J.D. Salinger passed away on January 27, 2010 at the age of 91. He was best known as the author of Catcher In The Rye, a novel lauded by many as the universal anthem of American teenage life, a coming-of-age story for those still searching for a voice of their own. Whether or not you think that's true, it's difficult to find a high school student who hasn't at least seen its front cover.
But Salinger also wrote several short stories, including one of my personal favorites, "A Perfect Day For Bananafish."
I'll probably talk more about his stories in the future, but for now I just wanted to acknowledge the death of one of the greatest American writers of the last century.
One other thing: J.D. Salinger was a recluse, and he valued his privacy. Although he stopped publishing a long time ago (over 40 years, in fact), his recent death has revealed a wealth of unpublished manuscripts hidden away in his New Hampshire home. They'll probably be published.
I have mixed feelings, though, because for whatever reason Salinger chose not to publish what he wrote. Who are we to suddenly rush in after he's gone and steal them away?
In fact, here's a quote from J.D. Salinger that Google is currently displaying:
"There is a marvelous peace in not publishing," ... "Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy.......... I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure"
It makes me wonder.
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