Author of the classic The Catcher in the Rye passed away today aged 91

A little more info here

I think the catcher had some influence in my teenage life.


But then, again, it also influenced John Hinckley.


Long Live the J.D. Salingers!

The Catcher in the Rye definitely was an influential book. Holden may have been a weird dude, but the story was still unique and profound.

We will always have Holden, but a Genius has left us.

Not to offend anyone, but I hated Catcher. I just could not get into the main character... Still, all my respect to Salinger and the influence he had worldwide.

I read The Catcher at school when some of my peers were studying it for their coursework. I got to just enjoy it without the analysis. Good book, and the German version has been sitting on my shelf for over two years now. Maybe it's time to give it a real go.

I read the book for the first time last month, which was about time I know. The thing is I didn't find it ground breaking, nor did it really change or influence me. Sure I found Holden to be a great character, with wit and humour, but I get the feeling I am missing something.

Was I too old at 27? Is there a hidden message no one told me about? Why did you find it influential?

Anyway, apologies for derailing slightly...chastise at will

I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.
– J. D. Salinger

I was actually surprised that he was still alive.

From an influential standpoint, the book remained one of the U.S.A.'s most censored books over 50 years after it publication. Ironically, it was also one of the most taught. Consider it was published in 1951. American TV couples, up until the 1960's had to sleep in different beds (even the Flintstones!) So the publication of a book with a teenager having sex with a prostitute being taught in schools was pretty ground breaking.

I consider it the first book of punk; a visceral anti-establishment narrative tearing into the fabric of th American Dream. Take his view on religion "I'm an atheist...Take the Disciples...they were alright after Jesus was dead and all, but while he was alive they were about as much use to him as a hole in the head." And the U.S. army, "He said the Army was as full of *******s as the Nazis. If he were asked to shoot he would not know in which direction."

Mostly, I think it summed up the angst that many feel living in a world of phonies where you truly don't feel part of society, nor have the desire to join. All with wit and humor.

Perhaps that's why J.D. disappeared only to surface in a eulogy.

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I no longer dance for snow.

I imagine reading it in german would be bizarre. It would be like watching a movie in german. All the flavor would be washed out.