I have no idea why this book is still being considered a voice of the genereation. After-war American generation - for sure, but not now, when geeks and nerds are slowly but surely are coming to power.
Also I have a slight suspicion that JD Salinger had seen a real live teenager quite some time before he decided to write a book - the main character didn't strike me as a veritable real person, and I am a teacher, mind it. Holden had a mission to piss me off though, and boy he did.
I heard an opinion that you need to read "The catcher in the rye" when you are Holden's age, and when you're older, you just can't grasp this feeling, this memory of being an awkward teenager not knowing what you want. To me it's a strange notion to be applied to an "all-time classics".
Sorry, Holden, you suck. You are a failure, and a bitter loser, and - guess what - that's all your own fault. Sincerely, a very boring adult you would probably hate.