“The vehemence with which certain critics have chosen not simply to criticize wha…” — Joyce Maynard

I had known there had been a serial killer on Mount Tamalpais, and it felt so incongruous in such a beautiful, peaceful spot.

Long after Salinger sent me away, I continued to believe his standards and expectations were the best ones.

Not only did I avoid speaking of Salinger; I resisted thinking about him. I did not reread his letters to me. The experience had been too painful.

For 25 years, I did take my responsibilities as a pleaser of others sufficiently seriously.