Friday, January 29, 2010

J.D. Salinger

To be honest until yesterday evening I didn’t know whether he was still alive or not.

I’m reading 'Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenters and Seymour an Introduction' at the moment. I’m about half way through 'Seymour an Introduction' to be precise. I’ve been carrying it in my bag for waiting room moments and to annoy Rob when he starts texting on his iPhone when we go for a coffee. A lot of waiting room people probably thought that I was slightly mad as I read and laughed out loud. I love the way he talks to me, his reader, in person. The part that really speaks to me is that he lived in close proximity (in the book) to someone who was a genius. Since Christian was ill and his IQ confirmed I’ve been drawn to people writing about this subject. Trying to get more clues, I suppose. That’s why I read very carefully every single word written by Bomarzo and André.

Dom lent me 'Raise High…', - in English - and I’ve asked her to bring 'Franny and Zooey' when she visits again (I haven’t been able to find it in her room). When I was at college we read 'The Catcher in the Rye'. I can’t remember the ending, but I remember lots of silly details and how I felt when I was reading it. I want to re-read it – just to see how it grabs me now I’m a lot older.

I didn’t’ know much about J.D. Salenger, but it doesn’t surprise me at all that he was a recluse. I wonder if he was a blogger. I think it would have suited him.

3 comments:

Caroline said...

What a curse having your first book become such a success. Where do you go from there.

Isn't it interesting reading books you read when you are young, a whole new perspective with age and experience. I have a whole pile of Proust just waiting for a quiet month!

Caroline XXX

larry white said...

Salinger built his success over several decades with stories (by him then progressively more about him). Harper Lee's success with To Kill a Mockingbird is even more unique and just as lasting.

I'm mildly interested in reading the last novella Salinger published, but Penelope Fitzgerald has got me now, and Charles Nicholl's book on the murder of Christopher Marlowe, The Reckoning.

Anji said...

Caroline: I've made an effort to reread all my life and it is amazing how your perspective changes over time

Larry: There is always so much to read - choosing is a problem.