Of course it had to happen. And maybe he's glad it did. But it still makes me sad. Very. Like another one of the necessary voices is gone. (How many can we afford to lose?) As the obit says (NYT, "J.D. Salinger, Literary Recluse, Dies at 91"), paraphrasing Janet Malcolm's article for the New York Review of Books, "That the Glasses (and, by implication, their creator) were not at home in the world was the whole point...and it said as much about the world as about the kind of people who failed to get along there."
It feels like another goddam perfect day for bananafish.
A sad day for Bananafish. You know, I was so sad yesterday I didn't even think of posting. Cean is perhaps Jerry Salinger's biggest, sweetest fan of all. And for the last two years I've always signed my emails to her 'Esme'. Today is honestly a day for both love, and squalor. A beautiful writer, regardless what age, gone.
ReplyDeleteTonight I'm going to read all 9 Stories in bed with hopefully a glass or bottle of something. If I can ever get out of this editing suite.....jannie
Salinger meant so much to me.. a tremendous writer, amazing mind. Inspirational on so many levels. Not at home in the world... yes indeed, how could he be? I can relate. -Anna
ReplyDeleteMe too.
ReplyDelete