letter to list

Paul Kennedy (kennedyp@toronto.cbc.ca)
Tue, 03 Aug 1999 06:23:00 -0400 (EDT)

I'm trying to find a place for Scottie in the canon... (NOT a cannon!  THE
canon, the Salinger canon....)  I can't....

It's a silly game, really.  But there's no doubt in my mind that Camille is
either Esme or Phoebe.  Sonny is Seymour--'though I'd hardly want to wish
that heavy mantle onto such a nice man.  We're all wannabe Holdens.  Where
does Scottie fit in?

I can't think of a character he resembles in anything of Salinger's I've
read.  In fact, it's necessary to regress further into my literary past to
find someone with Scottie'
s particular blend of loveable grumblings....  Scottie is Eeyore.  Toss him
some gorse and he'll be happier than Holden anticipating his rendez-vous
with Sally at the Biltmore....  He just needs something gritty to chew on.

Tim, by the way, is Owl.  No doubt about it.  Camille is Kanga....  

(and originals of ALL the above--plus, of course, Pooh--can be seen on the
second floor of the NY Public Library, right across the street from MOMA....  

Regards,

Tigger