Jan 31 2008
Thursday Thirteen #1: Facts and Thoughts on Catcher in the Rye
It’s funny how the mind works.
A few days ago I was reading Aaron Crocco’s post where he mentioned how lyrics inspire him. He included the lyrics to John Legend’s Save Room. I responded with my own personal favorite lyrics – John Lennon’s Working Class Hero (click on the video above to hear the song).
Since my mind was on John Lennon, it quickly moved on to the book The Catcher in the Rye (Why? Read comment #7 on the list below). And this is how this week’s Thursday Thirteen was born.
1- Most people know that the the author of Catcher in the Rye is J.D. Salinger. But most don’t know that J.D. stands for Jerome David.
2- Here’s the opening paragraph to Catcher in the Rye: If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.
3- Salinger based Catcher in the Rye on a short story he wrote for The New Yorker, Slight Rebellion Off Madison.
5- Salinger was so incensed by Hollywood’s treatment of his story “Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut” that he has refused to sell the movie rights to any of his stories to Hollywood. It is reported that his last will and testament has a stipulation blocking any Hollywood adaptations of his works after his death. Source
6- I have several favorite quotes from Catcher. This one is my favorite: “People never notice anything.” This quote impacted my life more than any other quote I can think of. The moment I read that line I promised myself that I’d notice everything. Now I’m labeled as an over thinker. But I don’t buy that. I believe that most people don’t think enough.
7- Mark David Chapman, the man who murdered John Lennon, was obsessed with Catcher. Like Caulfield, Chapman hated phonies. Chapman reportedly became incensed when he learned that Lennon lived in the Dakota building – an expensive apartment. He felt that Lennon was a phony singing songs about the working class when he (meaning Lennon) lived a plush lifestyle. Read Chapman’s plea to the parole board in 2000.
8- Between 1961 and 1982 The Catcher in the Rye was the most censored title in US high schools and libraries. Source
9- In a cab ride, Caulfield asks the driver where the ducks go when the lakes freeze. The cabbie didn’t know the answer. I don’t know it either. Do any of you know?
10- When I first read Catcher, I pronounced Phoebe as fobe. The teacher never corrected me. Years later, this still embarrasses me. Phoebe is Caulfield’s ten-year-old sister.
11- John H. Hinckley, the man who shot Ronald Regan, had a fascination with Catcher and also Jodie Foster.
12- I always fantasized that Salinger was born poor. He wasn’t. J.D. Salinger was born and grew up in the fashionable apartment district of Manhattan, New York. He was the son of a prosperous Jewish importer of Kosher cheese and his Scotch-Irish wife. Source
Click HERE for past Thursday Thirteen
I love TTs like this one. After all these years, I don’ believe I knew that J.D. stood for Jerome David. It’s also interesting the fascination that people like Chapman and Hinckley had with “Catcher In the Rye”.
My favorite bit of trivia about “Catcher In the Rye” is the story behind Salinger naming the character Holden Caulfield. He was walking and saw the marquee for the 1947 film “Dear Ruth”. Because the last names of the two stars were in larger letters than their first names, they stood out. The stars were William Holden and Joan Caulfield.
I always wanted to know what the J.D. stood for, thanks for sharing.
Malcolm you have no idea how I searched for the fact you provided. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m so excited. Little things like this make me happy.
Wow 13 very insightful facts about a well read book.
Thanks they were all very fascinating to discover and absorb!
Hmm, if only I had time to go back and read the book again. It’s been years. But I’ve yet to understand the reasoning behind wanting to ban it or any of those other titles censors seem to love. I can still remember scratching my head after I’d finished reading the book and thinking, “Gosh, is that it? Why all the fuss?” Anyway, cool post.
I haven’t thought about this book in forever. Really, REALLY, great and interesting facts.
Awesome Thursday Thirteen!
PS- Mine is up in 4 min.
A book worthy of a whole Thirteen, if there ever was one. Bravo.
I have to confess I don’t know nothing the only thing I suppose is that ducks go on the ice when the lakes freeze, lol !
Catcher in the Rye was also the inspiration for the first season of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex — a great anime series.
Happy TT.
one of my favorite pieces of literature…thanks for sharin
As I said over on the AW boards, your timing with this is great. My book club read Catcher last month and we had a heck of a great discussion.
Welcome to TT! I hope you’re having fun with it.
I agree: people don’t notice things. Sometimes, when you’ve got a hole in your shirt (yeah, that was me on Tuesday), that’s a good thing. Othertimes… not so much.
I haven’t read Catcher in years.. I’m glad you brought it up for the TT, I’ll have to dig it out (I’m pretty sure I own it) and give it a re-read. I remember feeling very scandalous when I first read it, it being a banned book and all. I think at the time I was probably a bit disappointed, hoping I’d happen upon something shocking, but in the end, like Lori said, I was left scratching my head wondering what all of the fuss was about.
I haven’t read it since I was 14. Tim efor a reread.
Thursday Thirteen is the BEST! Great facts. Thank you for sharing.
Catcher in the Rye is a fantastic book. At first, I didn’t realize that Holden Caulfield was going insane. I thought he made good points and he made me think. At the end of the book when I discovered that Holden couldn’t function in society, I was distraught. I was in 8th grade when I read the book and I was convinced that if I could relate to him, then I was insane as well.
sunshine, you are probably insane.
i understand what you mean. holden is very relatable.
susan, yes it was fun participating. i hope my forthcoming TT’s are just as enjoyable.
pussreboots, thanks for that fun fact. i love trivia.