Thursday 28 January 2010

Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.

J.D. Salinger died today.

Catcher in the Rye is one of the books that made me want to be a writer. If ever a book had 'voice' this is IT! Holden Caulfield has to be one of the most convincing teenagers ever created.
Check this out for an opening -

'If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.'

I'll see your Dickens, and I'll raise you...

You just know it's going to be good from that first sentence.

So thanks, J.D., and goodnight. Perhaps Holden could end for me -

'I hope to hell when I do die somebody has sense enough to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in the goddam cemetery. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your stomach on a Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody.'

Quite.

2 comments:

Musings of a Melodramatic Teenager said...

I definitely agree. Catcher in the Rye was easily the best book I've had to read for school. Holden's voice has managed to be timeless. Though the book was written forever ago it is still easy to relate to. I really enjoy your blog (I am an aspiring writer) so please continue the good work, and I will continue reading.

claires inner world said...

Thanks for your comment, and I will come on over some time and have a look at your blog!