Appeals judges question lawyers over Salinger spinoff book; one calls it ‘rather dismal’

Judge’s review: Salinger spinoff a ‘dismal’ book

NEW YORK — An appeals court in New York City has heard arguments on whether a Swedish author can publish a new book in America that was once promoted as a sequel to J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.”

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan did not immediately rule Thursday.

A federal judge had found the book copied too much of Salinger’s work and blocked its U.S. publication. Two of the three appeals court judges questioned if the lower court judge had heard enough evidence before making a ruling.

One of the appeals court judges, Guido Calabresi, indicated he had read the new book, titled “60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye.”

He referred to it as a “rather dismal piece of work.”