JD Salinger – Catcher In The Rye author. Dead at 91.
Jan 28th, 2010 by Dr. Death
J.D. Salinger, the legendary author, youth hero and fugitive from fame whose “The Catcher in the Rye” shocked and inspired a world he increasingly shunned, died of natural causes on 1/27/2010 at the age of 91.
The cult of “Catcher” turned tragic in 1980 when crazed Beatles fan Mark David Chapman shot and killed John Lennon, citing Salinger’s novel as an inspiration and stating that “this extraordinary book holds many answers.”
“The Catcher in the Rye” became both required and restricted reading, periodically banned by a school board or challenged by parents worried by its frank language and the irresistible chip on Holden’s shoulder.
“I’m aware that a number of my friends will be saddened, or shocked, or shocked-saddened, over some of the chapters of `The Catcher in the Rye.’ Some of my best friends are children. In fact, all of my best friends are children,” Salinger wrote in 1955, in a short note for “20th Century Authors.”
“It’s almost unbearable to me to realize that my book will be kept on a shelf out of their reach,” he added.
Three players – Boston Mike, Feral Fodder, and Joel all scored on Salinger’s death. And, because he was our first author, Joel was randomly selected by a roll of the dice to receive a $20 gift card to Amazon.com. Congrats to all!