Spent a quiet night in last night … just putzed around the house and read. I’ve started reading the classic J.D. Salinger book The Cather in the Rye …
… mainly because I want to read the unauthorized book 60 Years Later: Coming through Rye by Swedish author John David California:
As you may or may not know, California‘s book has been published in the UK but has been barred from publication here in the US due to copyright restrictions … it’s an unauthorized sequel to Catcher that Salinger (now 90 years old) himself is not happy with and sued to halt US publication. I managed to order a copy from Amazon UK but want to reread The Catcher in the Rye before tackling this forbidden sequel. It’s been AGES since I read Catcher so I figured I’d read it again before reading the unauthorized sequel. I had forgotten what a fun book it is. Did you know that in 1981, The Catcher in the Rye was both the most banned AND most taught book in the US? Reading is fundamental, y’all. Some friends and I are talking about starting a book club so I’ll be reading for that soon PLUS I’m really anxious to start re-reading the entire Harry Potter series again. I’ll be in full book worm mode, y’all.
Anyways … yeah, kept it quiet yesterday. No plans for today. Life is good ;)
Catcher in the Rye is the best book ever! I read it and I loved it and I read it over and over again (much to my mother’s dismay) and I always find something new and better about it.
“If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late? No one.”
Classic
@ari — Salinger is a great writer, the simplicity is disarming — I love it!! I’m gonna finish up Catcher today so I can read this so-called sequel. I doubt it will be as good but I gotta know.
Hey Trent – great idea on the book club. Your posts have inspired me to read Neil Gaiman (Stardust) and Cormac McCarthy (The Road – haunting!). I’m also a fellow kindler, looking foward to re-reading the HP books this summer – have you noticed they’re not available yet in Kindle format??? I really don’t want to lug around the big books again; I’m spoiled!!!
@Shawn — Please, if you have book suggestions, pass them along … we can help one another out. Re: No HP on Kindle — yes, it sucks ;( I have all of the hardcovers at my parent’s home in Detroit but it would be too much to transport them back with me so I ordered a new set. I love the cover artwork of the adult versions of the books so I ordered those from the UK :)
Good call – I too recently unpacked a box of books and my paperback of “Catcher” was in there so I pulled it out for a re-read (but haven’t started yet). It’s so perfectly heartbreaking, isn’t it?
I’ll be VERY curious to hear your review of the “sequel” :)
yes yes start a book club! i take note of your book suggestions quite often. i think it would be fab to have the opportunity to hear a more in depth critique on the books you are reading to give me some insight before i pick them up.
I adore your idea of a book club, I always seem to read many of the same books you have read. So I know you have good taste!! I love Catcher in the Rye and I’m very curious about this “sequel.” But I’m sad that someone would try to add to a classic, and without the blessings of Salinger!
Seriously – some cool Holden Caulfield shirts to be found here: http://www.cafepress.com/anthonyfuller.