Dunno. The lad in it came across as an arrogant spoilt little shit to me. I thought that when I first read it as a kid. Awww. Boo hoo hoo lad. You've had some bad stuff happen? Boo hoo. So does everyone else. Stop whining and acting like a cock and fucking grow up was my initial opinion 
I guess Holden Caulfield is a bit like Morrissey really isn't he Andy
I'm torn about Catcher - I really liked it as a kid, but I don't want to go back and read it. I have a feeling if I were to read again I'd prefer all Salinger's other work, the short stories.
As a gateway book, i.e getting kids into reading, it will always rank highly on lists - everyone I know remembers it quite fondly as a book that got them interested in books. In a certain sense, regardless of its own merits, it is an important title. A bit like when I was a teenage twat listening to Oasis and then figured out all the bands they ripped off were well better - still have to thank Oasis for pointing it out.
