Phenomenon of JD Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye

JD Salinger an appealing author has caught the attention of many readers with his novel The Catcher in the Rye. The Catcher in the Rye has been considered one of the best novels written to date. JD Salinger uses the narrator to draw in his audience, and draw us in he does. Holden is intriguing, annoying, naive, and understandable all in one. When interviewed about Holden, JD Salinger has said that Holden has no direct relation to him, but he could relate to the character (after all what author can’t). He was also extremely annoyed with people’s attempts at autobiographies, interviews and invasions on his personal life. JD Salinger’s book was in such high demand that readers were writing him and beginning for another book. But Mr. Salinger said quote “"He said, 'I refuse to publish”. “There’s a marvelous peace in not publishing,' he said. 'There's stillness. When you publish, the world thinks you owe something. If you don't publish, they don't know what you're doing. You can keep it for yourself.'

I think that Mr. Salinger was just seeking refuge and freedom in his writing. Writing was his way to escape the cares and worries of the world around him and because his fans and readers enjoyed his writings so much they drove his love for writing as an art and an appreciation to a personal invested and selfish act. This is supported by what he says in and interview "Holden's indignation, his sense of the world, really struck a nerve," he explains. "Everybody carries with them the impulse to say no. [It's] the dissident impulse that is powerful in American culture and literature."

When the book was first written readers, bloggers, journalist and ordinary Joes and Sally’s either loved it or hated it. Many Catholics viewed the book as a vulgar and a lack of use of literary time when it was published in the mid 1900’s. Others were absolutely infatuated with the novel. People viewed JD Salinger as a society hermit and others viewed him as a writing genius. Either way his book definitely left an imprint in the social and literary society of then and now.

http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/13/specials/salinger-speaks.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114186193

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ro-Sc/Salinger-J-D.html

http://www.levity.com/corduroy/salinger1.htm

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/context.html