Is Holden Everyone's BFF?

Although I still have mixed feelings on The Catcher in the Rye, by the end of the novel I learned to appreciate it as a work of literature and also found meaning and substance in it. Holden started to grow on me as the novel continued and even though somethings he would completely lose me, other times he actually made sense and I found myself agreeing with him. Like when he made comments about being sickened by human behavior, I thought to myself "Well, I guess I'm not the only one". That right there is probably the entire reason the novel is a classic, because Holden is a part of all of us and almost everyone can say that they have felt the same way he has.

The parts where he lost me was when his mind would just go completely out there like pretending to be shot, thinking he has cancer, thoughts of disappearing, and planning a deaf mute life. However, what if those parts are what attract us to the book? Isn't society attracted to completely bizarre things, doesn't everyone love a juicy story about something completely insane that happened? Holden isn't normal, but maybe that's why everyone can relate to him. Instead of patronizing Holden for his flaws, most people relate and end up falling in love with him as a character.

I also thought a lot about the book today after a phone call from my 11 year old sister. She called me and was extremely upset over a teacher calling home, and the result was my mom yelling at her. She felt alone, like no one was on her side and even talked about wanting to run away and live with me. Although I'm usually good at advice, I really didn't know what to say to her. Afterward though, I thought about The Catcher in the Rye and how lonely Holden had felt. I might even send the book to her, because despite all the controversy, I know my sister has heard worse. I think being faced with those feelings that Holden expressed in person through my sister really opened my eyes to the novel. I don't see the novel as a book that only English teachers love or a book that rebels want to read because banned books are a notch against society. I have realized that kids still feel this way and they are probably always going to, and when they feel alone and down, at least they have Holden to confide in.