From the Bookshelf of Reading List Completists…

Catch-22

Joseph Heller

Start date: October 1, 2018

Finish date: October 31, 2018

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: October 2018 Reading List Completests Group Selection
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What Members Thought

Jan 08, 2013 Matthew rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, read-more-than-once, 2018, completist-book-club, audio, classic, favorites, historical-fiction

I originally read this about 15 years ago. When I joined Goodreads and added the books I had previously read I remembered it as a 3 star book. I am not sure if it is being 15 years older or the fact that I did the audiobook this time, but it was easily 5 stars now!

The first thing that came to mind after I was a few chapters into this was the show “Seinfeld”. Always touted as a show about nothing, this book was kind of about nothing. It is series of smaller anecdotes, usually somewhat silly, that I originally read this about 15 years ago. When I joined Goodreads and added the books I had previously read I remembered it as a 3 star book. I am not sure if it is being 15 years older or the fact that I did the audiobook this time, but it was easily 5 stars now!

The first thing that came to mind after I was a few chapters into this was the show “Seinfeld”. Always touted as a show about nothing, this book was kind of about nothing. It is series of smaller anecdotes, usually somewhat silly, that really don’t have a specific function in moving the plot. It is a satire about war, red tape, chain of command, etc. and the inherent futility involved. While war and the tragedy that goes with it are usually not considered amusing, this feels like a therapeutic, tongue-in-cheek poke that needed to be made to maintain sanity.

There are a plethora of characters – some of which are more caricatures – that may get your head spinning at first. Luckily, Heller gives them all memorable names which helps keep them organized easily. Maybe that was not his intention, but when you need to remember if it was Milo Minderbender or Major Major Major Major (yes, that is his name – my spell check did not like me repeating a word four times!) who did something, the reader is definitely given naming tools to keep them connected!

I mentioned that there is not necessarily an overall story, but there are definitely themes. One is doing what is best for you no matter who gets stepped on in the process. Another is twisting the facts to make sure the ultimate outcome is what works best for you. And, of course, the BIG idea that has become a common colloquialism (I know I use it just about every day) is the situation of Catch-22. Early in the book, the first example of Catch-22 is that if you say you want to fly bombing missions, you must be crazy so they will take you off the missions – only someone crazy would want to fly missions. But, if you are not on the missions, your sanity is no longer in question so they will make you fly them. If you say you don’t want to fly them, you are sane so you will have to fly them. Basically, no matter how you feel about flying missions, you will end up flying them anyway! Situations like this are repeated throughout the book where there is no good answer to the situation at hand – often with hilarious and frustrating results.

Now, I mention that the book is humorous satire, but it does have many dark moments as well. This kind of goes back to my mention of the discourse within the novel being therapeutic. War is crazy and what can happen is brutal. Oddly enough, a Jimmy Buffett quote from Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes comes to mind: “If we weren't all crazy we would go insane.” That pretty much sums up the book in a nutshell!

So, should you read this book? Well, I think that question is a Catch-22 in itself. I think about 50% of the people who try this will hate it or dnf it. I think the other 50% of the people who read it will love it, quote it, put it on their favorites list. Where the Catch-22 is that I think any person has the capability to be in either category depending on where their mindset is right now. If I recommend it to you now you may hate me, or you may thank me profusely. In 10 years is would be visa versa! I do think the audiobook helped me appreciate it more and it is now in my favorites. Will that happen for you? I definitely cannot be the one to decide that!
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270 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2013 MK rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: z0z-b-2013-11-cc-noms

Okay, now that I've read it all, plus all of the bonus material, I feel ready to read the novel ;-).

More seriously, had I gone in to the first reading, knowing the text played with timelines, ie jumped around randomly, and circled certain events more than once, and knowing the chapters were best digested one by one, sort of periodically, I'd have saved some initial confusion that set in at around the 25% done mark.

Set aside the casual misogyny, too.

The book is simply incredible. I want to read ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2013 Jason rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Absurdity puzzle piece story - cleverly orchestrated. It hit the hilarious, tragic, and the hilariously tragic notes perfectly and he made some unforgettable characters. Everything is wrapped in the believable ridiculousness that is just too brilliant. The only thing that held it back for me is a somewhat soft mid-section, understandable character development that was still rife with irony and satire, but was just somehow unappetizing and repetitive.

3 likes · Like · see review