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 he will live withdrawn from society till his death.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.