What do you think?
Rate this book
Down at the Dinghy
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1949
6 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Salinger
147 books16.2k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Works, most notably novel The Catcher in the Rye (1951), of American writer Jerome David Salinger often concern troubled, sensitive adolescents.
People well know this author for his reclusive nature. He published his last original work in 1965 and gave his last interview in 1980. Reared in city of New York, Salinger began short stories in secondary school and published several stories in the early 1940s before serving in World War II. In 1948, he published the critically acclaimed story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" in The New Yorker, his subsequent home magazine. He released an immediate popular success. His depiction of adolescent alienation and loss of innocence in the protagonist Holden Caulfield especially influenced adolescent readers. Widely read and controversial, sells a quarter-million copies a year.
The success led to public attention and scrutiny: reclusive, he published new work less frequently. He followed with a short story collection, Nine Stories (1953), of a novella and a short story, Franny and Zooey (1961), and a collection of two novellas, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction (1963). His last published work, a novella entitled "Hapworth 16, 1924", appeared in The New Yorker on June 19, 1965.
Afterward, Salinger struggled with unwanted attention, including a legal battle in the 1980s with biographer Ian Hamilton. In the late 1990s, Joyce Maynard, a close ex-lover, and Margaret Salinger, his daughter, wrote and released his memoirs. In 1996, a small publisher announced a deal with Salinger to publish "Hapworth 16, 1924" in book form, but the ensuing publicity indefinitely delayed the release.
Another writer used one of his characters, resulting in copyright infringement; he filed a lawsuit against this writer and afterward made headlines around the globe in June 2009. Salinger died of natural causes at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire.
Works, most notably novel The Catcher in the Rye (1951), of American writer Jerome David Salinger often concern troubled, sensitive adolescents.
People well know this author for his reclusive nature. He published his last original work in 1965 and gave his last interview in 1980. Reared in city of New York, Salinger began short stories in secondary school and published several stories in the early 1940s before serving in World War II. In 1948, he published the critically acclaimed story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" in The New Yorker, his subsequent home magazine. He released an immediate popular success. His depiction of adolescent alienation and loss of innocence in the protagonist Holden Caulfield especially influenced adolescent readers. Widely read and controversial, sells a quarter-million copies a year.
The success led to public attention and scrutiny: reclusive, he published new work less frequently. He followed with a short story collection, Nine Stories (1953), of a novella and a short story, Franny and Zooey (1961), and a collection of two novellas, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction (1963). His last published work, a novella entitled "Hapworth 16, 1924", appeared in The New Yorker on June 19, 1965.
Afterward, Salinger struggled with unwanted attention, including a legal battle in the 1980s with biographer Ian Hamilton. In the late 1990s, Joyce Maynard, a close ex-lover, and Margaret Salinger, his daughter, wrote and released his memoirs. In 1996, a small publisher announced a deal with Salinger to publish "Hapworth 16, 1924" in book form, but the ensuing publicity indefinitely delayed the release.
Another writer used one of his characters, resulting in copyright infringement; he filed a lawsuit against this writer and afterward made headlines around the globe in June 2009. Salinger died of natural causes at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 30, 2019
Your uncle Seymour??????
May 17, 2025
A domestic tale, with only an glancing reference to war trauma ("your Uncle Seymour" — who is featured in A Perfect Day for Bananafish).
A precocious boy, who starts "running away" early whenever he is disturbed by something he overhears. (This foreshadows in a way Salinger's later reclusive behaviour).
Salinger's phrasing sometimes slaps me around, makes me wonder: for example describing Boo Boo Tannenbaum (the boy's mother) there is this sentence: "Her joke of a name aside, her general unprettiness aside, she was—in terms of permanently memorable, immoderately perceptive, small-area faces—a stunning and final girl."
It was the word "final" that I tripped over, how is she final?, but reading the sentence over and over it develops into something and then the word "final" seems appropriate. Don't ask me how.
A precocious boy, who starts "running away" early whenever he is disturbed by something he overhears. (This foreshadows in a way Salinger's later reclusive behaviour).
Salinger's phrasing sometimes slaps me around, makes me wonder: for example describing Boo Boo Tannenbaum (the boy's mother) there is this sentence: "Her joke of a name aside, her general unprettiness aside, she was—in terms of permanently memorable, immoderately perceptive, small-area faces—a stunning and final girl."
It was the word "final" that I tripped over, how is she final?, but reading the sentence over and over it develops into something and then the word "final" seems appropriate. Don't ask me how.
July 23, 2022
I really liked this because I really love Sallinger's voice. I feel like I haven't read something really literary and artsy in a while, and I really missed it. I thought the introductory scene was really interesting and engaging. That being said, I'm not sure I got much meaning out of the story.
February 17, 2023
This was so cute???
April 15, 2021
Jerome the Ostrich… J.D. ‘s first name was Jerome. I think Lionel was J.D., portrayed as an innocent child, dismayed by the realities of life and the cruelty of people at times. People can be so harsh and selfish, and it was difficult for this sensitive little boy to understand why. He was figuratively burying his head in the sand, ostrich-like, by running away each time he was hurt by people’s insensitivity . Boo Boo represented a kindness in people, it exists, if one can accept the good with the bad.
June 20, 2023
Another mom—suicidal Seymour’s sister—of the Glass family w/ a troubled, introverted child: This one likes to run away and hide, now in his father’s raft, making the maids nervous. Because the mother is ugly and the father has a big nose (this said like a proverb), the father may be a bit of a drinker or philanderer. It is also implied the maids are material or seeking to blend in, keeping the tags of their dingy clothes spotless, but turning out racist to be around the sensitive boy so unsure of his place in society.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2020
I liked the interaction between Lionel and his mother. She knew how to get to him, and also wisely minimized the ugliness when her son started talking about "kites", she knew it would be too much, for that day. This story felt more unfinished than most, even though Salinger likes sudden endings.
August 17, 2025
A Salinger story that feels more about connection than alienation; though the potential for alienation is there, with the young boy Lionel repeatedly running away from adversity, he finds consolation in being open and honest with his mother. And his mother, unlike many adults in Salinger stories, refuses to leave her son until they re-establish a connection.
Echoes of WWII appear in many of Salinger's stories, but this is the first I can recall to directly touch on antisemitism. The cruel remark made by one of the employees - and overheard by Lionel - has backwards echoes throughout the story, and once it is revealed, it contextualizes why the women were afraid Lionel would tell their employer. One of the women says that Lionel is a good-looking child, and the other responds that he'll "have a nose just like his father," which takes on a cruel new meaning in light of their prejudice. It feels like a direct commentary on how commonplace antisemitic attitudes were following the war, even among those who should be trustworthy.
The story apparently features recurring characters from Salinger's Glass family stories, though so far the only one of those I've read is "A Perfect Day for Banana Fish." It's protagonist, Seymour, is mentioned briefly. Due to Seymour's mental illness, he serves as a what-if for what could become of the sensitive, avoidant Lionel.
But the conclusion is optimistic. The adversity Lionel faces serves to bring his family closer together - the servants say that the family hasn't been out on their boat all summer, that it was a waste of money, and the story concludes with Lionel's mother suggesting a boat ride and then racing him back to the house.
All the Salinger stories I've encountered so far are interesting, but this is the first I'd describe as traditionally heartwarming in that regard!
Echoes of WWII appear in many of Salinger's stories, but this is the first I can recall to directly touch on antisemitism. The cruel remark made by one of the employees - and overheard by Lionel - has backwards echoes throughout the story, and once it is revealed, it contextualizes why the women were afraid Lionel would tell their employer. One of the women says that Lionel is a good-looking child, and the other responds that he'll "have a nose just like his father," which takes on a cruel new meaning in light of their prejudice. It feels like a direct commentary on how commonplace antisemitic attitudes were following the war, even among those who should be trustworthy.
The story apparently features recurring characters from Salinger's Glass family stories, though so far the only one of those I've read is "A Perfect Day for Banana Fish." It's protagonist, Seymour, is mentioned briefly. Due to Seymour's mental illness, he serves as a what-if for what could become of the sensitive, avoidant Lionel.
But the conclusion is optimistic. The adversity Lionel faces serves to bring his family closer together - the servants say that the family hasn't been out on their boat all summer, that it was a waste of money, and the story concludes with Lionel's mother suggesting a boat ride and then racing him back to the house.
All the Salinger stories I've encountered so far are interesting, but this is the first I'd describe as traditionally heartwarming in that regard!
January 4, 2024
Ще одне оповідання для курсової роботи. Критики говорять, що ця історія слабша за інші — певно, я погоджуся, але з уточненням, що її і легше зрозуміти без прочитання аналізу. Тут, я помітила тему антисемітизму, і знову ж таки проблеми дорослішання (чи радше не бажання дорослішати). Не скажу, що Селінджер і його теми мені подобаються, проте для загального розвитку, думаю, дуже навіть годиться хоча б раз почитати його твори.
February 19, 2017
What I liked about the story, although it's a bit boring, was the fact that the woman was really doing her best to reassure her child and help him overcoming his fear. A beautiful story about parenthood, yet another Nazism, which is starting to be overused theme in my opinion.
January 1, 2017
экзистенция отрешенность и сложный внутренний мир.. в общем то ведь все понятно, но почему-то все еще не заходит. хотя казалось бы все хорошо.
June 5, 2019
Mother knows best! Please! Listen to her!
May 11, 2022
I read this for school :)
May 15, 2022
Posiblemente lo que más me gustó de esta historia es cuando mencionó a Seymour...
June 3, 2022
really enjoyed this one!!
December 27, 2022
Gosh this was sweet
August 22, 2023
I liked this story because of boo booGllass
We haven't got enough stories about her and yet I love her
We haven't got enough stories about her and yet I love her
January 19, 2024
Reading Salinger's story in 2023 are so interesting. So many things have changed, and what was acceptable then, is not now. I enjoyed the idea of this tale.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews