Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Над пропастью во ржи

Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Над пропастью во ржи by J.D. Salinger

23 reviews

iillianne's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Although I’ve read this book a couple times, it feels like i finally grasped it this time around. Like holden, i was so caught up with my own issues against the world that anything i tried to put my focus on, like reading this book, became hazy. Ugh holden, they could never make me hate u.

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aveacademe's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

5.0

Absolutely delicious, if you’re into introspective and complicated characters. I devoured this book.

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king_macbeth_of_mtsensk's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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rory_john14's review against another edition

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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

2.5

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jodar's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.25

Some novels have engaging characters or an absorbing plot or are delightfully written. Some even have two or all three of these elements. But then there are novels like The Catcher in the Rye that has none of these features.

I detested this so-called ‘great novel’ when I was compelled to read it as a teenager at secondary school. But that was decades ago, so when I mentioned my loathing recently and someone claimed it was well-written, I decided to read it again. But no, I didn’t find it well-written either: probably because it is a first-person narrative of a puerile, self-absorbed, cynical adolescent, the writing reflects that too.

To be clear, I have enjoyed novels whose MC is unattractive and selfish. But for me there needs to be something else for the novel to be ‘great’, moving, impactful and absorbing – some wider perspective, perhaps, or beautiful writing or something.

Yes, I understand that the MC, Holden Caulfield, is grieving for his dead brother, estranged from his parents and is grappling with the anguish of a teenager growing up. But his deep cynicism of everything, shallow appreciation of others, selfishness and general sordidness in thought and word is just plain ugly and unappealing. The MC only shows a bit of human warmth towards his younger sister, and even then he struggles not to be a selfish moron. (Now, if the MC had been his sister instead – she comes across as a sensible, decent human being – with a disturbed older brother to cope with, that might have been a ‘great novel’).

In short, I still regard this novel as the ‘type specimen’ of a largely meritless novel that some others regard as superlative for reasons I can’t really understand.

Or in words Holden might use: The MC is such a pain in the arse and phony sonuvabitch who annoys the hell out of me. The whole novel is a dumb, stinking goddam story that makes me want to puke.

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hannah_cogo's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

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matilde66's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-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

4.25

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islamccormack's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, and Alcohol

I honestly wasn’t expecting that book to be so amazing. I know that it’s a classic, but sometimes classics can be dusty and complicated to read. This was far from that, despite its slight slow pace sometimes (hence 4.75 stars). I have never felt so connected to a character in all the times that I’ve read in a VERY long time. Holden is such a complex but heartbreakingly innocent character. He is exposed and is exposing himself to self destructive behaviours and experiences a series of chaotic events during this novel which he chooses to pursue, yet he is so in pain, which makes me sympathise with him so much. I was so incredibly moved by this story - I’m actually speechless. And the twist at the end was even more heartbreaking. Holders attention to detail, his observant nature, his immaturity yet his mature tendencies, his wit and humour, his melancholia (that “killed me”) and his pluckiness that initiates these illicit activities that he pursues on these adventures around New York make for a amusing yet harrowing tale. Its like I was simultaneously laughing but nearly crying the entire way through the novel. One, because I have a brother the same age as Holden and I was imagining him in this mischievous position of trying to claim his masculinity and maturity around a big city. But two, I was so deeply saddened by Holden’s depression which overarches all of the mischief that it almost brought me to tears. The relationship he had with his sister was also very touching and personal to me. I felt even the nuances of a sibling relationship was executed perfectly, and the carousel scene had me in tears. Salinger’s ability to capture the complexities of the human mind, dialogue, inner turmoil and nuances of American people and society from the naive yet tormented mind of a 16 year old boy was eye opening, pivotal in challenging Americanism and essential in shining a light on internalised melancholia and grief. And all under the shadow of a post war society to top it all off! This is the work of a genius. I definitely can stand with everybody now when they dub this book a classic.

jane_moriarty's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

2.75

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joharrismay's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

This is one of my all time favorite books now. I really liked how the character spoke about things and it honestly felt like just speaking to a friend. I really loved the story because it was not overly dramatized and it also had elements of mental health in it which kinda brings things you can relate to. I really enjoyed this book.

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