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italorebelo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
thedeadfoe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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
5.0
A beautiful book about the uncertainty of adolescence, I feel incredibly comforted my Holden’s struggles and understand why he feels he does. The adult world seems so far away and different to mine, yet I am an adult. Wonderful reflective piece on growing up.
nightwillowfox's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't think I would hate another book as much as I hated Twilight series but I am wrong. This book dragged on for no reason, most of the book was just a repeat of words or full sentences. I would ramble on and on but I don't want to be like the book.
noorandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
When you're dead, they really fix you up. I hope to hell when I do die somebody has sense enough to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in a goddam cemetery. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your stomach on Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody.I'd tell Holden to get some therapy but I doubt he could make it a minute without calling the therapist a phony
The ending really threw me off guard!
Spoiler
It went from Holden about to start bawling his eyes out, having found 'happiness' to his story suddenly ending? Nuh-uh, you're not fooling me. He goes through the entire book having such shallow logic, depressing the hell out of himself and ruining his mental health, just for it to go away with a small moment of relief? I feel like his 'happiness' juxtaposed with the rain suddenly pouring with his sister on the ride symbolizes just how much of a mess he is. He didn't find some kind of 'salvation' for himself.I found myself a lot more amused than I expected by this book! I didn't really have any expectations going in, other than it would be good and I would probably like it because I have a thing for messed-up protagonists. And oh boy, did Holden Caulfield deliver. One of the most polarizing protagonists in literary history for a reason.
As far as the plot goes, there wasn't much that actually 'happened' so to say. It's just a collection of moments after Holden leaves Pencey, with his real cheerful narration being the point of it. I loved him. The way he expresses his opinions is so juvenile that it kind of hurts seeing him classify himself as 'not a child' based on his lack of 'innocence', because he's just so...
"This fall I think you’re riding for—it’s a special kind of fall, a horrible kind. The man falling isn’t permitted to feel or hear himself hit bottom. He just keeps falling and falling."
lucyyoungblood1717's review against another edition
2.0
Unpopular opinion: I hated this book. Sorry not sorry.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
3.0
Teenager crap
Holden sounds perfectly, rather too perfectly like a teenager ..... and, you see, that is his problem. Reading this book is same as listening to a teenager rambling about a thousand and one things wrong with the world. One could see why it invites such mixed reactions, Holden is a very poor narrator (except may be opening and last lines); he uses that teenager jargon so often that at times they are more visible on page than punctuation marks. People of his own age group may relate to him but with other he make a poor case. He is too confused to do his own self justice. He has a few good qualities; but you can be too busy frowning at his language to note them. I think Salinger could have done a much better job if he would have told the story himself rather than giving the mike to Holden.
Waiting for action
A second problem to me was that almost nothing happens in the story ... we are given Holden's past while he dances with girls or is dating them or is busy drinking or smoking; while rambling about how everything is wrong with this world .... I'm telling you it is very difficult to sympathize with this guy. If Salinger had taken us through those changes along with Holden, we might have related to him better - rather what we have is a teenager rambling about his past.
Frustration
The thing that is best captured in Holden is the frustration that is faced in teenager. All of sudden they are faced with difficult choices- studies, career, sexual, life-style etc. There is as much advice as are mouths - at times giving opposite meanings. Moreover, teenagers have nobody really to talk with on those subjects. With friends, teachers, parents and siblings; they have appearances to maintain. Even if they did want to talk about their problems, they are themselves too confused and probably don't know what is bothering them - did I tell you how poor a narrator Holden is? There is a certain loneliness in Holden despite all his friends and family - which comes of being unable to talk about such pressures. Some teenage criminals might have relate to crime but really book never discusses anything crimanal - in fact, Holden detests violence.
Two stars for for average story; three extra stars for being first book to bring out such issues like teenage sexuality and angst minus one for because of bad narrative style.
Holden sounds perfectly, rather too perfectly like a teenager ..... and, you see, that is his problem. Reading this book is same as listening to a teenager rambling about a thousand and one things wrong with the world. One could see why it invites such mixed reactions, Holden is a very poor narrator (except may be opening and last lines); he uses that teenager jargon so often that at times they are more visible on page than punctuation marks. People of his own age group may relate to him but with other he make a poor case. He is too confused to do his own self justice. He has a few good qualities; but you can be too busy frowning at his language to note them. I think Salinger could have done a much better job if he would have told the story himself rather than giving the mike to Holden.
Waiting for action
A second problem to me was that almost nothing happens in the story ... we are given Holden's past while he dances with girls or is dating them or is busy drinking or smoking; while rambling about how everything is wrong with this world .... I'm telling you it is very difficult to sympathize with this guy. If Salinger had taken us through those changes along with Holden, we might have related to him better - rather what we have is a teenager rambling about his past.
Frustration
The thing that is best captured in Holden is the frustration that is faced in teenager. All of sudden they are faced with difficult choices- studies, career, sexual, life-style etc. There is as much advice as are mouths - at times giving opposite meanings. Moreover, teenagers have nobody really to talk with on those subjects. With friends, teachers, parents and siblings; they have appearances to maintain. Even if they did want to talk about their problems, they are themselves too confused and probably don't know what is bothering them - did I tell you how poor a narrator Holden is? There is a certain loneliness in Holden despite all his friends and family - which comes of being unable to talk about such pressures. Some teenage criminals might have relate to crime but really book never discusses anything crimanal - in fact, Holden detests violence.
Two stars for for average story; three extra stars for being first book to bring out such issues like teenage sexuality and angst minus one for because of bad narrative style.
lav_v's review against another edition
challenging
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
2.0
kaitlyn54's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
skiploafer's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5