While reading the news this morning, I read that Erich Segal had recently passed on. Now, I read the same, about JD Salinger. Frankly speaking, I'm shocked beyond belief. Yes, I know Salinger was 91, and Segal was over 70, but I'm finding it difficult to come to terms with this - both authors shaped much of my teenage reading. In fact, the first romantic book I actually liked was Segal's Only Love (incidentally, my first Segal). Soonafter, I read Love Story, Prizes, The Class, Oliver's Story, Man Woman And Child, and loved them all. Must've been fourteen when I read them all, and I sought Love Story time and again, simply for it's beautiful simple writing. The opening line will stay with me forever : What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died? And of course, there's the cheesy Love means never having to say you're sorry.
And then there's JD Salinger... I don't even know where to start. Barring 2009, I've read Catcher In The Rye at least once a year. I read it for the first time when I was fourteen (again), and fell in love with Holden Caulfield. He reminded me of myself, which some people say is worrying. I didn't find it that worrying. In fact, I found it endearing - a fictional character who is that much of an idealist, mocks pretentiousness (phoniness), is over-protective about his younger sister, and loves digressions. In fact, for the longest time, Catcher was my comfort read - whenever upset or depressed, I'd pick it up and just flip through the pages. It always cheered me up. After that experience, I was scared to pick up another Salinger, lest it disappointed. I'm still scared...
And now, ten years later, I just think it's a sad day for literature. I know I haven't read a Segal in forever, but, I can't forget the days of reading his works again, and again. Words really can't capture how much both authors mean to me, and just how shell-shocked I am at the moment.
I'm going to dig out my copy of Catcher in the Rye tonight. As well as the only Segal I have here : Doctors. And read both, and lose myself in the beautiful world that existed when I was fourteen... at least I knew it, I loved it, and I remember it affectionately.
RIP Mr. Segal. RIP Mr. Salinger. And my thoughts do go out to your families and friends. And, I can't thank you enough for everything you've given me.