Unrealistic? Yes. Good as a work of humorous fiction? You bet!

books:


	• Catch-22: A Novel (Simon & Schuster Classics) Joseph Heller Simon & Schuster, 1999 - 416 pages average customer review:based on 824 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Appreciate half way through

This was one of those books that I constantly found in top 10 lists and beckoning to be picked up on many bookstore shelves. Also, I was intrigued how a book's title could gain such significance with its concept becoming such a common term.

The story is a tangled web of nonlinear narrative, unrelentingly logic looping, mental instability, military ineptitude, and satire. It took some time to completely embrace, but about half way through I found myself really gaining emotional attachment to the character ensemble and finally an admirer of the work as a whole. Now I can understand why this subversive work has lasted 40 years as a great American novel.

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Unrealistic? Yes. Good as a work of humorous fiction? You bet!

I have been taking a look at some of the negative reviews here, and some reviewers do bring up a good(albeit obvious) point: this book does not portray war realistically. If some hippie were to tell me to read this book as proof that war "sucks" or is "dumb", I would feel an urge to slap him/her. It should be a given that practically every satire exaggerates. That is, after all, what makes satire so funny.

That being said, this is still a great book. I won't explain why it is great, as there are so many other reviews which tell you so. I would however like to touch upon a few things. The last few chapters have less humor than the previous chapters, and these chapters can get quite gruesome and disturbing. Also, I sometimes found myself frustrated with the stupidity of some events in the book, instead of humored. Finally, the ending was a little TOO unrealistic, as the whole mindset and attitude towards life is changed in Yossarian thanks to a single bit of news. Mind you, the book ends so abruptly that it is unknown whether he maintains this attitude for long, and therefore it is a bit of a cliffhanger, despite the fact that there was never meant to be a sequel.

Still, overall, a great book. Not quite 5 stars, but more than 4.

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Crazy Good

I'm almost at a loss to describe just how great this book is, but I'll give it a go anyway. Suffice it to say Mr. Heller's tale of war, courage, and madness is as relevant today as it was on its first printing. It's a book that will make you laugh, make you think, and make your heart ache all at the same time.

This is the story of Yossarian, an American bombardier stationed on Pianosa under the command of the vain Colonel Cathcart. No matter how many missions Yossarian and his comrades fly, the colonel demands more of them, gradually raising the number from twenty-five all the way up to eighty. Yossarian becomes increasingly desperate to escape the certain death he knows is waiting for him, especially as his friends are seemingly knocked off one-by-one not just by German gunners but sometimes by friendly fire or outright bizarre circumstances--like being smothered by a cat. Surrounded by pompous, preening, madmen like Cathcart, Yossarian turns out to be the only sane person on the base because he still has at least a shred of conscience.

The satiric wit employed to paint the Army Air Force as bumbling stooges might have seemed ridiculous until a few years ago. Now with Gulf War II and soldiers being sent on four, five, or more tours of duty it doesn't seem quite so far-fetched that a Colonel Cathcart or General Peckem could really exist.

As good as this book is it can be a challenge keeping all the characters straight and all the events in proper order. And like a "Saturday Night Live" skit this goes on a little longer than it should until the bit starts to lose some of its impact. The end is tremendous as Yossarian does the only thing he can do in the face of overwhelming stupidity and madness.

If you're a fan of M*A*S*H the movie or TV show then this book is right up your alley with its wisecracking antiheroes and bumbling commanders. Really to me "Catch-22" seems like the precursor to that movie/series only on a grander scale.

And hey this is one of the only books to add a new word to the dictionary, so that's neat too. Go ahead and give this a read; you won't be disappointed.

That is all.

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Ridiculously surreal

For those who hesitate to read this brilliant novel because of its length or lack of a sensible plot, I would like to direct you to read Chapter 38, titled Kid Sister. If this short chapter gets you to howl in laughter, even while reading in public, then this novel is for you and you will never forget the experience of reading it.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, page 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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