Comments on: Four Ways of Looking at J.D. Salinger

By: Ruben Carbajal

Ruben Carbajal — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:02:18 +0000

Salinger’s books are a kind of rite-of-passage; if you read it at the right moment, you’ll never be the same again. Each time I re-read Catcher, my perspective on Holden alters slightly; instead of solidarity, I now I read with worry for such a fragile kid in a world he’s not prepare to face. What an excellent post!

By: Adele

Adele — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:44:17 +0000

I was rushing to teach a class when I heard that Salinger had died. A student (simultaneously rushing to my class) told me in the stairwell. It was a strange moment: both of us standing there a bit choked up. It’s amazing how Salinger spoke to people, especially people in the horrible teenage stage of life. For me, The Catcher in the Rye gave me hope that being a cynic and noncomformist was not only okay, it was preferable. It was like being thrown a life-vest. Thanks for your lovely, thoughtful post. I am looking for The Landsmen tomorrow.

By: Erin

Erin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:11:14 +0000

This post made me kind of teary. I was never insanely in love with Catcher in the Rye like most…but I adored Nine Stories with all my heart and soul. Before I was married, I wanted to name any daughter I had Esme. Unfortunately, Esme now rhymes with my last name…and she’s a Twilight character.

By: nixy

nixy — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:16:31 +0000

What a beautiful post. Really wonderful.

My Confession: Though I have read Catcher a few times through out my life, I do not like the book (*pause for audible gasps*). I just find it really frustrating. I first read it in high school at some point, and thought maybe I needed to be older, and so re-read it. But no dice.

I usually won’t admit to it IRL.

By: Palemother

Palemother — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:33:02 +0000

What a great post, Mel. So many things will be written/said about him in the days ahead. I loved your personal notes.

Especially the glimpse of the man-as-neighbor … a guy so notoriously private, yet still willing to lend a favorite book … And especially this thought … “He was writing for writing’s sake–taking the best part of the act, reveling in creation, and then setting it aside so someone else could deal with the circus that ensued when he allowed them to be unleashed after he was gone.” I like to consider that thought. And what it says about him. And about creativity. It’s enough.

Cheers.

By: S

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:10:46 +0000

I must confess, I have never read The Catcher in the Rye or anything written by J.D. Salinger.

I loved your uncle’s letter from Salinger which you shared.

By: queenie

queenie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:53:16 +0000

My Salinger confession is that I frequently find myself in his neck of the woods, and I’ve often hoped that I would run into him. I never did, and I was so sad to learn he had died before I had the chance to live out my fantasy.

By: Bean

Bean — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:36:38 +0000

What a wonderful story. I don’t recall when I read my first Salinger, but I’m fairly certain it was during high school. I do remember that I fell in love and quickly read all of his writing that I could. I was so sad (and still am) when I realized how little there was to read from him. I read Franny and Zooey more times than I can recall and I’m thinking it’s time to pull it back off the shelf.

By: Kir

Kir — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:13:18 +0000

I too loved my copy of Catcher, I actually went to find it last night and just hold it.
I loved this post, thank you for sharing.

By: loribeth

loribeth — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:48:00 +0000

Very cool!

Will I be a pariah if I admit I haven’t read any Salinger books?? I did try to read “Catcher in the Rye” when I was about 11, but I don’t remember ever finishing it. I was more into the “Anne of Green Gables” & “Emily of New Moon” books at the time, & Holden, the angry young man, seemed like such an alien creature. I suspect I would find it more absorbing/understandable if I tried again as an adult.

I kind of admire Salinger for sticking to his guns & staying out of the limelight all of these years. Such a contrast to our celebrity culture today, & people who are just famous for being famous without really accomplishing anything much with their lives ,other than being on some reality TV show.