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 One of the saddest short stories is JD Salinger's 'A Perfect Day For Bananafish', or at least at the time I read it years ago it sure seemed that way, because it said in unambigious language if you are tuned in, and have a degree of acuity, you will suffer. And despite the potential for playful wonder, the world is a harsh place.
I most admire Salinger for his decision to eschew the limelight. I think I saw him at the counter of the Howard Johnsons in White River Junction, about fifteen years ago. He was sitting by himself, but I didn't have the heart to disturb him. I might have had the moxie, but remember thinking, it would be more respectful to leave him be.
The 9 Stories and Glass family Books, as well as the adventures of Holden left a big skid mark on the road outside my door. He brought the wide spaces of an Eastern mindset to millions of Westerners, And he warned us about all the phonies.
I hope he is chilling with Seymour now, precocious as ever, but cozy too.
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the Glass family.
The summer I read F&Z, 9 Stories, etc. I found myself getting
intellectually snobby, as if I understood the brilliant Glass characters,
but no one else did. "I understand this book" but I am somehow
special and others are not. Ha! JD had me going.
No other writing has done that to me in quite that way... actually
changing my perception of myself for the duration of reading. Other
books have had an effect on me, changed my thinking, taught me
things, and so on. Salinger gave me a temporary superiority complex,
and implied permission to deploy it. : )