If this heresy goes viral I’m going to post nothing but Catcher in the Rye quotes for the next month. Quotes first memorized in the back of a sweaty minivan when I was 14 and skipping Mass and discovering, for the first time, this thing, you may have heard of it, called Voice, and I don’t know, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER 14 YEAR OLD THAT READ THIS BOOK, was filled with the exhilirating, joyful, and yes, delusional idea that I had it all figured out.
I have a lot of affection for that book, and for that moment in my life.
[A MOMENT WHICH, I MIGHT ADD, WAS THEN PROCEEDED BY A NOT INSIGNIFICANT UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AND A (MOSTLY) FABULOUS LIFE.]
I’ve read that book again every few years since then, and I still fucking love it as much as I did the first time. My God. Maybe more. I think loved it maybe the most sitting in the back of the city bus a few years ago with the kid I nannied, finding the best moments and reading them aloud to him while he laughed with his head on my shoulder. He looked up at me with that same reaction I had as a kid, when you first read a book that is close to you, that big-eyed, slack-jawed Ohmygod people can write books like this?! look. I’m still not sure if he was laughing to make me happy or if he really thought it was that funny, but damn if when we walked through the door to our apartment and he asked his mom if he was old enough to borrow it wasn’t one of my favorite times with him.
I honestly don’t understand everyone’s Thing with this book. I just LOVE it. I fucking love JD Salinger, in ways I truly love few authors. I love him and I don’t care what you think! I hate all of you bastards! Go to hell, all of you!
ps: jk i love you.
