Yes, I did think that I was reading an actual J.D. Salinger novel (the one my mom so highly recommended) when I picked this up hurriedly from the basement storage room before I embarked for New York (you can tell the classical stack I’m listening to is making me feel intellectual). Though this was mostly padding for my reading challenge, a series of analytical takes on the impact of the written word on one’s world perspective did happen to coincide with my own shifting approach to daily life with the start of my gap year.

Kotzen’s mention in the Introduction that the writers were given carte blanche is obvious in the reading. The scope of styles and intentions is broad, ranging from literary analysis to self-reflection. Perhaps my favorite is “Franny and Amy,” by Amy Sohn, a piece I assume is creative non-fiction in the guise of fiction, with consistent allusions to Salinger’s story “Franny.”

Most are easy reads, with at least one of them being overly erudite and occasionally convoluted (I think it was D'Ambrosio's "Salinger and Sobs"). Several of the selections qualify as "meandering," but this doesn't usually decrease enjoyment. Overall, it was fun to read different perspectives on the value and significance of Salinger and to be reminded of details from his four published books. The general consensus acknowledges that Salinger has both value and significance but that these qualities are either limited to a particular period of one’s life or dependent on a re-evaluation that places his weaknesses and the problems with his works alongside their substantial appeal. Additionally, the primary point of discussion/debate regarding Salinger’s work seems to be whether his focus on a child’s world and perspective is worthy of unfettered acclamation or is simply indicative of a lack of writerly and philosophical maturity.

Interestingly, though this collection was published in 2001 and features some of the “most vital voices in the contemporary American fiction scene” at the time (most of them young), I recognized only one name, Jane Mendelsohn. This may reveal more about my knowledge of contemporary American writers than it does about the level of success these writers have gone on to achieve, but I find it curious nonetheless. I haven’t checked to see how their careers developed, but I intend to.

I've loved Salinger since I read The Catcher in the Rye and A Perfect Day for Bananafish and did an assignment where I rewrote the latter in the first person. Salinger's characters are very much alive for me. Their voices are so vivid, so when I stumbled upon this book at my used bookstore I decided to try it even though I don't usually read much outside the realms of fiction.

I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed it. It was light and easy reading, but still thoughtful. Of course, some of the chapters were more interesting than others (I especially liked the one about the girl that went on a date and the one about the woman who wanted to write the female Catcher in the Rye) but overall it was never too dull for too long. I really enjoyed the writing style of most of the writers who contributed even though I'd never heard of any of them before. I'd like to check out some of their work now.

I appreciated that even though I loved Salinger they included responses from some writers who were less than thrilled with Salinger's work.

My personal favorite is The Salinger Weather by Thomas Beller

my first experience with salinger was when I read 'catcher' in 8th grade. It made me feel understood. I had the same experience with this book. All of these authors explaining how they are haunted, nee, STALKED into re-reading salinger (esp. seymour) and how their lives have changed because of it. Made me feel in "the club" for once.

I thought that Salinger critics had nothing more to add (having read many of them), until I read this book. Particularly loved the essays by Charles D'Ambrosio and Jane Mendelsohn.

If you’re a HUGE fan of Salinger, you might dig this collection…then again, it may also piss you off so irrevocably that you end up using the book as a projectile weapon. Some of the essays are more successful than others (especially the shorter ones), while others (notably Charles D’Ambrosio and Emma Forrest) where simply to long, sad and boring (D’Ambrosio…I feel that you’re brother committed suicide, please tell YOUR story now!) or self-absorbed and arrogant (Forrest: princess, you don’t speak for my generation, so shut it…and talking about the “authenticity” of JT Leroy was too perfect to be true). While the idea is a great one, I think the execution was a little tired and disconnected.

Excellent contemporary thoughts on Salinger's work, mostly about how each author's life was touched by his words. Nice to see Salinger remaining relevant to modern writers.

embarrassing

I really enjoyed reading this. If your a Salinger fan then I'd suggest reading this. The stories in the book are great, and it's nice to feel a connection to an author.

embarrassing

I feel like a bit of a yuppie for reading a book of essays about JD Salinger and his published works... but I have been such a saturated fan for so many years that I wanted to see what sort of things other people had to say about him and his characters. I was surprised to learn a LOT of people don't like him or his books, and while reading these other author's attitudes I couldn't help but shake my head in disgust and say aloud to the empty room "horse shit". The best part about that is on the 4th essay some previous reader wrote the actual words "horse shit" at the top.

Some of the essays were lovely and pointed out things I had never noticed before in Salinger books. For example there's this very cute part in the short story "Perfect Day For Bananafish" from "Nine Stories" where this little kid named Sybil is talking to adult Seymour::::

"'Do you like wax?' Sybil asked.
'Do I like what?' asked the young man.
'Wax.'
'Very much. Don't you?'
Sybil nodded. 'Do you like olives?' she asked.
'Olives--yes. Olives and wax. I never go any place without 'em'"

The author of this particular essay goes on to say how Salinger only appreciated children because they appreciated things as they were in the simplest of terms. Not wax for its useful yet dull role in candles, and not olives as defined by their garnishing responsibilities in a martini, for example. According to Salinger, adults were less innocent and sincere; they were just a bunch of "phonies" because "...[adults] had not only lost the ability to value wax and olives, but knew it." There were a few little tidbits here and there throughout the 14* essays that I sort of liked, but the aforementioned one is the only one I marked and took note of.