Nine Stories: 01/26/08

It's only in the last couple of years that I've started reading J. D. Salinger but he has quickly earned a spot among my favorite authors. I enjoy his realistic and oft-times mundane characters.

Nine Stories is just that, nine short stories. Nothing earth shattering happens in any of them and yet they are all very enjoyable. They are character studies and brief glimpses into the late 1940s and early 1950s.

It takes a while for each story to explain its title and part of the fun is the sousing out of their meanings. The Laughing Man makes a reappearance from the quote by narrator Holden in Catcher in Rye. Here though the Laughing Man is a mythic figure, disfigured by strange circumstances and the source of inspiration for a bus full of boys.

If I had to pick a favorite, I'd have to go with "Down at the Dinghy." The young girl admiral reminds me so much of myself at that age except I think she has more spunk than I did.

The nine stories are:

• "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"
• "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut"
• "Just Before the War with the Eskimos"
• "The Laughing Man"
• "Down at the Dinghy"
• "For Esmé - with Love and Squalor"
• "Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes"
• "De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period"
• "Teddy"

Comments (3)

Comment #1: Monday, January, 28, 2008 at 11:31:24

Ashley

Just stopping by to say hello! - And thanks for your comment on my blog!"

Comment #2: Saturday, February, 2, 2008 at 09:24:59

SmallWorld

"For Esme'--with Love and Squalor" is for sure in the top 5 of my favorite stories ever. We always intended to name a daughter Esme, but our only daughter got our #1 name choice."

Comment #3: Tuesday, February, 12, 2008 at 17:02:29

Trish

I'm currently reading this one (only 2 stories to go). I am unfamiliar with Salinger's other works--and his style--so I feel sometimes as if I'm trying to read too much into the stories. I really liked Down at the Dinghy as well. "