Dude, as a kid I was so fucked up and I didn't know how wrong things were, you know. I viewed any of that touchy feely stuff as whining. It wasn't until I spent enough time away from my parents to dive into my own soul.

I disagree. He's troubled, yes, unreliable, yes but there are aspects of his character that are good. It's clear he isn't a bad kid, but a troubled one.

Catcher in the Rye, was honestly one of those books that as a High Schooler, I just hated. Holden was to me, the biggest whiner. I was at the time dealing with my own shit and because of the precarious nature of my situation, venting, complaining or otherwise bemoaning my situation would've done much more bad than good. As I've gotten older my sympathy for Holden has honestly shifted, catcher in the rye became something I appreciated more.