The reviewer has read J. D. Salinger's 'Nine Stories' multiple times, each time discovering new favorites among the stories. The collection is seen as a way to measure personal growth and changing perspectives over time.
The reviewer initially read 'Nine Stories' in an acquisitive manner, focusing on acquiring new books rather than rereading. Over time, they started rereading favorites, including 'Nine Stories,' which helped them understand what a story collection should be. Different stories resonated at different times, reflecting personal growth and changing perspectives. The collection is likened to pencil marks on a wall, measuring how one becomes a different person over time. The reviewer appreciates the variety and depth of the stories, each offering unique insights and emotions.
Quick quotes
The first post in a series in which we ask New Yorker writers what book they have revisited most often.
It helped me understand what a story collection was, and should be.
The collection reminds me of those pencil marks on the wall, recording childhood height: a way to measure how we become different people, over time.