Icons we mourn: J.D. Salinger

J. D. Salinger, who was thought at one time to be the most important American writer to emerge since World War II but who then turned his back on success and adulation, becoming the Garbo of letters, famous for not wanting to be famous, died Wednesday at his home in Cornish, N.H., where he had lived in seclusion for more than 50 years. He was 91.

So, not having been raised in the US of A, I read "Catcher" much later than most of you out there, but I was fortunate to be introduced to Franny and Zooey at a reasonably young age, and it was my favourite book for years, only replaced by Pilgrim, by Timothy Findley, when I was around twenty five (I think). Anyway, it's now number two, but a solid number two. So thanks, J.D.