Re: Franny sectioned
James J Rovira (jrovira@juno.com)
Sat, 31 Jul 1999 10:21:44 -0400 (EDT)
Jeez, Scottie, it's not that the writer's opinion DOESN'T matter, it's
that, well, the point is JD NEVER WILL show up on anyone's doorstep with
all the answers.
So there's no use referencing it. Any attempt to do so always involves a
study of his life (as recorded in texts), and a study of his work (more
texts), or writing that influenced him (still more texts), so since the
issue always seems to revolve around the interpretation of texts, we may
as well stick to that.
What bothers me about referencing JD in his work is that it's
disrespectful of the author himself. People who do so tend to see what
they want to see and have the gall to associate their projections with a
real live human being. Sometimes their observations may be accurate,
sometimes not, but will we ever know? Our speculations can never really
be confirmed by observation, so what good are they?
In my opinion, speaking as a reader and a writer, the value of the
writer's opinion varies with the writer and with the type of work. For
example, in writing something as direct as this e-mail, I have a few
specific ideas I mean to communicate and I'm fairly confident that the
range of meanings that can legitimately be derived from this e-mail is
pretty close (by and large) to my intended meaning.
When I'm writing a fiction piece I also have a specific intent I mean to
communicate, but the range of possible meanings that could be derived
from that piece is much wider. It wouldn't surprise me to see valid
readings of my own stories or poetry that I never considered myself.
When a writer has written a text, he's just another reader. He's
probably the best informed reader, but he's still just another reader.
And some writers, I'm afraid to say, aren't that good at reading. :)
There's people out there with only a High School education who have
written best selling novels. They tell a good story, but I don't expect
terribly deep textual analysis.
Jim
On Sat, 31 Jul 1999 07:12:18 +0100 Scottie Bowman <rbowman@indigo.ie>
writes:
>
> '... Until JD Salinger shows up on my doorstep with the answer
>...'
>
> But, Anna, even when - to your lifelong amazement - you open
> the door & find that elderly grey face, smiling, anguished,
>telling
> you you were mistaken it won't make a damned bit of difference.
> As the francophiliacs of the list - in their hundreds - will
>remind
> you: what the writer intended or thinks he intended or thinks
> he remembers intending is of microsopic interest.
>
> Your interpretation is every bit as valuable as the next chap's.
> If Franny's pregnant as far as you're concerned then Franny's
>pregnant.
> And to hell with Salinger.
>
> Stick with it, baby. Don't take no shit. From no white man.
>
> Scottie B.
>
>
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