Where Did You Go JD?

J.D. Salinger was an American author that was born in New York. He began to write at a young age and continued to write throughout parts of his life. He wrote many short stories and books, but the one book he is probably most famous for is The Catcher in the Rye. The Catcher in the Rye was a best selling book that not only won him many awards and sold over 65 million copies worldwide, but it was also one reason why J.D. Salinger went into hiding for a large period of his life.

            J.D. Salinger’s attitude is very similar to the main character in The Catcher in the Rye. Both J.D. and Holden have this sort of isolation from the world that they live in. Both characters also demonstrate their hatred for the “movies” and media. One reason why J.D. moved to his confinement was because of his hatred for attention. He turned down many pictures and interviews as well, because he didn't want anyone invading his privacy. Another reason was simply the fact that he didn't want anyone to gain off of his works. He didn't want anyone profiting off of his stories and refused to publish anymore. But the main reason why he left and stopped publishing was because of the criticism on his book. Although many thought of the book as one of the best, others saw it differently. Critics argue that the book shows the mental breakdowns of a teenager as he goes through his life. The psychological battles that he faces, the depression and loneliness, and the excessive spending are all reasons why some thought negatively towards the book. The book was also banned from some schools and libraries.

            Even though J.D. Salinger stopped publishing and went into hiding, I respect him. His own beliefs caused him to not get too caught in publicity. He took the negative comments on his book to heart, and in return left the world without publishing anymore. He wanted his own privacy. I believe that The Catcher in the Rye is a very interesting book that is well written.

          "I refuse to publish, There's a marvelous peace in not publishing, There's stillness. When you publish, the world thinks you owe something. If you don't publish, they don't know what you're doing. You can keep it for yourself."

                                                         -J.D. Salinger