NEW YORK — J.D. Salinger, the legendary author, youth hero and fugitive from fame whose "The Catcher in the Rye" shocked and inspired a world he increasingly shunned, has died. He was 91.
Salinger died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, the author's son said in a statement from Salinger's literary representative. He had lived for decades in self-imposed isolation in the small, remote house in Cornish, N.H.
"The Catcher in the Rye," with its immortal teenage protagonist, the twisted, rebellious Holden Caulfield, came out in 1951, a time of anxious, Cold War conformity and the dawn of modern adolescence. The Book-of-the-Month Club, which made "Catcher" a featured selection, advised that for "anyone who has ever brought up a son" the novel will be "a source of wonder and delight — and concern."
Enraged by all the "phonies" who make "me so depressed I go crazy," Holden soon became American literature's most famous anti-hero since Huckleberry Finn. The novel's sales are astonishing — more than 60 million copies worldwide — and its impact incalculable. Decades after publication, the book remains a defining expression of that most American of dreams — to never grow up.
Salinger was writing for adults, but teenagers from all over identified with the novel's themes of alienation, innocence and fantasy, not to mention the luck of having the last word. "Catcher" presents the world as an ever-so-unfair struggle between the goodness of young people and the corruption of elders, a message that only intensified with the oncoming generation gap.
I dont know about any of y'all, but this is extremely heartbreaking.
Read Catcher in the Rye in high school during my senior year... late 03, early 04. The book seemed just as relevant now as I imagine it was then. That's quality writing.
jeddy lee on
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Although 91 years and 61 million copies ain't that heartbreaking.
And it'll probably be the first time he's left his house in decades. Sounds like a quirky movie in the making.
Maybe this is what "Finding Forrester" was losely based on. (not the befriending an inner city baseketball player/writer part. The shut in who wrote the great american novel part)
I was just thinking of Salinger/Catcher in the Rye today, because I realized Mark David Chapman is up for parole again this year. It sucks that such a genius work of literature was used as a reason for murder.
Since he's been in seclusion so long I wonder what writing will be unearthed by his estate
It will be revealed that J.D. Salinger and J.K. Rowlings are actually the same person.
edit: I really do wonder, and have wondered for years, if Salinger had published anything under a pseudonym all this time. I wouldn't be surprised if he had, and I wouldn't be surprised if we never find out.
Although 91 years and 61 million copies ain't that heartbreaking.
And it'll probably be the first time he's left his house in decades. Sounds like a quirky movie in the making.
Maybe this is what "Finding Forrester" was losely based on. (not the befriending an inner city baseketball player/writer part. The shut in who wrote the great american novel part)
I thought it was pretty clear that Connery's character was based on Salinger. At least, that's what I assumed the moment I saw it.
Of course, the movie is so devoid of subtlety they could have based it on Stephen King.
Sentry on
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wrote:
When I was a little kid, I always pretended I was the hero,' Skip said.
'Fuck yeah, me too. What little kid ever pretended to be part of the lynch-mob?'
we need one more famous author to complete the Rule of Three.
My money is on Gore Vidal.
I'm hoping for Stephanie Meyer... because I just want to see her name mentioned in conjunction with two literary greats.
And I want her dead.
Sentry on
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wrote:
When I was a little kid, I always pretended I was the hero,' Skip said.
'Fuck yeah, me too. What little kid ever pretended to be part of the lynch-mob?'
Catcher in the Rye was the worst book I was ever forced to read in highschool
Holden Cryfield, anybody?
Why am I not surprised you have a silly goose of an opinion on this, Kazhiim.
I bet you liked A Separate Peace, too.
Man, A Separate Peace was way better than Catcher in the Rye. Also, The Great Gatsby.
Wait, Gatsby as in good or Gatsby as in the most god awful self absorbed narcissistic piece of crap the planet had seen until the baby boomers came of age?
Catcher in the Rye was excellent, as was a significant amount of Sallinger's other works. I'd say he'll be missed, but he's already been missed so I'm not sure that would be accurate.
enlightenedbum on
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Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes is the best short story I've ever read. I can't decide on a favorite novel by Catcher is up there. A real loss
Sad yes, but not really a loss since he hasn't published anything for years. As for Catcher in the Rye, I think it is one of the most accessible books in the high school canon (at least for a guy). It is pretty short and funny. I was amazed to be reminded that the book was published in 1951.
themightypuck on
“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.”
― Marcus Aurelius
I was amazed to be reminded that the book was published in 1951.
I was shocked when I realized Salinger was 91. Thanks to the fact that there's only a few old pictures of him out there, I always assumed he was younger.
CORNISH, NH—In this big dramatic production that didn't do anyone any good (and was pretty embarrassing, really, if you think about it), thousands upon thousands of phonies across the country mourned the death of author J.D. Salinger, who was 91 years old for crying out loud. "He had a real impact on the literary world and on millions of readers," said hot-shot English professor David Clarke, who is just like the rest of them, and even works at one of those crumby schools that rich people send their kids to so they don't have to look at them for four years. "There will never be another voice like his." Which is exactly the lousy kind of goddamn thing that people say, because really it could mean lots of things, or nothing at all even, and it's just a perfect example of why you should never tell anybody anything.
CORNISH, NH—In this big dramatic production that didn't do anyone any good (and was pretty embarrassing, really, if you think about it), thousands upon thousands of phonies across the country mourned the death of author J.D. Salinger, who was 91 years old for crying out loud. "He had a real impact on the literary world and on millions of readers," said hot-shot English professor David Clarke, who is just like the rest of them, and even works at one of those crumby schools that rich people send their kids to so they don't have to look at them for four years. "There will never be another voice like his." Which is exactly the lousy kind of goddamn thing that people say, because really it could mean lots of things, or nothing at all even, and it's just a perfect example of why you should never tell anybody anything.
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Although 91 years and 61 million copies ain't that heartbreaking.
― Marcus Aurelius
Path of Exile: themightypuck
And it'll probably be the first time he's left his house in decades. Sounds like a quirky movie in the making.
YOU'RE THE MAN NOW, DAWG!
Weekend at J.D's?
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He went to see the latest Terminator movie and loved it.
RIP indeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ4B7G8Rw3Q
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Maybe this is what "Finding Forrester" was losely based on. (not the befriending an inner city baseketball player/writer part. The shut in who wrote the great american novel part)
R.I.P., Salinger.
It will be revealed that J.D. Salinger and J.K. Rowlings are actually the same person.
edit: I really do wonder, and have wondered for years, if Salinger had published anything under a pseudonym all this time. I wouldn't be surprised if he had, and I wouldn't be surprised if we never find out.
I thought it was pretty clear that Connery's character was based on Salinger. At least, that's what I assumed the moment I saw it.
Of course, the movie is so devoid of subtlety they could have based it on Stephen King.
Holden Cryfield, anybody?
Why am I not surprised you have a silly goose of an opinion on this, Kazhiim.
I bet you liked A Separate Peace, too.
Poor Salinger. RIP.
I... I might have
maybe
Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes is the best short story I've ever read. I can't decide on a favorite novel by Catcher is up there. A real loss
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damn phonies
Thank you.
we need one more famous author to complete the Rule of Three.
My money is on Gore Vidal.
I'm hoping for Stephanie Meyer... because I just want to see her name mentioned in conjunction with two literary greats.
And I want her dead.
Go be wrong someplace else. This isnt the thread for this.
So you are saying it was an accurate description of teenage behavior.
Man, A Separate Peace was way better than Catcher in the Rye. Also, The Great Gatsby.
Wait, Gatsby as in good or Gatsby as in the most god awful self absorbed narcissistic piece of crap the planet had seen until the baby boomers came of age?
Catcher in the Rye was excellent, as was a significant amount of Sallinger's other works. I'd say he'll be missed, but he's already been missed so I'm not sure that would be accurate.
And I really liked it.
It's impossible not to identify with Holden. Also since it was written by an adult and not an emo kid it had a great ending.
You're the silliest silly silly goose that ever laid a silly goosen egg you silly silly goose.
Because A Separate Peace may be the worst book in existence.
I'm being COMPLETELY HONEST when I say I:
a) Read the first Twilight book,
b) Enjoyed it more than A Separate Peace, and
c) Thought it had more literary merit than A Separate Peace.
It really DOES resonate with teenagers, but at the same time it's not good just because it resonates.
Catcher in the Rye is fantastic.
I was just thinking that.
But no. Instead, I think what I'll do is, I'll pretend I'm one of those deaf-mutes.
What a flit.
Fuck that book, seriously.
Sad yes, but not really a loss since he hasn't published anything for years. As for Catcher in the Rye, I think it is one of the most accessible books in the high school canon (at least for a guy). It is pretty short and funny. I was amazed to be reminded that the book was published in 1951.
― Marcus Aurelius
Path of Exile: themightypuck
I was shocked when I realized Salinger was 91. Thanks to the fact that there's only a few old pictures of him out there, I always assumed he was younger.
That is perfect.