I just read this book for the first time, in my American Literature class, and as my fellow peers read it, I heard them remark that Holden was "annoying and whiny."

Personally, having looked up a lot of the symbolism in the novel on my own, I truly enjoy <em>Catcher</em> and all the life lessons it teaches. I, at times, related to Holden, even through all his inconsistencies and flaws. It's an excellent book and I hope teachers understand how to teach it better at their "work"shops.