Kenneth Slawenski: "J.D. Salinger"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-01-26/kenneth-slawenski-jd-salinger
J.D. Salinger was one of twentieth century America’s most popular and famously reclusive literary figures. A new biography offer insights into the life of JD Salinger, author of the best selling and now classic book, “The Catcher in the Rye.”
Guests
Kenneth Slawenski
biographer,
and creator of DeadCaulfields.com, founded in 2004
Comments
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Diane,
I first read The Catcher in the Rye when I was 12, and I have read it at least once a decade since. I find the outlook comforting--ironically, perhaps, for the very reason that I, like you, felt that the message is indeed that life has no meaning. The moment of recognition for me was confirmation of something I had felt my entire short life (at that time) and long life since. The absence of meaning was, and is, freeing. I think the adult hypocrisy that Holden feels so profoundly is everyone struggling to impose their meaning on others. Not coincidentally, all this occurs right after the war . . . for Holden and us.
It's so wonderful to hear a discussion of this book. Thanks.
Gloria
I, too, never enjoyed Holden, beyond feeling for his sadness. Franny (Glass) always touched me. I love/d the family in the short stories and novels, where women are portrayed with far more empathy and wry humor.
As a junior in High School I chose Salinger to do a biography on and found little information, it was an exercise in creating something from nothing. Do not remember the grade but of all the papers I did remember, and consider from time to time, this one while forgetting most of the others. I will have to visit Mr. Slaxenski's book, as his research alone stands as an outstanding achievement.
When asked about a gift idea from my daughter I told her that I would like a copy of one of my favorite books "Franny and Zooey". She bought the book, read it, and now has her own copy. A gift that really gave . . . and if anyone has never seen some of Holden in themselves they either didn't look in the mirror or had a gifted puberty.
Charlie (know the show is over, but am just saying)
PS My daughter's middle name would have been Holden had she been a son.
I am so excited to know that someone has written a book about this amazing author. I, like Ken Slawenski, read The Catcher in the Rye as a youth, and again as an adult (twice, a decade apart) and each time I read it I got something new from it. It is the saddest and most beautiful account of the realism of becoming an adult (and living as an adult in an adult world). Also like Ken, what I liked the best about it was that the character Holden Caulfield didn't hold back on his views of society. He didn't gloss anything over, and I never got the feeling that everything was going to be alright. I was so happy to read an author who saw the world as wanting to be good, but being in a constant state of confusion. I felt sorry for Holden and wished I could be his mother (as an adult and a mother myself) but I also felt the triumph of Holden in his ability to describe the world as it really exists, then, and still now. I always hoped he remained true to himself. I have the chills listening to this broadcast.
I was a runaway "preppie" in 1953 going to high school in Windsor,Vt when I first met and became friends with
Jerry Salinger.
I happened to hear Ken Slawenski on Diane Rehm's 1/26 show on N.P.R.,but was unable to call in at the time.
Since I might be able to fill in some of J.D.'s story, I would like to make contact with biographer Slawenski.
Therefore any contact info available would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,