A Tribute to J. D. Salinger - Great Poet

A Tribute to J. D. Salinger

(Born -- January 1, 1919 - (New York, USA) and Died -- January 27, 2010 -- Cornish, New Hampshire, USA)

For most of us who read the “Catcher in the Rye”, and for whatever interpretation every reader puts into it, one cannot deny the fact that it is one of the most read and most controversial novel of the 20^th century. It was published in 1951 and was the most acclaimed work of J. D. Salinger. He actually wrote a lot of other short stories which are highly acclaimed as well.

In the 1980s, my father bought his book "Catcher in the Rye" and I read it and immediately I was drawn to him and his style of writing. I was at awed with his use of words and style of writing.

J. D. (Jerome David) Salinger was born in New, York USA from an Scottish-Irish mother and a Polish Jew father, lived and served during the war. He started his career as a writer early in his secondary school years. He became controversial when he became a recluse after the success of his novel “Catcher in the Rye”. His career started in 1940 and he stopped publishing his works until 1965. "The Catcher in the Rye"had been reprinted eight times and It spent thirty weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list". The words are vulgar but it is reality so it is famous among teen- agers as well.

If you want to have a glimpse of the book "Cather in the Rye" read this

Being controversial because he chose to become a recluse:

J. D. Salinger was a controversial man being called a recluse, chosen not to become public after the release of “Catcher in the Rye”. It is my opinion that whether he is controversial or not, the quality of his work is what draws people to him. After almost 60 years after the publication of the said novel it is still one of the most talked about book pertaining to the youth and the intricacies of being one.

That leads us to this matter/point:

• If you are a writer or once you published your work, is that enough? Is the interpretation left to the reader and the author need not answer any queries? Are you in any way obliged to answer and tell the circumstances and meaning of your work?

One writer in J. D. Salinger's generation -- the Pulitzer Prize Winner - novelist -- John Updike has this to say: "I attested that "the short stories of J. D. Salinger really opened my eyes as to how you can weave fiction out of a set of events that seem almost unconnected, or very lightly connected".

Louis Menand, in 2001 wrote in "The New Yorker " that --Catcher in the Rye -- rewrites" among each new generation had become -- a literary genre all its own. --

The writer -- Ms. Aimee Bender-- was struggling with her first short stories when a friend gave her a copy of "Nine Stories" and inspired, she described Salinger's effect on writers as -- explaining: --It feels like Salinger wrote "The Catcher in the Rye" in a day -- and that incredible feeling of ease inspires writing and it "Inspires the pursuit of voice".

From the guardian.co.uk website let us read what other famous authors has to say about his death and the man:

• Stephen King ---- not "a huge Salinger fan, but I'm sorry to hear of his passing – the way you'd feel if you heard an eccentric, short-tempered, but often fascinating uncle had passed away".
• Neil Gaiman -- "I loved the short stories, liked Catcher, admired his isolation and the way he stopped"
• John Hodgeman -- “I prefer to think J.D Salinger has just decided to become extra reclusive”

No matter what others say, undoubtedly, he is one of the best novelist of his genre, Thank you so much J. D. Salinger.

Thank you J. D. Salinger for the following works:

All in all, he had written fifteen (15) books, seven (7) published and anthologized stories, seventeen (17) published and unanthologized stories, five (5) unpublished and unanthologized stories.

If you want to have digital copies of his work “The New Yorker” magazine posted 12 of his work -- short stories online as a memorial tribute of the magazine or to those who subscribe at the site and log in. Go to this site.

Resources:

1. The Examiner
2. The New Yorker
3. Biography of J. D. Salinger
4. Baltimore Sun
5. Guardian.co.uk
6. York Daily Record-- York Sunday News