A review by niisound
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

slow-paced

• 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

1.5

Having never known anything about this book, except of its legacy as an assigned reading in high schools, I didn't know what to expect. But I definitely didn't expect it to be a mostly mundane glimpse into the goings on of a jaded, depressed, and annoying teenager. Holden feels like a real person with all his flaws and somewhat relatable perspectives, but there's little impact at the end of this coming-of-age story. He's just a run-of-the-mill, angsty, egotistical kid. You can argue all you want whether he changed or not at the end, but Salinger gives the reader almost nothing to ponder or feel.