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Catch-22

Book 1 in the series:Catch-22

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'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller is a satirical novel set during World War II, focusing on the experiences of a bombardier named Yossarian. The story delves into the absurdity and insanity of military life, highlighting the struggles of individuals trying to navigate through a world where life is cheap and the rules seem designed to ensure no escape from the horrors of war. Through a fragmented narrative style, the author weaves a darkly humorous tale that provides insights into the futility of war and the importance of self-preservation amidst chaos.

The writing style of 'Catch-22' is characterized by its witty banter, dark humor, and satirical take on the bureaucracy and illogical reasoning prevalent in wartime. The narrative jumps between characters, time periods, and locations, creating a chaotic yet engaging reading experience. Heller's exploration of the themes of insanity, morality, and the absurdity of life is delivered through a mix of laugh-out-loud moments and poignant reflections on the human condition.

Characters:

The characters are a collection of exaggerated personalities that embody various absurd traits, making profound statements about human nature and the insanity of war.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by its non-linear narrative, dark humor, and clever satirical dialogue, creating a unique layering of absurdity and meaning.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on Yossarian's struggle to survive amidst the absurdities of war and the bureaucratic obstacles that prevent him from escaping conflict.

Setting:

The setting is an American military base in Italy during WWII, creating a backdrop for the exploration of absurdity and the horrors of war.

Pacing:

The pacing of the novel varies, starting slow and meandering but increasingly engaging as the narrative unfolds and intensifies.
Yossarian was in the hospital with a pain in his liver that fell just short of being jaundice. The doctors were puzzled by the fact that it wasn’t quite jaundice. If it became jaundice they could trea...

Notes:

Catch-22 was published in 1961 and is set during World War II.
The term 'Catch-22' has entered the English language, meaning a no-win situation.
The main character, Yossarian, is a bombardier who wants to escape the war.
The narrative is non-linear and features a large cast of characters.
Heller's absurdist humor contrasts the serious themes of war and bureaucracy.
The book explores the absurdity and contradictions of military rules, especially in relation to sanity.
Catch-22 addresses issues of corruption, profit, and personal survival amid war.
The novel's humor often evolves into dark satire, highlighting the tragedies of war.
Heller used a fragmented style to mirror the chaos of conflict and bureaucracy.
The novel includes themes of existentialism, questioning morality and the nature of sanity.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include violence, sexual violence, death and trauma related to war.

From The Publisher:

Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read.

Now a Hulu limited series starring Christopher Abbott, George Clooney, Kyle Chandler, and Hugh Laurie.

Fifty years after its original publication, Catch-22 remains a cornerstone of American literature and one of the funniest-and most celebrated-books of all time. In recent years it has been named to "best novels" lists by Time, Newsweek, the Modern Library, and the London Observer.

Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy-it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he's assigned, he'll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved.

Ratings (309)

Incredible (66)
Loved It (94)
Liked It (74)
It Was OK (45)
Did Not Like (24)
Hated It (6)

Reader Stats (671):

Read It (314)
Currently Reading (9)
Want To Read (218)
Did Not Finish (26)
Not Interested (104)

9 comment(s)

Loved It
1 week

Joseph Heller is hilarious. Catch 22 is terribly thin on plot and if you're like me it will take you a year to get through this book, but every second of it will be packed full of laughs. Heller put it best in response to a critic of his later work who stated that the author hadn't since written anything to come close to Catch-22, Heller's response of, "who has?," sums it up quite well. Catch-22 may not be the integral piece of literature many people claim it to be, but it sure is funny.

 
Incredible
4 weeks

When I was 16, I read this book over summer vacation, which consisted, mainly, of a horribly long driving trip with my family from SoCal to NoCal. When I got to the end of the book, I immediately turned back and read it again. It’s a long book. Did I understand it then? No. Not entirely. Do I understand it now, at 72. Yes. Utterly.

 
It Was OK
3 months

ok i didn't finish it

but i couldn't keep reading the same chapter over and over, which is:

introduce this character, what's his deal?

he's in the war, he's crazy, he's not crazy, depends on who you ask

the circumstances surrounding his service and deployment are ridiculous and make no sense because war makes no sense, war satirizes itself

and repeat

just a lot of that i guess

 
Loved It
6 months

I found this funny, tragic, entertaining, complex, but at times frustrating and boring. I liked the anti-authoritarian sentiment.

 
It Was OK
9 months

Anti-war sentiment

Tragicomedy

Absurd humor

Satirical portrayal

Grim realities

Uncomfortable truths

Vivid imagery

War disillusionment

Emotional impact

Authentic portrayal

 
Loved It
2 years

This book had me in stitches. Lots of interesting characters, quotes that you may recognize and depressingly realistic.

 
Loved It
2 years

Best anti-war book ever published -loved Heller's scathing wit and humor. Very few anti-war books have the right mix of humor and seriousness to really drive home the message.

 
Loved It
2 years

Well-written book. Took me several tries to really understand this book.

 
Loved It
2 years

One of the best I've read, veering wildly between the absurdly funny and the bleak.

 

About the Author:

Joseph Heller was born in Brooklyn in 1923. In 1961, he published Catch-22, which became a bestseller and, in 1970, a film. He went on to write such novels as Good as Gold, God Knows, Picture This, Closing Time, and Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man. Heller died in 1999.

 
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