SALINGER The Official Book

SALINGER The Official Book
DAVID SHIELDS & SHANE SALERNO

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

J.D. SALINGER CONTINUED

A number of 'JDS' sightings and encounters by various Twin State Valley residents and former residents have been appearing since his death in some of the 'local' papers. Many of these accounts subscribe to 'the nice man'theory and add more to the image he may have wanted to project as 'THE RECLUSE' which can only remind one of the Tarot Card, 'THE HERMIT'. The ENIGMA OF 'JDS' is not his quest for privacy on his own terms, as if it were a highly desirable state of reclusiveness/exclusiveness, silence, penance, isolation, etc. akin to 'seeking some kind of HOLY GRAIL' but the fact alone, for one whose reputation for enjoying writing, for literary efforts,etc. as some claim, he never allowed or permitted any newer writings to be published after a certain date and never exposed any further writings to the scrutiny of the public eye, some thing that fascinates andirritates those who really and truly desired further stories and novels from him as well as the vast hordes of other literary groups, such as critics and professors of literature. From my very limited perspective on this ENIGMA, I think it might well be a most simple fact that has escaped nearly everyone, especially those who believe in continued 'literary output' or 'literary success',etc. My personal contention is this: he did not need or want to publish what he wrote in his lifetime later on because he had not real financial need to do so and that if he did publish again, the IRS and the GOVERNMENT would step in,much like 'Robin Hood' and garnish his income,etc. Really creative writers, poets, artists, sculptors, actors, and playwrights,etc. always face ' FINE ON THEIR CREATIVITY & PRODUCTIONS' in the form of taxation which in some cases would nothing for them or their fans and followers, except fill the coffers of government and lead in some cases to various legal and tax problems among other things. In other words, it would simply not pay to publish anything further for the reasons that one would not receive the 'fruits of one's own labor' but give the greatest portion of it to the Federal Government,etc. Furthermore, by simplifying his life and dispensing with a large battery of agents, 'experts', CPAs, attornies/lawyers, doctors,etc. saved himself a great hassle and expense that usually results from such. Rather than actually ending up writing for nothing except for his sheer personal enjoyment and satisfaction(if any) and face huge tax burdens, he preferred simply not to publish,knowing in his case he was not likely to 'perish' as far as his place in 'AMERICAN LITERATURE' is concerned. 'JDS',for whatever literary faults examiners of his work have annalyzed, detected, and exposed, never really fell into the temptation, to which many genre writers and authors fall, by cranking out or have 'ghost' written continued stories and novels since,THE SOUND OF ONE HAND CLAPPING' probably and possibly Holden Caufield's beyond doubt,can still be heard(for those who have ears to listen) and read by all.

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