image castletroycollege.net
To read the letter in larger print click here; Letters Of Note
J.D. Salinger passed away today at the ripe old age of 91. Perhaps there is something to be said for “getting away from it all”. I imagine I join millions of others in saying his “Catcher In The Rye” was a pivotal novel for me . It was truly the first time, as a young reader, that I felt the author was really talking to me and not just telling me a story. I fell in love with Holden Caufield way back then and I never lost the love. To be sure, other suitors and their creators have come along, too myriad to list (OK, Garcia-Marquez gets a shout out) but Holden and J.D. will always occupy that special place in my heart.
Alright, I’m a little verklempt (sp?) so let’s consider this “Mini-Post Thursday”. I’ll be back with more colour tomorrow. Night All…
PS. The above website Letters Of Note (.com) is a very cool site. Give it a gander. “Letters of Note is an attempt to gather and sort fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes, and memos. Scans/photos where possible. Fakes will be sneered at. Updated every weekday. Edited by Shaun Usher.” (from the Letters of Note website)
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Oh, yes–Garcia Marquez and Carlos Castaneda are a couple that come to mind. Salinger will be missed. Thanks for the letter.
The voice in that letter so perfectly exemplifies why he was such an excellent story teller! He has a way with words that is both magical and true in a way that rings in your soul.
I remember finding Catcher in the Rye on the floor of my sister’s room (she was reading it for school a couple years ahead of me,) and sitting down and reading it cover to cover. To a girl of maybe 11 Holden was such a mysterious and controversial creature. I didn’t know what to think of him! Holden and Gatsby, really… I think they just got added back onto my reading list!
– Meg
Wow! What a great letter. The first thing I thought( after feeling like all these iconic people from my youth are disappearing) is what wonderful characters J D and Holden were, And how I miss the art of the written letter, How I loved to receive them and loved to write them and was happy when I felt i had written one that was poignant,funny and insightful. What a window into someone’s life an old letter can give you. Clearly I have lost my chops and can barely punctuate at this point, but still, there’s nothing like a beautiful letter. JD was a bit of a control freak, but good for him. He makes a lot of sense to me. I now ( thanks to you Slim) understand why he could never let go of the rights to his only novel??? Is that correct?
I have never done this before, don’t even know if you’ll get this Slim. Let me know.
Peace out Patty
Patty,
Salinger also wrote
“Nine Stories,” “Franny and Zooey” and “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters”
I don’t believe he wrote again after 1965, but don’t quote me on that.
And I agree with you- I too miss the art of the written letter- how wonderful it is to still receive them once and a while.
PS. God Bless J D Salinger, he lived his life, his way for 91 years
pretty cool.
love, love, love your website!