THE CATCHER IN THE RYE: It bothers me that highbrow literary types consider The Catcher In The Rye overrated, though I do envy anyone who found Holden Caulfield annoying and therefore didn't spend their formative years seeking romantic partners who exemplified his mix of prevaricating truth-seeking and extreme angst. But no matter! Whether or not you think Holden is obnoxious, J.D. Salinger's iconic novel is still a necessary read for any human who's ever experienced the bliss of adolescence, and the snippets of post-WWII New York are an added bonus, with Rockefeller Center and the Central Park Zoo/carousel rendered eloquently.