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J.D. Salinger 1919-2010. “I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I s uspect people of plotting to make me happy.”. Seeds of Discontent. 1919: Jerome David Salinger was born in New York City on January 1.
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J.D. Salinger1919-2010 “I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.”
Seeds of Discontent • 1919: Jerome David Salinger was born in New York City on January 1. • 1932: The Salinger Family moved to Park Avenue. JD was enrolled in the McBurney School, a private high school where he was captain of the fencing team. • 1942: Salinger entered the US Army • 1944: Salinger participated in the D-Day invasion
Creating Holden • 1946:Salingerreturned to the United States. He finished and submitted original version of The Catcher in the Rye as a 90 page novella. Dissatisfied, he withdrew the book and began to rework it. • 1951:The Catcher in the Rye was published. The novel quickly topped The New York Times Bestseller list
The Catcher Controversy • Since its publication, The Catcher in the Rye has been a favorite target of censors. • As early as 1963, a delegation of parents of high school students in Columbus, Ohio asked the school board to ban the novel for being “anti-white” and “obscene.” • As recently as 2001, the book was removed by a school district in South Caroling because it "is a filthy, filthy book."
“The Last Private Person in America” • During the 1950s and 1960s Salinger was one of the most widely discussed and influential authors in the US. But as his celebrity grew, he withdrew from the limelight. • Growing increasingly hostile to the New York publishing world, in 1953 Salinger moved to the small New Hampshire village of Cornish where he lived until his death in 2010. • Salinger did not publish any other books since 1963, but many wonder if he spent the last 45 years of his life writing.
What the novel’s about… • Set a few years after WWII, the novel begins with Holden Caulfield failing out of yet another prep school. He decides to leave school a few days early before his parents know he’s been kicked out again, so he heads to his hometown of NYC and spends a few days hanging out, traveling around, and meeting new people…
But it’s not quote that simple • Ostensibly just about Holden (who whines and complains a lot) in NYC, but this isn’t just another journey story. It quickly becomes clear that Holden is awash with emotions: anger, sadness, and moments of joy. • As he tells his story it’s revealed that a lot of his pain and confusion stem from the recent death of his younger brother, Allie.
Holden on the Brink • He’s struggling with a lot…on the edge between being a child and being an adult, Holden is having a hard time understanding why it’s worth growing up. • Like all of us he questions the point of life and why people act the way they do… • Look at his mood swings, musings, fixations, and try to figure out what is wrong and what is right with Holden Caulfield.