those who dislike The Catcher in the Rye either couldn't grasp the idea of putting themselves in someone else's shoes when they read through it, or were expecting a completely different type of writing (like I said, Salinger's writing style is meant to be distant from the reader, it's what makes Holden relatable).
Holden Caufield has been treated so poorly by the 'adult world' that he is making terrible decisions to get the attentions of people who couldn't care less about his well-being. I think that's where the message gets blurred, and what leads to those poor reviews of the text.
Overall I think that The Catcher in the Rye is a wonderfully written novel, coming from a 19 year-old who never read it in high school (where/when most people read this book). If you're in the mood to reflect on a fictional character's life instead of worrying about the action that is happening, this would be a perfect read for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, War