Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

OK: J.D. Salinger...

58 replies

Medea · 03/01/2009 19:53

Why do so many mumsnettersand British people in generalseem to dislike him?

I'm obsessed with his books and read them again and again, particularly 9 Stories and Franny & Zooey. He turned 90 last week; he's still in seclusion; I'm just DYING to know if he has some manuscripts locked away in a safe.

But everytime he's turned up on the adult fiction mumsnet topic he gets slated. Would love to know what you object to...

OP posts:
Mercy · 03/01/2009 21:28

Salinger's books are fab imo.

For Esme with Love and Squalor is a lesser known book but I likl it.

I think of CITR as a precursor to Amis' 'The Rachel Papers' and indeed many teenage novels. Ditto Skinhead/Suedehead. Or even Tracey Beaker.

Fillyjonk · 03/01/2009 21:25

don't think i'd waste good speed on it astra

its a teenage boy thing

Threadworm · 03/01/2009 21:20

Perhaps I only liked it because I was a wingey teenager when I read him. Think I need to take another look.

janeite · 03/01/2009 21:19

I agree with the assertion that it's whingy teenage stuff tbh. Although I have only read CITR, For Esme.... and F&Z to base this thinking on.

southeastastra · 03/01/2009 21:19

best read when you're out of your mind on dope and speed

Tortington · 03/01/2009 21:15

i read cathcer a few months ago - it was truly the biggest pile of wank i had ever read.

totally adds tot he shooting after reading it credentials - i wanted to bloody throttle someone after wasting hours on that

Fillyjonk · 03/01/2009 21:11

Have you read his biography by his daughter Margaret? Its interesting.

I think his stuff is just rather trite really, and very self indulgent. I loved franny and zooey when I was about 15, and still have a copy that reeks of golden virginia, but tried to re-read it recently-its whingy teenage stuff, it really is.(the book btw, not the lovely MN poster )

I do think his short stories (for esme.../raise high the roof beans) are very good, though a close reading of for esme...suggests that nearly every bloody atory in the is about the stunningly up-their-own-arses Glass family.

ScottishMummy · 03/01/2009 21:07

haver never heard salinger is object of derision.i like his work

southeastastra · 03/01/2009 21:06

american beat poets always came across as being loopy maybe

Threadworm · 03/01/2009 21:05

Is it really true that lots of Brits hate Salinger? I think he is fabulous. Haven't read the Glass family though.

southeastastra · 03/01/2009 21:02

i read catcher in the rye when i was about 21 i liked it in a far out trippy sort of book. like pink floyd

Jux · 03/01/2009 21:00

Oh that did make me grin Bluestocking. Great link and I've bookmarked it. Thanks.

Bluestocking · 03/01/2009 20:55

I loved CITR as a teen and would probably still enjoy it now - I must confess I found the Glasses a bit much but I do admire JDS's amazing craftsmanship as a writer. Medea, you might also like/be interested in this parody of CITR!

Original poster
Medea · 03/01/2009 20:44

Bluestocking thanks so much for pointing out the Guardian article + blog; I look forward to trawling through that.

pointydog, although he's not being reviled in this particular discussion, you can't believe how many mumsnetters said they hated him in other threads over the years...I really found it so curious.

As for non-mumsnetter British people...I sent F&Z to a literary critic friend (he'd read other Salinger books but not F&Z) and he couldn't get beyond page 20...he said he found something repugnant and cliched about the college boy character being portrayed as unable to show emotion and reticent. Similarly I gave 2 friends here a stack of his books both said they couldn't get through any of them. It started to seem like a trend...a cultural divide or something.

Anyway I'll go look at that blog now, and check in later.

OP posts:
francagoestohollywood · 03/01/2009 20:36

I really enjoyed the cather in the rye when I read it at 16.

Jux · 03/01/2009 20:36

I first read CITR in my teens and loved it in a very quiet way; same with Sillitoe 'Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner'. I have read both many times since (though they've been in boxes for the last 13 years so not recently). I always feel the same way about them really, and get thrown back to that stage of my life. Maybe this long break will make a difference; am hoping to get my books back onto shelves and accessible this year!

pointydog · 03/01/2009 20:32

Is he reviled? I haven't really come across that. He's different, in a rather cynical way. In an outsider-ish way. Lots of people do not like cynicism and outsiderism much at all.

WhatSheSaid · 03/01/2009 20:30

I didn't know lots of British readers don't like his books. Catcher in the Rye is OK but not my favourite but I love the short stories - especially the Glass family ones.

ScottishMummy · 03/01/2009 20:29

particularly loved CITR,read as a teen and it was so enthralling.friend read in late 20s thought it was teen angst egotistical

maybe an age and stage book

Bluestocking · 03/01/2009 20:19

There's only one way to settle this - - FIGHT!

Jux · 03/01/2009 20:19

sorry Bluestocking, were you aiming that at me? I had noted the question mark at the end of your sentence, I just didn't really understand what you were talking about. I didn't think it was your position though. Peace, love, calm etc. We have enough barneys going on on mn at the moment!

expatinscotland · 03/01/2009 20:16

Well, true, Medea. I do find the rather fatalistic view from Europe a bit hard to stomach.

Bluestocking · 03/01/2009 20:14

Whoa! I didn't say I felt like that - was merely offering a possible explanation. See comments on this Guardian blog.

Jux · 03/01/2009 20:11

Could it have something to do with the guy who didn't shoot Kennedy (and the guy who did shoot Lennon) were both reading him?

FiveGoMadInDorset · 03/01/2009 20:10

Having just sorted out my books, and my NY resolution is not to buy any more, I am starting to reread and he is on the pile.

Swipe left for the next trending thread