Jerome David Salinger (1919-2010), whose novels were quite daring when first published and have since become required reading for students, was one of America's best-known literary recluses. Slawenski has written-and Norman Dietz reads-a biography intended to give a larger sense of Salinger's life, times, and works. The biographer's timing was perfect; serious readers are still aware of and curious about Salinger. Slawenski gives his readers a sense of the author's childhood and background, makes connections between Salinger and other well-known artists of his time (for example, Ernest Hemingway), and offers an explanation as to why Salinger retreated to New Hampshire. Dietz, who has been named one of the Best Voices of the Century, offers a pleasurable listening experience. Academics and literary readers will appreciate the work. ["Salinger enthusiasts will want to read this, so libraries should certainly purchase," read the review of the Los Angeles Times and New York Times best-selling Random House hc, LJ 1/11; the pb, also from Random House, will publish in January 2012.-Ed.]-Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Reviews

Jerome David Salinger (1919-2010), whose novels were quite daring when first published and have since become required reading for students, was one of America's best-known literary recluses. Slawenski has written-and Norman Dietz reads-a biography intended to give a larger sense of Salinger's life, times, and works. The biographer's timing was perfect; serious readers are still aware of and curious about Salinger. Slawenski gives his readers a sense of the author's childhood and background, makes connections between Salinger and other well-known artists of his time (for example, Ernest Hemingway), and offers an explanation as to why Salinger retreated to New Hampshire. Dietz, who has been named one of the Best Voices of the Century, offers a pleasurable listening experience. Academics and literary readers will appreciate the work. ["Salinger enthusiasts will want to read this, so libraries should certainly purchase," read the review of the Los Angeles Times and New York Times best-selling Random House hc, LJ 1/11; the pb, also from Random House, will publish in January 2012.-Ed.]-Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Slawenski's biography of J.D. Salinger begins with his death, jumps to his ancestry, then moves chronologically from Salinger's time in boarding school and mentorship with Columbia professor Whit Burnett to his early romance with the beautifully dull Oona O'Neill and his eventual isolation in Cornish, N.H. As Sonny Salinger becomes Jerry and eventually J.D., Slawenski sheds light on people and places that might have served as fodder for Salinger's writing, and unearths how formative Salinger's experiences fighting in WWII were to his psyche and craft. The biography is meticulously comprehensive yet compelling throughout, and Norman Dietz's reading voice proves perfect. He tone is warm and soothing, as if he is a grandfather sharing stories about his late best friend whom he adored and hopes the world will, too. A Random hardcover. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.