Steve is absolutely right that I'm the one who's changed. I suppose there'd be some reason for shame if I hadn't. The self-absorption of youth is charming but ludicrous when it persists into old age. And I think it was that sort of narcissism which, in the Glass stories, Salinger seemed to hold up for our admiration but which, on rereading, I found so off-putting. The New York that Mr Salvaggio portrays is indeed a stressful one - but it's not quite the privileged environment of good schools & glamorous jobs which most of Salinger's characters enjoy. I can't offhand recall any of his protagonists seriously worried about finding work, or having enough money or being unattractive or having to face a wasting illness. Their troubles are the troubles of the greatly favoured. Although Holden too belongs in this ambience he seems to me to possess, with all his imagination & insight, the kind of rage for existence that marks the living individual - & which the Glasses notably lack. I suspect Holden took Salinger over - whereas Buddy & Seymour & Zooey were carefully contrived masks for him to wear. I'm going back to Esme as soon as I can find her. My memories are of her & her friend are as happy as the ones I retain of Holden. Scottie B. PS Published ? Yes, to - naturally - huge acclaim. But that was in another country (a very long time ago) & besides, the wench is dead. Not dead forever, though.