Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - Над пропастью во ржи

I first picked up this book when I was a teenager and I loved it since. It was the first classic book I read that wasn't assigned in class. And that was the birth of my love for classics. Reading it again in my 20's, it's even better than when I first met him.

Holden was witty and observant, sarcastic, and the biggest hater you've ever met. His narration was often so comical, I kept giggling or literally laughing out loud with tears in my eyes. Really, he killed me.

But as you read on, this story of his account of spending the night alone in New York City, in between meeting all kinds of people in his life who happened to be available to meet him that night, while his memories weaved in and out, and he tried his hardest to hang on, your heart gets broken piece by piece. Holden's voice will stay with you and you can't shake him out.

A full 5 stars for me. Heck, I'd give 6 out of 5 stars if I could. This is my favourite book and it holds a special place in my heart for it.

Content Warnings

literaryinluv's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-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

3.75

Content Warnings

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark sad 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

0.75

I'm sure there are folks who relate to Holden Caulfield bc they read this as teens or idk and those people are valid but the people who felt despair at being forced to read this book for high school English class and forced themselves to read this drivel and analyze it and find meaning, but as they read on felt how their joy or love for reading vanished and subsequently never picked a book up again are equally, if not, more valid bc this book is stinking garbage. I can agree Holden is probably autistic, depressed and grieving for his dead brother, and is a traumatized teen boy for what he saw at Elkton Hills, but the way Salinger writes evaporated any bit of empathy I could have for this kid and I just don't care. If kids can relate to this guy, more power to them, but there's nothing ingenious or nostalgic enough in this book to justify reading it as an adult, or for any reason for that matter, and the TCITR haters are right. There are so many enjoyable books you could read! Don't make the same mistake I did. Never pick up this book or DNF it once you start feeling like bashing your head against something or crushing small things.

Content Warnings