RIP J.D. Salinger

Jerome David Salinger

Man. I knew this day would have to come soon. I didn't know whether I would care when it did. Salinger's work had a huge impact on me when I was an adolescent. Catcher in the Rye was the novel that sparked my interest in literature. I first read it when I was a freshman in high school (which is the perfect time to read that book). It grabbed me in a way that nothing before it had, I connected on an emotional level with the novel's protagonist (Holden Caulfield). I am saddened at his death. I'm fairly certain that I've read the majority of his published work, and I always loved reading the little details about the Glass family of whatever mundane things his characters were doing. He really could write the hell out of some characters. The positive in this? Perhaps those legendary stacks of work that are in his New England home will now be printed. On the other side, Salinger notoriously hated the cinema. I always thought that might stem from the fact that his wife cheated on him with Charlie Chaplin while J.D. was at war. To add insult to injury, J.D.'s son became a c-grade actor (see: Captain America). Anyway, his disdain for film led him to allow but one cinematic release of his work (My Foolish Heart), but now that he's gone we may see a whole crop of Salinger movies. Catcher in the Rye would be the obvious capper. I happen to love the cinema, but I also have respect for the artist's wishes in regards to his work. We'll see what happens.

Salinger was 91 years old.