Reclusive US novelist J.D. Salinger
dies aged 91
NEW YORK: J.D. Salinger, the reclusive author of “The Catcher in the Rye,” has died at 91, his agent said Thursday, raising tantalizing questions over whether the legendary writer might have left behind a hoard of unpublished works.
Salinger died Wednesday of natural causes at his home in New Hampshire, the Harold Ober Associates literary agency in New York said.
Born in 1919, Salinger earned a place as one of the giants of 20th century US fiction. His 1951 tale of teenage rebellion, “The Catcher in the Rye,” became a cultural icon, making him rich and famous. But overwhelmed by his sudden fame, he retreated to a hermit-like existence in Cornish, New Hampshire, publishing his last work in The New Yorker magazine in 1965 and refusing interviews for the last three decades of his life.
Salinger’s death has reignited speculation over whether he may have left behind some valuable works which could be published posthumously. The author himself revealed in a 1980 interview with the Boston Sunday Globe that he was still producing — albeit not for an audience. “I love to write, and I assure you I write regularly. But I write for myself and I want to be left absolutely alone to do it,” he said.
In Hollywood, there is particularly intense interest in making a film of “Catcher,” a novel that sold more than 60 million copies worldwide and entered American pop culture, being referenced in everything from movies to songs and other books.
Travolta says faith helped
him through son’s death
NEW YORK: John Travolta says faith has helped him survive the tragic death of his 16-year-old son, Jett.
The actor, a noted Scientologist, walked the red carpet in New York with wife Kelly Preston to promote his new film, “From Paris With Love.” The movie was filmed in late 2008, and shooting wrapped just days before Jett Travolta died on Jan. 2, 2009.
“We work hard every day with our church on healing,” Travolta said, though he did not mention Scientology by name. “And Kelly and I and Ella have all been working very hard and they’ve been helping us,” he said, referring to himself, Preston and their daughter.
Jett Travolta died year after a seizure at the family’s vacation home in the Bahamas.
Asked what gave him the strength to return to his movie career, Travolta said, “Once you get yourself stable, then you’re able to reach out again, you know, and I think this whole year every day we’ve been working on stabilizing ourselves and it’s been successful so far.”
Travolta flew a jetliner earlier this week carrying relief supplies, doctors and ministers from the Church of Scientology to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to help survivors of that country’s devastating earthquake.
He said he is working to bring more aid to Haiti and did not rule out additional flights.
Bob Dylan to perform
at the White House
LONDON: Singing legend Bob Dylan is set to perform at the White House for the first time as part of a civil rights celebration in the United States.
The folk-rock icon will join John Mellencamp, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Hudson, among others at the show called In Performance At The White House: A Celebration Of Music From The Civil Rights Movement, on Feb. 10, reported contactmusic.com. The show will be attended by President Barack Obama and his wife.
Zellweger escapes car accident
with no injuries
LONDON: Actress Renee Zellweger has escaped an accident in California unscathed.
The actress parked her Toyota Prius roadside in the Pacific Palisades district of Los Angeles Thursday. But when she opened the door to climb out of the driver’s seat, it was struck by another passing vehicle.
Zellweger was not injured in the accident. Her boyfriend Bradley Cooper came to her rescue moments later to offer her a ride, reported tmz.com.
Ashley Cole banned for driving
at over 100 mph
LONDON: Chelsea and England footballer Ashley Cole was banned from the road for four months on Friday for driving at over 100 mph in a 50 mph zone in what he said was an attempt to escape pursuing paparazzi photographers.
Police clocked the 29-year-old defender driving his black Lamborghini Gallardo at 104 mph on the A3 in Kingston, Surrey in November 2008.
Magistrates also imposed a 1,000-pound fine and warned Cole he could face prison if he flouted the ban. However, Cole’s legal team immediately launched an appeal putting his sentence on hold until a hearing at a Crown Court.
Cole, who is married to singer and presenter Cheryl Cole, was convicted at an earlier hearing by Kingston magistrates.
Singer Etta James hospitalized
with serious infection
RIVERSIDE: Etta James’ son says the 72-year-old R&B singer is hospitalized in southern California with a serious infection but he expects her to be released soon.
Donto James says his mother has been at Riverside Community Hospital for about a week and is recovering from sepsis caused by a urinary tract infection. He said that James entered a treatment program about a month ago to shake a dependency on painkillers and over-the-counter medicine. She was transferred to another facility and then the hospital when her physical condition worsened. James, who sang everything from blues to jazz, is best known for the hit “At Last.”
— Compiled from agencies
