Salinger, Auchincloss, Thigpen

     "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."

     Most readers will recognize that as the justifiably famous opening of "The Catcher in the Rye," the landmark 1951 novel by J.D. Salinger.  Salinger died January 27.  He was 91 years old. This same week, Louis Auchincloss died, at 92.  (Writers have a gift for longevity:  Rex Stout was 89; Somerset Maugham was 91;  P.G. Wodehouse was 94.)

     Many will have read all four of Salinger's published books, but few, probably, have read all of Auchincloss's:  he wrote sixty.  Wrote them while conducting his practice as a Wall Street lawyer.  Best known among the novels are "The Rector of Justin" and "The Embezzler," but we remember with admiration "Motiveless Malignity," a collection of literary essays, and the memoir "A Writer's Capital." 

     Also this week comes news of the death of Ed Thigpen in Copenhagen.  A masterful jazz drummer, Thigpen is best remembered for his work with Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown  (the three played a wonderful rainy afternoon recital at Simon Fraser University years ago) but he also backed Ella Fitzgerald and played with other giants, among them Bud Powell, Lennie Tristano and Blossom Dearie.  

     (Looking over this list, it strikes one that all those mentioned have moved on to the afterlife. To quote a memorable Oscar Peterson-Milt Jackson album, "Ain't But a Few of Us Left.")  

     So, how are you spending the evening?  I think I'll play something  by the Peterson trio and re-read "Franny and Zooey."  And write something.  It may work better than exercise.