Harper Lee wrote a true gem of a novel. ONCE. In fact, as far as I know, she was never published again. Why?
Just as interesting to me, JD Salinger had but TWO novels published, the second being
Franny and Zooey.
I've sent numerous letters to JD suggesting he team up with Harper Lee and write a joint novel. He only replied once:
I received an envelope filled with sawdust and four dead flies.
I interpreted this as a reference to the Four Horsemen (horseflies) of the Apocalypse referenced in the Book of Revelation. On the exterior of the envelope, where the return address should have appeared, a purple ticket stub from Coney Island was glued.
Line one of the stub reads: THE HO
Line two of the stub reads: OF MIR
(Obviously, this is
not a reference to some Russian slut orbiting the planet, though I can't be completely sure, given the sender's disposition.)
Curiously, as revealed by the printed monogram on the flap, the envelope itself was part of a stationary set as issued by the legendary New York City Horn & Hardart automat.
JD is such a kidder. He knew that fact would ~lodge~ in my mind. It haunts me to this day, obviously. I'm obsessed with automats.
Lee is 82. Salinger is 89.
And I ...
I am growing more mysterious by the yoctosecond.
(I saved the envelope and its contents.)
