when i read The Catcher in the Rye several years ago, I found Holden irritating. The word i remember most from the book is "phoney". I admit that i was not a good reader at that time.
I'm going to re-read it and see if I can capture what you are praising. I decided to pick it up again in a couple of weeks, also having my daughter to read it. I wonder if I can give a book report about it:)