Subject: Re: It's War!
From: citycabn (citycabn@gateway.net)
Date: Tue Sep 26 2000 - 12:05:00 GMT
will,
>>but Citybahn is right to mark me
>>down under "all." I know it's not Eng Dept chic to even read
>>Salinger much less value his work...
Nor was it in 1974. When I took my Orals for my Mickey Mouse Masters
degree, I had to submit three writers for approval: 2 poets, one 'other',
from at least 2 different centuries. My choices were Keats, Pound and
Salinger. The committee's original verdict was: no Salinger, he isn't a
major author. Fortunately, my advisor went to bat for me and convinced them
that since Keats and Pound were "so" major, let him have his minor JDS.
(Honestly, and alas, I think 100 years from now, unless there are *major*
surprises in those Cornish safes, JDS eventually will be written up as a
very minor author of the 20th century (or unless a certain English Prof will
pen that awaited-for book which *opens* academia's eyes to the wonders and
glories of JDS).)
>>a person who will be involved in
>>my tenure process already hates me because I said I like Salinger
>>better than Joyce, but I do and it's just because I know what sings
>>to me and I like to dance to words, not trudge through them....
I'm no fan of Joyce--though I am in utter awe of his work--, but I have to
admit I agree with this statement from a reference book on *20th* century
authors in *English*, edited by Peter Parker and Frank Kermode. "Joyce is
the one novelist [...] we can also be sure will be remembered, if any are,
in one thousand years' time."
Okay, who cares a fig about 3001. Salinger was my first love as a reader,
and continues to remain one of four writers I'm unhealthily interested in.
(Granted, I've read very little in my life.) I'll also shamelessly admit
that the fictional character of world literature that I'd most want to meet
for an hour (with or without a suicide plot in his head) is J. D. Salinger's
Seymour Glass. (Groan from Scottie.)
--Citybahn Bruce
PS: Nice plug a few days back for the excellent, underrated Jack Gilbert.
And please take Scottie's advice and post your "Dream Catcher" review here
(or at least email it to me). I *partially* understand your enthusiasm for
Peggy's book.
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