Subject: The whole Lennon thing
From: Kevin Shea (kshea@injersey.com)
Date: Tue Feb 11 1997 - 20:57:56 GMT
2/11/97
Hey, I already introduced myself to this list as a newspaper
reporter/writer, so now I will do so as a Salinger appreciator and human being.
Name is Kevin Shea and I was taken by Salinger like millions before me, in
the 11th grade, and with required reading. It was the first required class
reading that I could not put down. I still believe Catcher is his opus and
he will never get back to reaching that level of writing. I also appreciate
some of the stories that never get talked about, like Down at the Dinghy,
that had a profound effect on me. I also read Ian Hamiltons book, I suggest
you do too regardless of your opinion of it, remember, knowledge of the
enemy is.....
Anyway, the reason for this posting is this list has touched on a point that
I am fascinated by, the Mark David Chapman issue, he shot John Lennon then
sat on the sidewalk and started reading Catcher.
Let me simply say this for starters, I think this matter falls in the
category with every mother who tries to blame rock music for a child's death
or suicide. What is Chapman was taken by a Ray Bradbury or Anne Rice novel?
I love Catcher, I have read it a lot, what if someone were to find it in my
pocket after I killed someone? The problem was Chapman, not Salinger, he
was insane, he just happened to love a great book. Did Catcher make him do
it? No way, his mind gone sour did.
Sorry if this sounds like hyper defensive hot air, but I have defended
Salinger a lot to others who simply say "Oh yeah the guy who killed Lennon,
he was wacked out on Catcher in the Rye or something"
Any of you ever heard this before?
Kevin Shea
Asbury Park, New Jersey
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