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mirrormir's review against another edition
3.0
I can't get over the fact that the narrator (grown ass man) has a connection with the 13 y/o girl he just met. Weird vibes for sure- the girl could have been in her 20s for all that being 13 was relevant to the story
ganiara's review against another edition
4.0
just wanted to share one of my favorite lines:
"You know what she said? She says nobody gets a nervous breakdown just from the war and all. She says you probably were unstable like, your whole goddarn life."
"You know what she said? She says nobody gets a nervous breakdown just from the war and all. She says you probably were unstable like, your whole goddarn life."
franceswilde95's review against another edition
4.0
I was going to award this 3 stars as it's pretty tricky to give anything more to a collection of short stories, because each story has either merits or flaws, in my opinion. However, Salinger's consistently familiar voice and the final short story in the collection, Teddy, won it over for me. I love the fact that, in an almost poetic way, each story's focus alters throughout: minor characters become main, situations become philosophical standpoints.
Aw man, I just love Salinger
Aw man, I just love Salinger
earthdungeon's review against another edition
3.0
I read this for an english class and thought that it was okay, i was not at all a fan of how Esmé was described physically (why do male authors insist on doing this even when the character is 13) but other than that I enjoyed it, It was a pretty good portrayal of "battle fatigue" but would not have read it of my own free will.
I did not realize that X was the same soldier who met Esmé and was mildly delighted at the end to see that it was him.
I did not realize that X was the same soldier who met Esmé and was mildly delighted at the end to see that it was him.
yaeldn's review against another edition
5.0
J.D. Salinger is my favorite writer for a lot of different reasons, but his spirituality and outlook on life - which might be his perspective or just A perspective - is the biggest one. Every time I read one of his stories (his short stories, to be exact), I find myself thinking about life and the meaning of life time and time again.
I especially loved A Perfect Day for Bananafish, The Laughing Man, and of course Teddy.
The characterization, his way of describing every day normal things, and the way his stories make me think and feel, no other author has ever done that to me. I gave 5 stars because I loved every single story, and because they have touched me deeply. Please, read this book, and read Salinger's other work, because it will at least enlighten you.
I especially loved A Perfect Day for Bananafish, The Laughing Man, and of course Teddy.
The characterization, his way of describing every day normal things, and the way his stories make me think and feel, no other author has ever done that to me. I gave 5 stars because I loved every single story, and because they have touched me deeply. Please, read this book, and read Salinger's other work, because it will at least enlighten you.
admatthews's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps unsurprising I didn't go for this, as I'm not a fan of Catcher. Little variety of voice and tone among the stories, and that voice is a mid-century American version of insouciance/breeziness that emerges as fussy and affected. Feels like a preponderance of connected Ivy League types who may or may not have 'done Europe'. Several stories are really just sketches. And there's no getting away from the distinct awkwardness as male characters repeatedly form pseudo-romantic attachments to young girls. The girl depicted in the cover image above is supposed to be 13. This has not aged well.
katyla's review against another edition
3.0
A rather unsettling collection of short stories. Loved the writing, but the stories are quite sad/disturbing.