Will Hochman

The 30 or so years that J.D.Salinger spent as a recluse seem, to those of us who love his books, almost like wasted time. Compiling a book of letters to an author who very famously did not accept communication from outsiders almost seems like a wasted effort, but instead these letters come off as poignant and lively. There is a whole spectrum here, from the academics discussing Salinger's use of language and character creation to the high school kid that says how much they hated Catcher in the Rye.

Several of the letters express hope that Salinger was writing all along, coupled with hope that such writing will be released after his death. I feel the same way.… (altro)