Returning the book
 

About ten years ago my dad gave me a bag of books he put together while doing a major spring cleaning. One of the books was a used paperback edition of The Catcher In The Rye, twenty-fifth printing, April, 1963. On the inside cover it reads:

Vicki Gutekunst
507 Evergreen Rd.
Pacific Grove, Calif.

The handwriting suggests a teenage girl. Sure enough, a cursory Google search shows a Vicki Gutekunst, Pacific Grove High 1960-1964.


Fast-forward to today and I've read this particular edition twice. The death of Salinger inspired me to read it again recently and I was reminded that the girl who was proud to be the book's first owner had put her name and address on it. As a bookaholic, I can only keep my absolute favorite favorites or I'd end up a hoarder with a book maze for a home. The Catcher In The Rye doesn't do it for me to the point that I need to keep it with my faves, and I'm thinking of trying to return it to Vicki. The book is not in great condition, but still...


I bring this up because we are staying in Pacific Grove this weekend and I really have the urge to visit this address knowing the odds against Vicki Gutekunst living there now are very long indeed. A high school freshman in 1960 would have to be at least 63 today. But the address is only two blocks from where we're staying (Asilomar) and who knows what could happen. Will I meet Vicki? Will I get shot at by some psycho homeowner and/or Vicki's dad? Maybe.

What say you? Would you cold-call 507 Evergreen Road, or would you find her via the internet? Or maybe you think I should keep the book and leave Vicki Gutekunst the hell alone. What would you do?

I think it would be uber cool to return the book, but I think I'd do an internet search first rather than walk up and knock on the door of that address.

I would do a search of tax records in the area and find her address that way. If she was a teenager when she lived at that address, then you'd basically be showing up at her parents' house. If they're still around, they'll be in their 80's at best. But if she stuck around town then you could probably find her.

It is worthless as an artifact and almost certainly worthless as a sentimental object. A kid writing their name in a book is hardly a sign of any particular pride and is really very common (I certainly when through a bookplate phase and none of those books were important to me).

This isn't to say you shouldn't try, there are pretty much three outcomes I see in increasing likelihood (assuming you find her in the first place):

1. It was an important book to her and she's extremely happy to have it back. You're mildly disappointed it wasn't a cooler outcome.

2. It is a meaningless book to her but she gets a kick out of you tracking her down to return it. You both get a laugh out of it.

3. It is a meaningless book to her and she is a bit skeeved out by a stranger showing up with a book she doesn't even remember owning. You're a bit saddened to have caused her even a little distress.

4. It is a meaningless book to her, she says "uh, ok, thanks" and you're disappointed it wasn't something cooler.

So long as you can handle the disappointments for the small chance of something cool then I say go for it. You have a small chance of becoming a story on This American Life and a small chance of worrying she might file a restraining order. But the fun in life is generally in small chances.

There isn't any scenario that would leave me disappointed, even mildly. As I said:

It's all on the table and everything's fine.




Yep.

Or 5. - She's a total hottie and doesn't really care about the book, but is so impressed that you tried to return it, and hey you're kinda cute ....

I say film the entire thing then submit it to the networks as a new reality show: Reuniting people with random stuff from their past.

I'd have sexy time with Vicki's mom before I'd participate in a reality show. But you give me hope, Moonliner, that one day my long-lost copy of Ball Four will be returned to me.

I say do a little hunting beforehand to see if she is still in the area and try to return the book to her.

It would be funny to find out that she moved to Sacto

I have a great idea:

1) I have a camera.
2) Kevy owns various frightening frocks.
3) I also have a tiny POV camera that can be hidden in most costumes.
4) We could totally use this to pitch a whole new disturbing "Candid Camera" type show. ;)