J. D. Salinger has just died, aged 91.

Dionysus · 28-01-2010 08:00PM #1

I have to say, I hated Catcher in the Rye, no matter how many millions of teenagers have loved it. Then again, I read it at the age of 20, rather than 13 (it was, after all, originally written for adults), and I couldn't stand the juvenile "New York" (technically the fictitious city of Agerstown, Pennsylvania) lingo. It was that more than anything which made me give it up after about ten pages:

http://www.irishtimes.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._D._Salinger

walshb · 28-01-2010 08:02PM

The best book I have ever read to be honest. Full of fun and humor and sarcasm. So so real!

Dunjohn · 28-01-2010 08:05PM

I read it for college. 'Twas alright. I thought the Catcher metaphor was laid on a bit thickly, but a good read. Sorry he's dead, but at 91, it's not a bad age to be going.

Latchy · 28-01-2010 08:07PM

Just heard this on the bbc news now .Wonder how he felt about his most famous book being associated with that murder ? .

sales must went through the roof

mikom · 28-01-2010 08:07PM

Dionysus wrote: »

It was that more than anything which made me give it up after about ten pages:

You missed the last boss at the end......... he was epic.

Dunjohn · 28-01-2010 08:09PM

Mikoms ghost... wrote: »

You missed the last boss at the end......... he was epic.

John Lennon? Yeah, I heard only one guy passed him.

mikom · 28-01-2010 08:11PM

Dunjohn wrote: »

John Lennon? Yeah, I heard only one guy passed him.

No silly..... Attica State Prison.

phasers · 28-01-2010 08:15PM

I've never read it, must give it a go

bonerm · 28-01-2010 08:16PM

You're all phonies!

opinion guy · 28-01-2010 08:17PM

I remember really identifing with that book when our english teacher made us read it. That doens't seem like a healthy thing in retrospect.

Anyhow. Sad to hear this news

Closed ac · 28-01-2010 08:18PM

That's a god damn shame.

Elessar · 28-01-2010 08:18PM

RIP.

Terrible book though. Was it supposed to teach me something?

Latchy · 28-01-2010 08:19PM

bonerm wrote: »

You're all phonies!

JD who ??

Solvo Slep · 28-01-2010 08:21PM

Elessar wrote: »

RIP.

Terrible book though. Was it supposed to teach me something?

Yes, German. Are you saying it didn't help at all?

Elessar · 28-01-2010 08:26PM

Solvo Slep wrote: »

Yes, German. Are you saying it didn't help at all?

eh?

bonerm · 28-01-2010 08:27PM

Elessar wrote: »

eh?

It's spelt "was?" . Yep, that book clearly didn't teach you any German.

mike65 · 28-01-2010 08:28PM

So no follow up then?

Dunjohn · 28-01-2010 08:30PM

No, but they're releasing a DVD of his rehearsals.

Latchy · 28-01-2010 08:31PM

' Catch her in the sack ' 'sounds like a good follow up title

Solvo Slep · 28-01-2010 08:32PM

mike65 wrote: »

So no follow up then?

There probably will be one within the next ten years, just like post-Puzo's "Godfather," post-Fleming's "James Bond" and (the rather more obscure) post-Hitler's "Mein Kampf" sequels.

tech77 · 28-01-2010 08:33PM

This thread is kinda phony. :cool:

walshb · 28-01-2010 08:34PM

I always thought the book would make a great film. Nothing has come out yet.

My name is URL · 28-01-2010 08:36PM

I can't say I ever heard of him.. did hear of the book though

always assumed it was about pedophiles

bonerm · 28-01-2010 08:36PM

walshb wrote: »

I always thought the book would make a great film. Nothing has come out yet.

After he became a recluse I think he refused to let anyone to adapt it. Perhaps it's out of his hands now and a movie could get made?

myflipflops · 28-01-2010 08:39PM

Superb book and one of my list that i re-read about once a year.

Columbia · 28-01-2010 08:39PM

To be honest, I didn't know he was still alive.

RIP in any case though.

TPD · 28-01-2010 08:51PM

I read the book at 17 or 18 - didn't and still don't see what the big deal is.

PK2008 · 28-01-2010 08:58PM

One of the best books ever written

Take my word for it, I know better than you

28-01-2010 09:01PM

Sad to hear that, the Laughing man is a tremendous book, as is of Catcher in the rye. Great writer.

Elessar · 28-01-2010 09:03PM

Someone explain the whole point and/or meaning behind Catcher in the Rye.

No one I ever asked, even teachers, were able to answer that.

Herbal Deity · 28-01-2010 09:03PM

I think it's one of those books that has to resonate with you, and when it does, you love it, but if it doesn't I can see how you'd be puzzled as to why some people think it's so good.

Personally, I read it at the height of my angsty teenage phase, when I reckoned I had the world more or less worked out. Holden's bitter cynicism spoke to me like no other book had before.

RIP.

J. D. Salinger has just died, aged 91.

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