Sometimes, I take emo too far

So I'm just thinking back this evening about J.D. Salinger. Like many, my first exposure to his work was in sophomore year of high school - the assignment of The Catcher In The Rye. I really took to J.D. and his work immediately, being the severe emo kid that I was. After that phase, I became a serious English major in college and dropped J.D. in exchange for more sophisticated and important authors. Then, maybe about a year or a little more ago, I became more interested in his work than ever.

I don't know what exactly caused it. Certain theories might include concerns about getting older (a common Salinger theme), degeneration of my critical capabilities (something I worry about every single day), or - maybe - a true appreciation of his ability to construct beautiful sentences that resound with truth.

Here're my favorite Salinger moments in my personal history:

• Making a photocopy of the elusive short story Hapworth 16, 1924 from the original copy of The New Yorker from Hesburgh Library for a girlfriend, complete with a rainbow-emblazoned cover made on Power Point. (At the time, I disliked that short story greatly, but perhaps I should check it out again.)
• Writing inspirational messages on my mirror with leftover shards of soap.
• Listening in horror to a friend's story of manufactured hatred toward Salinger - his sophomore year tests included review questions on the number of keys on Holden's typewriter or some other such pedantic bullshit.
• Admiring the dioramas in the Museum of Natural History with more than a little bit of meta-respect.
• Finally piecing together a comprehensive theory of the Glass family.
• Thinking about Salinger every time I think about the name of the degree you get at the end of law school. (J.D.)
  
• Checking out poets almost completely due to recommendations in Seymour: An Introduction.
  

Death and the Maiden

I read this recently and enjoyed it greatly, probably not in the least because it directly appeals to my literary side. The world can be understood through literature and its analysis informs and enriches more than other disciplines.