J.D. Salinger Died

[Carnagath]

Am I supposed to give a shit about him dieing?

Yeah, a celebrity dies, big whoop we all die.
I am sad for someone to die, but It doesn't need to be on the news or anything.

No, you are not supposed to give a shit, but if you don't you are also not supposed to post in this thread in an attempt to proudly display your newfound pubescent sense of cynicism, because we certainly don't give a shit about that.

 

[Daveman]

I got through 3 hitchhikers guide books before my mum told me Douglas Adams had died years ago. Now I feel no emotion. Sadness overload.

 

[HitsWithStyxx]

I never read Catcher, or any of his books. So, I really have no opinion.

Now...If Eoin Colfer died...

This.

EDIT: But no, it's always sad when a literary giant passes away.

 

[probunk]

Aw man. He hsall be missed, his incisive writing eternally remembered.

 

[Eggsnham]

A real shame?

Like it's somehow surprising that he died, because most people don't eventually?

When humans (stupidly) idolize someone, they get sad about it when said person dies, much like if someone you were really close to were to die. It's stupid to idolize someone who doesn't know you exist, but we've all done it at some point in life, and saying you haven't just makes you look like an ass.

 

[historybuff]

[small]...they'll probably make Twilight a part of the High School curriculum in a few years; so when the author of a GOOD High School book dies, I'll find it upsetting...[/small]

It's already part of some University curriculums in Britain. The beginning of the end in my opinion.

You have to be lying. There's no way. No way. What self-respecting school anywhere would do that? Especially Britain, who has produced some of the best authors known internationally.

OT: Shame about the author. I have a soft spot for good authors when they die. For some reason, people on this thread seem to be assuming that by being a little sad about his death--you are somehow idolizing him like a celebrity or a God or something. I guess you're just not allowed to like anything or anyone.

 

[Loves2spooge]

[small]...they'll probably make Twilight a part of the High School curriculum in a few years; so when the author of a GOOD High School book dies, I'll find it upsetting...[/small]

It's already part of some University curriculums in Britain. The beginning of the end in my opinion.

http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight I think you'll enjoy this

This. Is. Brilliant.

[small]...they'll probably make Twilight a part of the High School curriculum in a few years; so when the author of a GOOD High School book dies, I'll find it upsetting...[/small]

It's already part of some University curriculums in Britain. The beginning of the end in my opinion.

You have to be lying. There's no way. No way. What self-respecting school anywhere would do that? Especially Britain, who has produced some of the best authors known internationally.

OT: Shame about the author. I have a soft spot for good authors when they die. For some reason, people on this thread seem to be assuming that by being a little sad about his death--you are somehow idolizing him like a celebrity or a God or something. I guess you're just not allowed to like anything or anyone.

I kid you not, a friend of mine at Leeds University's had to read it. She's studied modern literature like Lionel Shriver and Douglas Coupland, but that horrible drivel managed to get on the list too.

And trust me, the best selling books in this country for the past few years have been ghost written auto-biographies of C-list celebrities. Good authors are a dying breed here. I should know, I'm trying to get published myself!

 

[Owlslayer]

i actually read it too, but only because i had to. I didn't like it much, and didn't really understand the point. I think i had to read it last year, in 10th grade, when was 16 or so...
And i guess it was quite an impressive book , because we didn't read a lot of books from American writers at that time( I'm guessing he IS American, is he ?), we were more focused on European writers. I guess he really did write something good. I guess what's gold for one is something worthless, and i am not some kind of a book critic.

However, 91, you say... that is a hell of a long life.

 

[Motakikurushi]

I'll certainly miss him, but my memory of 'The Catcher in the Rye' and how it perfectly portrayed the torment adolescents experience as they try and find meaning in a cruel and unwelcoming society will remain with me forever.

Oh, and for all you who haven't read 'Catcher', he came up with this phrase:
"I thought what I'd do was I'd pretend I was one of those blind-deaf mutes"

RIP

 

[Soxafloppin]

I read 'Of Mice and Men' while the other class read 'Catcher in the rye'

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

A real shame?

Like it's somehow surprising that he died, because most people don't eventually?

When humans (stupidly) idolize someone, they get sad about it when said person dies, much like if someone you were really close to were to die. It's stupid to idolize someone who doesn't know you exist, but we've all done it at some point in life, and saying you haven't just makes you look like an ass.

ITT: People who think they're better than everybody else get together and mock us mere mortals who care that an influential writer died.

 

[Burningsok]

Never read any of his books, but hey; gotta give Respect to the guy he is a well known Novel writer

R.I.P Mr. Salinger... rest in peace "tips hat"

 

[Go Fighting In The War Room]

I found this out at lunch.

I then told my English Teacher.

I've never seen a teacher cry until now...

 

[Nadlice]

Damn... Now I wish I had read more then Catcher when he was alive...

Although there is no reason to wish that, I still do. Pity he's gone though... good writers are a valued commodity theses days.

 

[Queen Michael]

Oh man. Why is it that the death of every celebrity the work of whom I enjoy is reported to me here? And he had to go and die just whe I'm reading The Catcher in the Rye for the third time, too.

 

[Eggsnham]

A real shame?

Like it's somehow surprising that he died, because most people don't eventually?

When humans (stupidly) idolize someone, they get sad about it when said person dies, much like if someone you were really close to were to die. It's stupid to idolize someone who doesn't know you exist, but we've all done it at some point in life, and saying you haven't just makes you look like an ass.

ITT: People who think they're better than everybody else get together and mock us mere mortals who care that an influential writer died.

I'm not mocking anyone, it's stupid to hold celebrities and the such to higher levels than say a best friend, but we've all done it with someone. I'm not mocking anyone. I'm mocking everyone.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

RIP J.D Salinger. I only wish that I had read The Catcher in the Rye during my conformist high school years; but of course a conservative Christian private school wouldn't put anything so controversial on our reading list.

For those people who have taken this occasion as an inappropriate excuse to bash the book; it's fine that you didn't enjoy it, you are of course entitled to your opinion. But don't deny it the literary and cultural significance it deserves; it tapped right into a growing social agitation among the youth of postwar America, and remains one of the finest examples of intense, first person discourse. I personally hate Wordsworth and Coleridge, but I would never deny that Lyrical Ballads is one of the most influential publications of all time.