J.D. Salinger, the author of Catcher in the Rye died this week. I was a twelve-year-old living in the mountains of North Carolina when I first read the book, and I'm not sure I realized what a lasting impression it had made on me until I was a junior or senior in college. A college in New York City, I might add, not far from Holden Caulfield's stomping grounds. Anyone who's ever read my Kiki books knows I'm not a big believer in coincidence.
I must admit, I wasn't terribly upset by Salinger's death. He was, after all, quite old, and we all have to go sometime. However, I was surprised to find how many journalists took the opportunity to give his legacy a kick in the pants. It's almost like they'd been waiting with copies of his books and a can of gasoline hidden behind their backs.
My curiosity piqued, I took the time to read a few online reviews of Catcher in the Rye. Here's one . . .
"J.D. Salinger's style is redundant, his characters are unlikable, and the unrealistic episodes our protagonist engages in reek of bad sitcom humor and denouements."
She's talking about a book that--like it or not--changed YA literature forever. Kinda puts things into perspective. We're all entitled to our own opinions. But it's important to remember that sometimes our opinions are wrong.
20 comments:
Gosh, some people are so rude! I mean, if someone dies you cant go and bad mouth them!
Yes, sometime people's opinions are wrong. Nevertheless, sometimes it is those very opinions that change the way we think.
People's ideas can be completely and utterly wrong, but sometimes its is those ideas that lead us to the right ideas by the people who oppose the idea.
I didn't know he died!
I live very close to Cornish, where he lived. He was... Weird, but that gives people no right to badmouth an author who truly changed YA literature!
personally i loved that book it was the only required reading i actually liked!!! and there is a line between voicing your opinion and just being rude. it seems like these critics have just waited untill he couldnt defend his book to critique it
i hate when people do that to authors speaking of that PPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE give us a clue even a little 1 about the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll CRY! HELP A FELLOW NORTH CAROLINA GIRL OUT!!!! :c :(
As with many visionaries and true genius, the little decriers always hide in the background, trying to get their word in. The Catcher in the Rye is an extraordinary work and J D Salinger an extraordinary man. Journalists and Americans in general should learn to respect their dead.
I've never read his book, but the day after he died I found a really rude newspaper article in the chicago tribune.
Saying what a great book it is would not get the reporter or newspaper any publicity. Saying what an awful book it is however will.
my parents aid they loved the book! and j.d. salinger
what's the book about?
Reel Dancer
God I'm Reading catcher in the rye and I love it! It's totaly life changing! John may be weird but he modernized the way we think of the ya books! He is in a way one of my heros! How anyone could burn him like that is rude!
Reel dancer- it's about a teen punk who is expelled from his school and he runs away to new York city.
hahah I absolutely detested Holden and disliked the book when I read it.
then I realized how exactly like Holden I was. I still hate him :P
I consider Salinger lucky; it was a completely painless, natural death. You never hear about them anymore and it's making me paranoid :P
I read 'Catcher in the Rye' about two years ago and I didn't fall in love with it or have it down as one of my favourite books. For me, it was just another story. Wirtten quite a long time ago. But nontheless, YA Lit.
But people really shouldn't badmouth someone, especially after they've died.
I believe it's about a teenage rebel.
You'd think that people would have more respect for the dead. Especially one that has created such an impact.
I'm a bit surprised people consider that "young adult", as it deals with subjects people think are "too old" for kids.
(That sort of stuff really gets me. It makes kids seem stupid and totally dependent.)
meanies... this just proves that the people were scared of him or that they tried to pretend to love his book like everyone else ans when he died gave up the charade, havent read it yet though
Thumb Biter: Yes, I can see the resemblance. Heh heh.
I've heard that the book is really good, and it is on my list of books to read.
But if people do not enjoy it, they shouldn't speak about the book or the author in a negative manner, because there are many people in the world who have opinions that are completely different. It is quite selfish to tell people that the book is horrible, without giving them a chance to make their own decision.
However rude they may be to lash out at him after he just passed away, keep in mind that no one's opinions are ever WRONG. Everyone thinks differently. Just leave it at that.
Personally, I haven't ever read the entire book, so I don't know what to say. I started reading it once, but I couldn't finish it because I had to return it to the library. And I've never had the motivation to pick it up ever again. Maybe sometime in the future I will, but right now I just don't really care. Let me put it this way: it just didn't grab me enough.
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