Ladies and gentlemen:
Today I mourn the death of J.D. Salinger, the author of "Catcher in the Rye."
Oh, he was such a great writer.
With much sadness, regards,
Obie
Printable View
Ladies and gentlemen:
Today I mourn the death of J.D. Salinger, the author of "Catcher in the Rye."
Oh, he was such a great writer.
With much sadness, regards,
Obie
Did you read "Catcher in the rye?" Just for the little crazy paranoid inside me,did it make you want to kill people. I was kinda impressed that the guy lived this long that book seems to be very old. I am sorry for your loss
Hello, Deusseteh:
I read the book several times. I think everyone in school in those years read it. That was Salinger's first novel, published in 1951, and it still continues to have a cult following.
Regards,
Obie
I guess he outlived his career. I thought he died forty years ago.
Yes, we read it in high school here when I was a lad. I have to admit much of it was lost on me at the time, being a rather parochial and callow youth. I have read it since once or twice and enjoyed it.
Literature has lost a great man. Rest in Peace.
James.
Hello, James,
Yes, the book changes perspective somewhat depending on what age one reads it.
Salinger was a recluse and rarely gave interviews. He lived to be 91.
On another topic, James: I just noticed your name in Farsi with your identification and avatar. I am pleasantly surprised.
Regards,
Obie
I read 'Catcher in the rye' when i was in junior high school. Didn't get much of it by then, but i've read it again when little older. It needed some aging before i got more out of it. The book has become sort of classic these days.
'Sit tibi terra levis', Mr. Salinger. R.I.P.
I read Catcher in the Rye at school, and I enjoyed it right from the off. I think most teenagers can relate to the feelings of isolation portrayed in the book, and it made me appreciate my childhood more as well when I read it more recently.
I've not read it for a while. I'll have to dig my copy out and re-read it.
RIP Mr Salinger.
I read it during university (just leisure reading, not for a course), and remember thinking, "Wow, I'm surprised he isn't dead yet."
It's a shame that he finally is, though. Rest in peace, J.D.S.
Like many kids 40 yrs or so ago I read 'Catcher in the Rye'. I remember my best friend was impressed by it.
I have only vague recollection of it now. I know he must have written other things, but I've not seen anything else of his on bookshelves in the UK. I'm not certain whether he was more famous as a writer or as a recluse.
That settles it. I was about to grab a book from the shelf to re-read, and could not settle on one. Was going to get Travels With Charley by Steinbeck, but now I am reaching for Catcher in the Rye.
According to the London Evening Standard, sales of his books have gone up. 'Catcher in the Rye' by 3,000% some his less popular stories by up to 13,000%
U.S. and UK academics have been featured today on the BBC. They cast doubt on whether he actually wrote anything of note, or indeed anything, during his decades as a recluse. Time will tell I suppose.
Obie,
I'm assuming that fellow writer Salinger was one of your literary idols, and I do feel for your loss. CITR was a good book, but I have always wondered what it is about it that caused such morbid obsession in nutjobs like Mark Chapman, who caused the loss of one of my idols, John Lennon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by welshwizard
From an article I read he supposedly had a number of manuscripts in a safe, not wanting to share them with the world.
I did read it in high school for the obvious reason that a girl I was into was really into it. I guess that means I liked it too, even though I had to reread it a decade later. Turned out it's actually a pretty good book, and looking back to my first reading, a useful one as well ;)
We didn't read Catcher in the Rye when I was in school, not so long ago. We didn't have any good books, really.
But I read it on my own time, when I must have been 16 or 17. I loved it. I still do. I love Salinger, and everything he stood for as a great writer. I wish he could have found some way to reconcile his art and fame - but that is selfish, on my part.
The world feels a bit emptier, simply knowing he's not in it. Is that strange?
Hello, Ryan:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
Salinger was not the only writer who was my idol. All writers, the great ones and those half way up the latter, are my idols. All of them. They are my idols, because, as a writer myself, a humble writer who comes nowhere near these great ones, I know what it takes to write something that the world reads. I know how hard it is to put a good paragraph together, let alone string a group of them together for a book.
During one of my many reads of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I remember stopping and just shaking my head: My Lord, how can some write so well? It's depressing, because I know I will never come up to Fitzgerald toe as a writer. Also overwhelming, because of the joy I take from such great writing. That's just an example.
I write as myself without comparing myself to other writers. That's how it should be.
So yes, they all are my idols. As for Salinger's book influencing Chapman in the killing, was the book his motivation? Really? I don't believe so. It takes more than a book to commit such an evil act.
Regards,
Obie
Loved Catcher In The Rye and am thinking of a re-read as I type, RIP. Only tried one other of his works (the name escapes me) and couldn't get past the second chapter. Is there other stuff you could recommend, Obie (or anyone)? Have I just gone along with the received wisdom while in fact, missing out?
Hello, Alan:
Oh my, there is so much great stuff to read. Where does one start? Read Hemingway. Fitzgerald. Updike (By the way, I interviewed Updike a long time ago. What a dazzling mind he had. And he was so gracious and pleasant.). Dickens. Flaubert. Zola. Scores of contemporary writers. Start hitting the libraries. In fact, the first thing I do when moving to a new town is to get a library card and find out where all the bookstores are.
Stay well.
Regards,
Obie
Though Chapman obviously had severe mental illness issues, CITR was indeed a focal point to his murderous intentions, and the book was a life long obsession for him. He fancied himself as Holden Caulfield, and focused his anger at phonies, in this case the ultimate phonie (to Chapman) was John Lennon. He was the ultimate nobody trying to extinguish the light of the ultimate somebody. When he was arrested at the Dakota in NYC he was found calmly reading his well-worn copy of CITR, and when police raided his hotel suite they found another copy set up in a shrine-like monument on a coffee table, the book opened to a select passage in the book (I can't remember which off hand) to give clue to his motivations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
As a side note, wasn't Ronald Reagon's would-be assassin also obsessed with CITR? I ask because, not being an American, my U.S. history might be a little hazy, and I haven't had enough coffee to wikipedia it yet ;)
I do agree, Obie, that it takes more than a book to commit such a heinous act, but then again types like you and me seem to be somehow able to distinguish reality from fiction.
Hello, Ryan:
Thanks for making your interesting points about these two evil characters and the book. And you're right, some can tell the difference between reality and fiction. Well spoken.
Regards,
Obie
There was a movie made about Chapman and Lennon called Chapter 27:
YouTube - Chapter 27 - Trailer
Indeed. There was also another, lesser known film called The Killing of John Lennon. They both do a servicable job in telling the story with accurate historical facts.Quote:
Originally Posted by icedog
Catcher in the Rye is certainly and influential work and still sells today. As far as I can find it was his only full length novel. Unless you are an aficionado it's difficult to bring to mind anything else he wrote. Could he really be regarded as one of the great writers on the basis of one book?
Hello, Welshwizard:
I am no authority on Salinger's works, but if I remember, his book "Franny and Zoey" also picked up a cult following. "Catcher in the Rye" was the classic.
Regards,
Obie
Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
Hi Obie,
Sorry to go OT a bit. I have taught several students from Iran (which I believe was Persia?) over the years, and I can tell you that our domestic students could learn a thing or two about respect, manners, and hard work from them.
I also currently have a tutor from Iran working for me. Hamid is one of the most decent, gentle, and pleasant people I have ever met - a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I have learned a great deal about many things from him in our general discussions. One of the things I have learned is what a beautiful language and script Farsi is.
And, on a final off topic note, I would heartily recommend that people try to see, if they can get hold of it (which I think should not be too hard as it is fairly well-known), a beautiful movie called Children of Heaven. It left me with a tear in my eye and a smile on my face.
James.
I firmly believe if you produce great writing you are a great writer, regardless of quantity produced (or, in some cases, despite it :) ).Quote:
Originally Posted by welshwizard
Harper Lee is another example in my mind. A mediocre writer could never have produced anything like To Kill a Mockingbird.
James.
Yeah, after proving the poincare's conjecture you may as well spend the rest of your life in a cave (or at the opera) :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
A fair point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
Though could you be regarded as a great composer on the basis of one symphony, a great actor after one play, or a great painter after one picture?
Would you not have to show range and depth of talent over a number of works to be accorded the accolade 'Great'. As opposed to say, a superb or excellent writer.
Hello, Jimbo:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
Thanks for your note. Yes, I know what you mean by good manners. I consider humility and good manners two essential virtues. I have a revulsion to arrogance and bad manners.
I must say, though, I have been lucky to come across more people with humility and good manner rather than the other way around.
I lived in Iran (Persia) until my early teens. I am a full-blooded Assyrian, though. We're the descendants of the ancient Assyrian empire in Mesopotamia, the present day Iraq. I studied Farsi and speak it, though I am a bit rusty. Of course, I also speak my own language, Assyrian (Aramaic, the language Christ spoke).
This is all a pleasant discovery, James. I am delighted to know you.
Regards,
Obie
My dear James:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
How right you are on every point.
Regards,
Obie
Also a fair point. I guess it all depends on your definition of Great.Quote:
Originally Posted by welshwizard
James.
All wonderful stuff, I agree, but I meant other Salinger, sorry, wasn't clear. So much wonderful stuff to read, not enough time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie