JD Salinger worked on a cruise ship

[Paul Motter]

Various sources claim that in 1941, the author worked aboard a cruise ship called the MS Kungsholm. It was a key year in Salinger’s life; he sold two stories to the New Yorker and dated Oona O’Neil, daughter of playwright Eugene O’Neill. One of the stories, “Slight Rebellion Off Madison,” later became a scene in The Catcher in the Rye. The following year he was drafted into the army, while the MS Kungsholm was taken over by the U.S. government and used for the war effort.

J.D. Salinger’s Cruise Inspiration - BlackBook

I have to admit to NOT being the literary type. I am a web junkie - not a book reader. I do know the Catcher in the Rye was cited by both Oswald and Mark David Chapman as their inspirations for being despicable assassins. What was the book about?

[Fern]

Paul, this is one book you really ought to read yourself. I just looked at my copy and it's only 214 pages. You could easily read it in a day.

It's about a boy coming of age. Because of the content we were forbidden to read it in high school (so, of course, we all ran out and bought a copy as soon as we could ).

I'm getting ready to re-read it myself,

[Lakers Fan]

In my opinion its one of the greatest works of literature

[Mean Dean]

Paul,

It sounds like you need to unplug a little bit. So here's my advice:

On a nice warm sunny day, sit in your favorite adirondack chair out on the deck. Have a ice-cold ice tea ready. Enjoy the wonderful sounds and scents of the Great Outdoors. And then settle in and read this wonder book.

No computers, not TV's, no I-Pods -- no electronic devices of any sort. Just you, Mother Nature, and a good book!