RIP JD Salinger

In which John reads from the J. D. Salinger novel The Catcher in the Rye in tribute to Salinger, who died today at the age of 91. Having done so, I now immediately return to paternity leave. Like all novelists who write about teenagers, I owe an immense debt to Salinger--not only because of Holden Caulfield but also because of the hauntingly beautiful portraits of the Glass family.

Thank you all for your kind wishes for young Henry, who is made of awesome.

Category:

Education

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[EqGib]

i had a helluva time watching this goddam video. It killed me.

[dimplexxify]

"It wasn't crazy. And that's what you were for millions of us"

that almost brought me to tears

[clappsadle]

Always makes me cry, this one.

[shellybirdy]

brilliant video

[4mayZing]

1. that was beautiful

2. the day after i finished this book for the first time, J.D. Salinger died.

[thetypewriterisholy]

John, have you read the Salinger biography that came out in 2011? By Kenneth Slawenski? It's really phenomenal.

[randobanana]

I love your voice over/ reading voice

[azerskater]

@EqGib it was kind of phony

[paulisnatis]

@dimplexxify almost?

[blondybash321]

Holden wanted those children to maintain their innocence. He didn't want them to know about the "phoniness" and "fuck you" in the adult world. He would catch them from that stage of growing up and place them back in the rye field where they could romp and play and just be a KID.

[heyitskimmyk]

this video killed me.

[suburiboy]

disliking this video is factually inaccurate.