@lillake64

I have been following Game of Tomes. I just now stumbled across your review and I am so glad I did. Thank you for the deeoer exploration that this book  deserves. I read this book at ages 14, 19, late 20s, and now at age 59 (all the same stained copy!). Each time I had different reactions. At 14 I related to his disgust with phonies and saw him as a hero. In my teens and 20s I saw him as a spoiled rich kid. I couldnt help thinking that having to work hard  for a living would have helped his depression. Now at age 59, my reaction was very similar to yours. I almost jumped up and down when you talked about survivor's guilt! You nailed it. I have a lot of sympathy now for this child who had no one to turn to for understanding and support. I am beginning to understand that my different reactions throughout the years much more to do with my own experiences and level of personal growth than with the narrator of this book. For this reason I would now give this book 5 stars.

@camscornerbooks

This book is a lot deeper than I expected and thanks to the lovely book community I'm picking up more things even after finishing it!  💖💖

@agnel1320

Hi 👋

I've read this book for the Game of Tomes too. I'm glad I never read it in highschool, I've would have thrown the book out the window then 😅

I agree, it might not be a book for teenagers, just because of the life experience that might be lacking at that time, as well as compassion for a character like Holden. But a lot of the classics thought in school are the same way, at least was for me. I view it all a bit differently now after almost 10 years passed.

I do however have a problem, not with the work itself, but how people interpret it, how many people thought Holden was a role model, his stance on things worthy, or them simply relating to him. Not like oh yeah I've had similar experiences, it sucks. No, relating to that rage and misogynistic ideals. That's why even after reading this, it is still a red flag for me. 

Just a quick thought about gay and lesbians and how they were written in that chapter. I don't have all the receipts, but in general, that might be another insight into Holden's misogyny. 

Men tend to allow women to be queer as long as it's pleasant for them, to look at, to fantasise about, etc. Gay men, on the other hand, somehow become unmanly in the eyes of a straight man. As a young man, Holden might be attracted to the idea of two pretty girls together, or maybe that's a footprint of unconsciousness of the writer.