THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger

John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman, famously had a copy of Salinger’s novel on him when he was picked up by the police. Inside, he had written, “This is my statement,” signing his name as “Holden Caulfield.” He said that in the days leading up to the killing he had been re-enacting scenes from the novel. Of Lennon, he said “I wanted to go back to my hotel, but I couldn’t. I waited until he came back. He knew where the ducks went in winter, and I needed to know this.” After shooting Lennon, Chapman sat on the curb and read The Catcher in the Ryewhile the musician died. Nine years later, another man, Robert John Bardo, who was convicted of the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer, committed the crime with the novel in his pocket, though he claims coincidence.