I find it difficult to understand why Salinger felt the need to become a hermit. His star was rising so far, and then he just...hid. Maybe he really didn't like the attention (I don't think I would, though I wouldn't become a hermit). Maybe he was getting stalkers. Maybe he was just paranoid--he supposedly still suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome from WWII. I'm really curious now...
Though I have to hand it to him; he was really committed to being a hermit. One of the sources on Mr. Kunkle's blog said that he got angry at her for dropping a loaf of bread near him and so calling attention to him. Hard core.
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Ha, I liked this post. I can't seem to figure out why he became a hermit either. I mean, maybe he didn't like the attention, but why completely seclude yourself from the entire world? Was it because he was upset that people wanted to use his books to make movies, and he thought that would degrade his writing in the long run? I don't know, and I don't know if we'll ever find out for sure (unless his wife writes a tell-all book!).
ReplyDeleteHe really freaked out over a dropped loaf of bread? What a freak! Anyway, I understand why he left, even though most people would want to stay in the spotlight because the fame gets to their heads. I don't know, I think it has to do with the fact that his book was so debated.
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