Just abans de la guerra amb els esquimals (1953)

In J.D. Salinger's world, you don't want to be more gifted than everyone else. It only leads to trouble. And that's if you're lucky.

This theme in Salinger's work was evident even in his “Nine Stories,” published in 1954. The first and last stories in this classic collection, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" and "Teddy," are most striking, even shocking, in this regard. In the first, Salinger introduces Seymour Glass, a brainy character found or at least mentioned in much of Salinger's later work, who engages in an imaginative conversation with a little girl at the beach, then returns to his hotel room and calmly shoots himself in the head while his wife sleeps in the bed next to his.

Teddy is a precocious 10-year-old on an ocean voyage with his parents and little sister. In a deck-chair conversation he tells a man about how his belief in reincarnation makes him unafraid of death. Readers may get a premonition about what happens next.

"De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period" tells of a young man with phony credentials who works for a shady company that, for a fee, gives advice by mail to aspiring artists with very little talent. Then he discovers that one of his students has extraordinary talent, but she is a nun whose priest and mother superior frown on her worldly pursuit of art.

Other stories in this priceless collection are almost as notable for their titles as for their subtle and masterful content — "Down at the Dinghy," "Just Before the War with the Eskimos," "Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut" and "For Esme — with Love and Squalor" among them.

I first read this book back in the 1960s. My paperback, purchased in a college bookstore, cost 50 cents. It was a pleasure returning to it all these years later. ( )

My favourites are A Perfect Day for Bananafish, For Esme, and Teddy. Now I know, good short story read can be one’s treasure. It is definitely something worth collecting. ( )

I could never read Teddy. It reminded me of a friend who died in high school--his name was teddy. ( )

I never read short stories. But somehow ended up with a copy of “Nine Stories”. If you are an aspiring short story writer, don't read this book. You will quit writing in despair. As far as I can tell, these stories are perfect. I remember having a strong emotional reaction of something like awe and deep appreciation when I finished the collection. I had no idea that short fiction could be this good. Every one of them is a jewel. I'm so glad I read “Nine Stories” because if I never read another short story again, I can truly appreciate the art form. ( )

Really, Salinger is an amazing short story writer. I wish there weren't so many of his stories scattered around, I would really love a complete collection. Here's some individual ratings for the stories:

A Perfect Day for Bananafish: 4/5 (I would rate the first half higher than the second)

Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut: 5/5. I think this one might be my favorite. It's so complete.

Just Before the War With the Eskimos: 3/5

The Laughing Man: 2/5

Down at the Dinghy: 3/5

For Esme-- With Love and Squalor: 5/5. Heartwarming and beautiful.

Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes: 5/5. This one is also excellent. It could be an amazing short film too. I love it. (The girl was Joanie, right? Must have been.)

De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period: 4/5. Like in Catcher in the Rye, Salinger really shows a thing for writing loathsome or groan-inducing but pitiable characters. I think he must resent very much that type of person, I can't help but think the only way you can be this vicious at a particular type of people is if you happened to be one yourself. In any case, it's really good.

Teddy: 3/5. It's good but it feels he's done it before and better. Like a rehash of Franny's whole thing in Franny and Zooey. I liked how he did it more there.

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