Salinger/Jewish?
Ahimsa2000@aol.com
Thu, 12 Feb 1998 21:51:16 -0500 (EST)
Hi all. I'm fairly new to the list so I may have said this before, or maybe
not. I'm a writer for a Jewish weekly newspaper in Chicago and pretty much
have carte blanche in the subjects I cover, as long as it has a Jewish angle.
Sooooo....it occured to me (with a nudge from Will on this list; thanks, Will)
that I could possibly write a piece on JDS, Jewish references in his work, how
"Jewish" is Salinger, etc. etc. (I just did this same topic re: "Seinfeld").
The hook -- all journalistic endeavors have to have a hook -- could be the
possible upcoming publication-or-not of "Hapworth."
So, does anyone on the list have any wisdom to impart on that topic? (I'm
aware of the obvious, that JDS' father was Jewish, etc. etc.) I'm more
interested in the implications of Judaism in his work, if any. The Jewish
characteristics of the Glasses -- Muriel -- etc.
On another topic, not having anything to do with this one: For some reason I
was thinking today that I have hardly ever read or heard much praise for, or
comment on, "Just Before the War with the Eskimos." But it is one of my
favorite stories -- humorous, true to life, generous of spirit. It is one of
those that plays over and over in my head in many situations, until I now
sometimes believe that I have lived it, not just read it. Does anybody else
feel the same way?