J.D. Salinger to Read From New Work at Washington DCJCC on April 31

Reclusive author J.D. Salinger will break his long-standing silence with a unheard of public reading at the Washington DCJCC on April 31, 2008. Even more shocking, Salinger will read from a new work entitled “Kosher Cheese and the Barrel Boy” about which little is known, other than the title may draw its inspiration from Salinger’s father Sol, who sold kosher cheese. Tickets for the event are available now.

Professor April Fryar, the Chair of American Literature at the University of Upper Northwest and a Salinger expert remarked in a phone interview, “That Salinger is choosing to come out of seclusion now, and in such a public way and explicitly Jewish context is very surprising. Most of us in the Salinger field had taken it as a given that we would not see any new work from him until after his passing.”

Arna Meyer Mickelson, Chief Executive Officer of the Washington DCJCC said in a brief statement, “We are pleased that Mr. Salinger has chosen the 16th Street J as the venue for this rare reading. It is a testament to our hard working staff, dedicated volunteers and generous donors that we are able to host this event.”