Re: Authors, critics, readers...

Andy Wishart (wishy@nettaxi.com)
Mon, 23 Nov 1998 02:48:12 +0000 (GMT)

On Sat, 21 Nov 1998 04:00:04 -0500 (EST), bananafish@lists.nyu.edu
wrote:

Hello Camille,

>From: Camille Scaysbrook <verona_beach@geocities.com>

>In Ian Hamilton's (ughh) `biography' of JDS, he mentions that Sergeant X's
>army number  in the story was the same as JDS's in real life. Also, JDS was
>in that area at that time of the war, and also had a nervous breakdown
>after the war. 

Ughh?  Can I assume you didn't enjoy Mr Hamilton's work?  I found it
very readable (often echoing Salinger stylistically, in fact).  

The publication of Hamilton's book filled in a lot of blanks for me
(who'd read and reread only the (book) published work) and I found it
an interesting and enlightening read.

I don't think he overstepped any lines and I believe (had he been
allowed) he'd have presented a scholarly work (which, I suppose,
Salinger more than doesn't want, but strongly resents and will
actively disallow)

Sure, it all ends out messy (and ridiculously absurd) and our (and
Hamilton's) hero finally reveals himself to have feet of clay.  

Does it matter, though, if Salinger-the-man is revealed as simply a
failing, faltering human (like us all)?  And do you think he was/is?
If we can imagine that Salinger may even heave a sigh of relief to be
so revealed, maybe Hamilton's book provides a service to Salinger at
that.

Of course reading the book tainted to some extent my feelings about
Salinger (the man) and left me a little deflated (though I'm unsure
what I would want from him - acknowledgement?  A nodding wink and a
final bow?) but that, in itself, is a lesson learned and doesn't
detract (as far as I can tell or hope) from my admiration of much of
Salinger (the author)'s work.

babble. . .

Anyway, I liked it.


-- 
Cheers,
        Andy