Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger (1953)

Short stories written by the author of The Catcher in the Rye in the late Forties and early Fifties.

Book Review: Nine Stories is superficially and deceptively simple, but contains layers that reward re-reading. The stories are full of heart and feeling, yet are carefully and complexly written if you go in for that kind of thing. As much as I enjoy The Catcher in the Rye, I wonder if Nine Stories might not actually be a better choice for study in high schools. First of all, this is a story collection. Salinger repeats and unravels themes in the stories, exploring aspects and permutations of each. Foremost, though not belabored, is the damage caused by war. Many of the characters are injured or alienated, outsiders, which results in a perception of the world different from the norm. Materialism, shallowness, superficiality ("phoniness" for Catcher fans) are seen as destructive; recovery is sought in innocence and childhood. While the outsiders in Nine Stories seek contact and connection, Salinger suggests a return to youth and innocence isn't always possible, as change and growth are inevitable. But while coming of age may be necessary, the dirt, deceit, and loss of decency found in adulthood remain snares for the unwary, and result in the ambiguity of some of the story endings. The more I thought about Nine Stories, the better and more rewarding it became. Each story has value. For those interested in the world Salinger created, several of the stories involve the Glass family.  [5★]