J.D. Salinger, We Hardly Knew Ye

On January 27th, the world lost one of its most famous literary talents at the age of 91. Of course, his most famous work was his classic 1951 novel Catcher in the Rye. The book has become one of the most-taught books and also the most banned book in schools. For years, every major movie producer from Jerry Lewis to Steven Spielberg has made the efforts to secure the right to make the movie version and all have failed.
The book, to me, has become an American rite of passage. To receive a copy of the book is to receive a treasure, for one is taken into the world of Holden Caulfield as he tries to make it in a world, to him, full of "phonies". Readers, especially teens, can identify with Holden and his struggle. Although his manner of speaking is less than great, the way he tells it is the way it is.
Salinger also became famous for being a recluse. He shunned the world that idolized him and made efforts to not interact with the world at large. His death can be taken as the last step in his reclusion. Awhile back, a writer noted that "The only one who could have played Holden Caulfield was J.D. Salinger" and they were right. Both came from above average backgrounds and saw the world the same way.
The book's title stems from what Holden thinks is a line in a poem, "Can a body catch a body, comin' thru' the rye?" In his mind, he sees himself stationed at a cliff, next to a field of rye, where children are playing tag. His job is to stop them from falling off the cliff by catching them when they get too close, thus becoming a catcher in the rye. The cliff, to Holden, is adulthood and towards the end of the book, gives the role of catcher to his sister Phoebe, as Holden is hoping she'll catch him before his own fall.
I first read the famed tome back in high school and I can't describe my joy at finally being able to read such a talked-about story. As I thumbed through the pages, I found himself as Holden, mad at the world around him and trying to do the best he can. By book's end, Holden hasn't changed a bit. In fact, he's more bitter as the world has forced him, in his mind, into a mental hospital. To me, it is a symbol of Holden's Park Avenue background, as his parents, after his misadventure, sent him away to avoid embassassment.
The book has also been at the center of some of history's most gruesome events. Most notably (and I use the term loosely), it was the favorite book of Mark David Chapman, the man who shot John Lennon. Chapman was such a fan of the work that he tried to change his name to Holden Caulfield. Chapman was found reading the book after the shooting and used the book as his statement upon arrest.
Many other would-be killers have had the book in their collections and since the book is very well-known, is used to explain such actions, as said before. No other book in American literiture has been such a guiding force. Many first-time writers (yours truly among them) can only dream of such. In my mind, after the events of the book, Holden became a writer, as every other Caulfield had writing talent. Holden's writings probably match that of the man who created him, and that creating force shall be missed.