Nine Stories, J.D. Salinger (4.0)
I first read these short stories many years ago. Frankly,
I didn’t ‘get’ them. I wanted to reread them with my wiser old brain and see if
my life experience helped me – the answer is ‘yes’. While I didn’t enjoy them
all, I can now appreciate the nuance and mastery of language. Given the time
frame, late 1940’s, several of the stories have to do with PTSD after WWII.
What was morose for me in my youth, now reads as poignant. Most of the nine
also include children. Salinger has a unique voice for a child that feels very
authentic. Much of his language is memorable. Here are two of my favorite
passages: ‘..the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that
happiness is a solid and joy is a liquid’
and ‘Poets are always taking the weather so personally. They’re always
sticking their emotions in things that have no emotions.’ My two favorite stories are ‘For Esme – with
Love and Squalor’ and ‘Teddy’.
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