NINE STORIES - by J.D Salinger

So... books!

Many might have read The Catcher in The Rye by Salinger, and whether many like it or not (I'm willing to bet that they do), it is one of the most important American novels of all times - and definitely holds one of its most memorable (and endearing, in my humble opinion) characters of the 20st century. But I have somewhat recently realized that the extent of Salinger's work goes far beyond Holden Caulfield.

I have just become a Salinger's Orphan, because I finished reading the last of his other few publications (all short stories, several of them intertwined). He is a genius, he has a unique and delightful (to say the least) writing style, and I am convinced he knew more about life than we could ever be able to infer by his secluded lifestyle.

It is almost unjust to talk about NINE STORIES as a whole, since it is composed by very different pieces of writing. Some critics dare to say most of these are plain standard literature, but I have long joined the Salinger fan club and have not encountered a word written by him that I didn't find to be perfectly in place.

Some of the stories have characters from the Glass Family (present also in Franny and Zoey, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction), some have completely new ones. This book is a master lesson in creating complex, rounded characters; and most importantly, they all have something to say.

This is also a collection of delightful short tales that will leave you thinking about them (and life) for days on end.

My personal favorites are: A Perfect Day for Banana Fish, For Esmé- with Love and Squailor, and Teddy. Oh I will miss them. Lucky you that can still read them for the first time.