One of my favorite writers, J.D. Salinger, passed away today at 91.
For years, his short stories have guided my writing because, to me, he is one of the most skilled, precise writers I have ever read. The way he crafted just a few sentences had more detail, voice and purpose than most writers ever dream of producing.
His love affair with his characters, particularly the Glass family, is also something that not many writers are willing to do nowadays. He invested time and patience into crafting fiction, not simply spitting out ideas onto a page and calling it fiction.
Mr. Salinger he remained a private person who cared about his craft so much that he protected his work, which is another trait I admire him for.
We, in the literary world, lost a great writer today. So if you want to honor his memory, do yourself a favor and just read him. I suggest starting with my two favorite short stories in the collection "Nine Stories," which are: A Perfect Day for a Bananafish and Teddy.
Showing posts with label J.D. Salinger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J.D. Salinger. Show all posts
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Is J.D. Salinger Still Writing?
According to the Galley Cat blog, all of the frenzied talk about J.D. Salinger suing the writer, publisher and distributor of the unauthorized sequel to "The Catcher in the Rye, prompted the grand question we all want to know: What has Salinger been doing these last 44 years?
We all know Salinger is reclusive and values his privacy, Galley cat said he hasn't had a published anything since 1965, but has he still been writing?
In an 1974 interview with The New York Times Salinger said, "I'm known as a strange, aloof kind of man. But all I'm doing is trying to protect myself and my work."
The interview tried to delve into the reasons why he was silent for 20 years -- he values his privacy -- so much so that he opts to not publish the writing he creates daily.
"There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It's peaceful. Still. Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure," Salinger said.
From this 25-year-old excerpt, we can assume that he may still continue to write, but author and journalist Ron Rosenbaum wonders if we will see any of his work during our lifetimes -- even after Salinger is gone (because of the privacy Salinger uses to protect all of his works).
"It's pretty remarkable—amazing, isn't it, when you think about it—that he stopped publishing when he was only 46, half a lifetime ago. He stopped publishing but may not have stopped writing," Rosenbaum said.
For all we know," Rosenbaum added, "he may be withholding what will turn out to be the eighth wonder of American letters. Or not."
We all know Salinger is reclusive and values his privacy, Galley cat said he hasn't had a published anything since 1965, but has he still been writing?
In an 1974 interview with The New York Times Salinger said, "I'm known as a strange, aloof kind of man. But all I'm doing is trying to protect myself and my work."
The interview tried to delve into the reasons why he was silent for 20 years -- he values his privacy -- so much so that he opts to not publish the writing he creates daily.
"There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It's peaceful. Still. Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure," Salinger said.
From this 25-year-old excerpt, we can assume that he may still continue to write, but author and journalist Ron Rosenbaum wonders if we will see any of his work during our lifetimes -- even after Salinger is gone (because of the privacy Salinger uses to protect all of his works).
"It's pretty remarkable—amazing, isn't it, when you think about it—that he stopped publishing when he was only 46, half a lifetime ago. He stopped publishing but may not have stopped writing," Rosenbaum said.
For all we know," Rosenbaum added, "he may be withholding what will turn out to be the eighth wonder of American letters. Or not."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
"Catcher in the Rye" Author Files Injunction Against Sequel
On Monday, famed author J.D. Salinger filed an injunction against the publisher, author and distributor of the sequel to Salinger's classic, "The Catcher in the Rye."
According to an article on mediabistro's Web site, the sequel "60 Years Later Coming Through the Rye," was co-written by John David California and one of his publishers at Nicotext. The article continues to explain that a defense to Salinger's injunction could be that California and publishers were simply parodying Salinger's novel.
But in an AP article, Salinger's lawyer responds to that claim, "The Sequel is not a parody and it does not comment upon or criticize the original ... It is a ripoff pure and simple."
The sequel, which is dedicated to Salinger, features a 76-year-old "Mr. C" who all readers recognize as the aged misanthropic youth, Holden Caulfield. Mr. C escapes the nursing home and hits the streets of New York, which is similar to the plot of the original book -- minus the age and nursing home.
Salinger, a critically acclaimed American author, is known to be highly private of his personal life and also highly protective of his work. The AP article said that Salinger has filed injunctions and sued on four separate occasions (including the current injunction), and has turned down film rights requests from Harvey Weinstein and Steven Spielberg to make "The Catcher in the Rye" into movies.
And anyone who has read the book knows what that Holden would call anyone attempting to make money from the commercialization of the book would of course be -- phonies.
According to an article on mediabistro's Web site, the sequel "60 Years Later Coming Through the Rye," was co-written by John David California and one of his publishers at Nicotext. The article continues to explain that a defense to Salinger's injunction could be that California and publishers were simply parodying Salinger's novel.
But in an AP article, Salinger's lawyer responds to that claim, "The Sequel is not a parody and it does not comment upon or criticize the original ... It is a ripoff pure and simple."
The sequel, which is dedicated to Salinger, features a 76-year-old "Mr. C" who all readers recognize as the aged misanthropic youth, Holden Caulfield. Mr. C escapes the nursing home and hits the streets of New York, which is similar to the plot of the original book -- minus the age and nursing home.
Salinger, a critically acclaimed American author, is known to be highly private of his personal life and also highly protective of his work. The AP article said that Salinger has filed injunctions and sued on four separate occasions (including the current injunction), and has turned down film rights requests from Harvey Weinstein and Steven Spielberg to make "The Catcher in the Rye" into movies.
And anyone who has read the book knows what that Holden would call anyone attempting to make money from the commercialization of the book would of course be -- phonies.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sequel to "The Catcher in the Rye" a Hoax?
On the count of three, all good literati will sneer at the idea of a sequel to J.D. Salinger's classic, "The Catcher in the Rye."
One...two...three...SNEER!
Well, at least that is what the proposed publishers, Nicotext believe the "literati" will do at this idea. And why shouldn't we? Hacking apart a classic is like urinating in the holy water -- you just don't do that. Period.
According to BookSeller.com, the book will be out sometime in June, while other reports say the release date is in the fall and that this may simply be a hoax. If it is or not, 90-year-old Salinger has his literary agent talking to lawyers about this potential sequel.
Whether the sequel is published or not, it won't be a serious fiction or even formulaic genre fiction, which is safe to say after examining some of Nicotext's publications: "Dirty Movie Quote Book," "Wasting Time," "Erotic A-Z" and "The Macho Man's Point to it Book" to name a few.
This book is probably a rouse, but regardless, it has stirred up people attached to the original book and people who love to read classics.
Although ripping off the classics seem to be a growing trend. For example, the fascination authors have to continuously build from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, which has spawned too many recreations and disenchanted sequels (i.e. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahme-Smith, "Mr. Darcy's Diary" by Amanda Grange, "Duty and Desire (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman Trilogy)" by Pamela Aidan and many more).
One...two...three...SNEER!
Well, at least that is what the proposed publishers, Nicotext believe the "literati" will do at this idea. And why shouldn't we? Hacking apart a classic is like urinating in the holy water -- you just don't do that. Period.
According to BookSeller.com, the book will be out sometime in June, while other reports say the release date is in the fall and that this may simply be a hoax. If it is or not, 90-year-old Salinger has his literary agent talking to lawyers about this potential sequel.
Whether the sequel is published or not, it won't be a serious fiction or even formulaic genre fiction, which is safe to say after examining some of Nicotext's publications: "Dirty Movie Quote Book," "Wasting Time," "Erotic A-Z" and "The Macho Man's Point to it Book" to name a few.
This book is probably a rouse, but regardless, it has stirred up people attached to the original book and people who love to read classics.
Although ripping off the classics seem to be a growing trend. For example, the fascination authors have to continuously build from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, which has spawned too many recreations and disenchanted sequels (i.e. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahme-Smith, "Mr. Darcy's Diary" by Amanda Grange, "Duty and Desire (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman Trilogy)" by Pamela Aidan and many more).
But this is only one instance, there have been prequels and sequels to numerous classics, including more by Austen "Sense and Sensibility" and the Sherlock Holmes Series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
It begs the question: why add to the sequel when the result subtracts from its original appeal?
If you or anyone you know wants to write a prequel or sequel to any classic book, tell them no. Friends don't let friends ruin classics or tarnish their names by writing rubbish.
More to come about "The Catcher in the Rye" sequel soon.
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