J.D. Salinger, 'Catcher in the Rye' Author, Dies at 91 - TIME


I have to say that probably the only writer in the world of American literature (oxymoron) who will survive the test of time.


R.I.P J.D.

[Blue]

I heard about it today on several radio stations including NPR. Its always a bit sad when an icon dies.

I fail to get the dig against American authors. Sinclair Lewis, Sam Clemens, Ray Bradbury, and Michael Crichton are a few that come to mind as well as Henry David Thoreau, R. W. Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Melville & Poe.

I heard about it today on several radio stations including NPR. Its always a bit sad when an icon dies.

I fail to get the dig against American authors. Sinclair Lewis, Sam Clemens, Ray Bradbury, and Michael Crichton are a few that come to mind as well as Henry David Thoreau, R. W. Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Melville & Poe.

What about Longfellow?

[Blue]

What about Longfellow?

He and Frost were poets. We have a vintage 1893 copy of Longfellow next to some 150-170 year old entomology books.

He and Frost were poets. We have a vintage 1893 copy of Longfellow next to some 150-170 year old entomology books.

I give on that one. Although he and Hawthorne were lifelong friends.

What about Washington Irving?

I give on that one. Although he and Hawthorne were lifelong friends.

What about Washington Irving?

Or John.

[RawheaD]

Wait, WTF?

With no disrespect to Salinger––but WTF?

Hemingway? Poe? Twain? Give me a break.

[causey]

Faulkner, too.

I give on that one. Although he and Hawthorne were lifelong friends.

What about Washington Irving?

What about Irving Washington?? Joseph Heller said that.

[Ratmagiclady]

I hadn't known he was still alive, actually, ....Guess he deliberately went to live in obscurity. I heard an interesting speculation that perhaps he didn't stop writing, just stopped publishing cause he didn't like the attention: Which makes me wonder if there mightn't be some unpublished works that have been waiting until he passed. Wouldn't that really be something?

[deadwolfbones]

I have to say that probably the only writer in the world of American literature (oxymoron) who will survive the test of time.

Wow, really?

No offense to Salinger--I really liked what I've read of his work--but I think you need to read more.

edit: and lol @ Blue throwing Crichton in there.

Some other great American authors:

Pynchon
Barthelme
McCarthy
Gaddis
Markson
Delillo
Roth
Miller
Cheever
Mailer
Fitzgerald
etc etc etc

Wow, really?

No offense, I really liked what I've read of Salinger's work, but I think you need to read more.

And to think we actually agree on something. You better cut this out.

[deadwolfbones]

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

[Blue]

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

I was wondering if anyone would catch me sliding Crichton in there. I figured since he died in Nov 2008 it wouldn't hurt. He was prolific and many of his books were turned into some blockbuster screen plays by him no less. He could be sloppy at times but I still rank him ahead of Ray Bradbury who was one of my favorite Sci Fi authors along with H.G. Wells and Jules Verne.

Salinger opened up a genre and was one of the greats. However, Sinclair Lewis should make the cut on any literature list as well as some of the others mentioned in this thread.

[deadwolfbones]

I just posted a silly response where I accused you of being a Socialist sympathizer because I confused Sinclair Lewis with Upton Sinclair.

How embarrassing!