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A review by j75
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was such a weird book for me
I read it for school, so looking at it through that lens definitely helped me appreciate/understand this book more than if I had just read it for myself/for fun
Holden is unlikeable, that's for sure, and he's the main character so you are kinda stuck with him. It's very stream-of-conscious like, which means hearing alllll of his thoughts for a weekend
I enjoyed the aspect of Holden struggling with growing up, and his views on adulthood. Pretty conflicted as to how I view him. It was also interesting to see how mental health was treated in the past (spoiler: not great).
All and all, school made me like this from a thinking perspective, while my enjoyment level is pretty low
Hence, 2.5 stars = between it was ok/i liked it
I read it for school, so looking at it through that lens definitely helped me appreciate/understand this book more than if I had just read it for myself/for fun
Holden is unlikeable, that's for sure, and he's the main character so you are kinda stuck with him. It's very stream-of-conscious like, which means hearing alllll of his thoughts for a weekend
I enjoyed the aspect of Holden struggling with growing up, and his views on adulthood. Pretty conflicted as to how I view him. It was also interesting to see how mental health was treated in the past (spoiler: not great).
All and all, school made me like this from a thinking perspective, while my enjoyment level is pretty low
Hence, 2.5 stars = between it was ok/i liked it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, and Suicide