Reviews

A re-read for book club, the choice prompted by the death earlier this year of author, J.D. Salinger. I can't remember if I first read this book in high school or college. I remembered Holden Caulfield, his angst and depression, his special relationship with his younger sister, Phoebe, but I didn't recall all the details. Salinger's first person narrative captures Holden so well. Though some of the specifics seem dated, like the cost of things and Holden wearing a tie and sport coat, the themes of this story are timeless. As I could when I was younger as well, I could identify with much of what Holden was going through - the indecision, insecurity - either personally or via friend's experiences. Salinger so aptly describes Holden's mental state that I think there must be some of Salinger himself in Holden. Holden's "dream" of going west and living in a cabin seems to parallel Salinger's reclusive life.

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish that the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it." (25)

"Here's what he said: 'The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.'" (244)

"If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the "Fuck you" signs in the world. It's impossible." (262)

I like that Holden wants to rub them all out in Phoebe's school.

kaijahend's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

narno's review against another edition

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4.0

Okay all the reviews on this book are really mixed and I’m gonna say I give it 3.75 but I’m rounding up. I read this book bc there’s a book called Solitaire that I love and apparently this book is similar to it but it’s not as good as solitaire at all, maybe bc the main character is a guy, Holden, so I can’t really relate as much to him. It was good though I would recommend it, the only think it didn’t like is that there were like extremely long paragraphs (like they lasted multiple pages with no break) since the narrator kinda is just like rambling as if he’s talking to a person. The character is pretty unlikeable but seems pretty real so that’s why I’m rating it higher. Like I kinda hate Holden but at the same time I get where he’s coming from.

susannemae's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

marthahilke's review against another edition

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medium-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

2.75

msliban's review against another edition

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5.0

I just love the voice. It's one of the best.

benjaminygoff's review against another edition

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5.0

Holden describing a bad dance partner like "dragging the statue of liberty across the floor" is a prime example of why I love this book.

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