Holden Caulfield and His Magic Violin

Shot in László Kovács-like eerie darkness—Holden’s hunting cap glowing like a red ember in a darkened Manhattan taxicab—

I could imagine the trailer: Christmas season 1950, Holden looking at the driver and blurting out: “D’you know where the ducks go in the winter?” With said driver staring back through the rearview mirror in complete apoplectic befuddlement and—BAM—cut to voiceover and title: “The Catcher in the Rye, rated R.”

Former screenwriter, book and magazine editor, and Substack writer Michael Maupin explores why J.D. Salinger's iconic novel fascinates him to this day.

As Salinger writes: "All I wanted to do first was say good-by to old Phoebe. So all of a sudden, I ran like a madman across the street—I damn near got killed doing it, if you want to know the truth—and went in this stationery store and bought a pad and pencil.”

It's a story of grief and hope, longing and anger, fear and tenacity. But also humor and levity. "That’s a personal thing. Your mileage will surely vary."

Come along for the ride. Holden is saving the back of the taxi for you to join him.