A personal note:
I was in college at St John's University in 1951 when Catcher in the Rye was first published. It was the freshest, most original work I had ever read. I don't remember if our professors used it in class, but I know for sure that most of us of college age read it, quoted it, and relished every word of dialogue. Later, when I read Franny and Zooey , Franny's use of the Jesus prayer led me to the wandering Russian monks, and to the study of meditation. I still try to meditate each day, and I credit Ms. Glass with starting me on that journey.The New Yorker this week (2/2/2010) on Salinger Lillian Ross - The New Yorker - My long friendship with J.D. Salinger NY Times: Cornish Journal: A recluse? Well, not to J.D. Salinger's neighbors The NY Times obit The Guardian: Salinger's new-look oeuvre
The Guardian: From 2002 by Anne Roiphe: The dawning of mourning -- He introduced us to phoneys - but teaching us about loss was Salinger's main aim, says Anne Roiphe
The NY Times: Of Teen Angst and an Author’s Alienation - An appraisal By MICHIKO KAKUTANI About.com: The Catcher in the Rye vocabulary The original review in the NY Times Salinger at The New Yorker And, of course, his perfect book of short stories - Nine Stories - It includes what many consider his finest work, For Esme With Love and Squalor.