catcher in the rye

“I hope to hell that when I do die somebody has the sense to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in a goddam cemetary. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your stomach on Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody.” (Salinger)

J.D. Salinger, writer of one of my favorite books "Franny & Zooey",

died today at the age of 91. he started writing short stories for the New Yorker Magazine

right after WO II and is mostly famous for his novel "The Catcher in the Rye",

a book that influenced a lot of readers. just like the protagonist of this book, Holden Caulfield,

Salinger was more and more alienating from the phony society.

When in december 1980 a copy of "The Catcher in the Rye" is found in the pocket of John Lennon's assassinator Mark David Chapman, with "To Holden Caulfield. From Holden Caulfield. this is my statement" written inside (Chapman claims John Lennon is a phony for giving up on the Beatles, because of Yoko Ono), the impact on Salinger is huge, he feels partially responsible for influencing Chapman and becomes even more reclusive. he will live withdrawn from society till his death. Franny & Zooey is a masterpiece to me. With great characters who, both in different ways, represent 'the unbearable lightness of being' middle class americans. just like Hemingway, the world to Salinger exists out of enemies and allies.

Café de Flore

I went for a stroll today, falling in love with this city again.

Wich I could have been here in the 40's.

When Albert Camus, Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir where having coffee at Café de Flore,

discussing love, art and politics. I brought the Figaro magazine issue on Noble prize winner Albert Camus along. Passionate about everything he did and believed in, I wonder if people like that still excist.

I looked around in Café Flore, a young fashionista is reading Vogue magazine,

maybe hoping to see Kate Moss, who's a regular at the Café de Flore now.

My café crême is served in the same cups as the ones Simone de Beauvoir took a sip of while writing for "Les temps modernes"

I look again and see an old man, writing, next to him a lady eating a croissant. 

He looks at me, then at my Figaro magazine with Camus on the cover.

"ah oui les temps ont changés" times have changed.

ain't love grand

She'll only break your heart, it's a fact. And even though I warn you, even though I guarantee you that the girl will only hurt you terribly, you'll still pursue her. Ain't love grand?

Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

drawing: Fransesco Clemente