Scan barcode
diana_raquel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
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.
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Misogyny, Violence, Body horror, and Cursing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
laurybye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, and Bullying
Minor: Religious bigotry and Homophobia
Considering book content available to minors in school today, banning this classic is hypocritical and may draw attention to this sad book.greenrequiem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Violence, Sexual assault, and Addiction
Minor: Murder, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Cancer, Child death, Religious bigotry, and Adult/minor relationship
goggledumb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, and Child death
brynhayes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
bronaghd07's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Rape, and Cancer
lizziertaft's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The POV of Holden gets old quick. The book is slow and severely overrated. What many consider a classic, I think is just outdated and dull. I do have empathy for Holden and hope he found healing where it was he was getting help for at the end. He reminds me a lot of an old best friend I had, I’m convinced Holden was a Gemini moon.
Minor: Sexism, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
yustawrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm lost for words. I just loved it. Holden really feels like a close friend. This book is overall SAD, but the humour in it is very special and has made me laugh to myself a few times. Very well done.
The writing is direct, it doesn't feel like there are any fillers, everything Holden says is important and I loved being in his head for a few days (even if that meant being a little sad, worried, heartbroken).
Negative reviews tend to say that the writing is repetitive - but this is exactly the point. Holden is talking to YOU. He is telling you his story about what happened after he got kicked out of the school (again) - so shut up and LISTEN.
Other negative reviews talk about Holden as this annoying anti-hero. I read one that said something like:
"I enjoyed the main character. Or rather I enjoyed hating him".
He is a 16-year old boy on the brink of a mental breakdown.
You cannot post reviews like that and wonder WHY WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. It's exactly because of people like this - a.k.a. "phonies"; who won't listen, and shrug a struggling person off as "annoying", "rude", "obnoxious", "stupid".
This book made me cry. But what's different this time is that I cried while explaining the plot to someone else. Can you imagine?
God I love Phoebe. She's so like my little sister (and that kills me). Little kids really are more clever than you assume, and they are so pure.
I would like to thank J. D. Salinger for the ending. I really thought Holden is going to die in the end, but if he did I don't know if I could've taken that. Thank you for giving him a chance. Thank you for letting him live. Thank you for making him my friend.
Graphic: Physical abuse and Cursing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, and Vomit
kaiiiwood's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol
sunny_not's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Suicide