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Catch-22

Joseph Heller

Start date: February 1, 2014

Finish date: March 1, 2014

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Jun 06, 2016 Parikhit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: war, europe

There are few books that leave you gasping for breath, not out of sheer annoyance, but a bitter pervading truth, happily ignored, rising like a threat inside you, rushing like a devastating flood through every vein and capillary and exploding inside your head leaving behind a gaping hole of nothingness. This was what I went through with 'Catch-22'-a book I have been struggling to read over the past few months, abandoned reading when priorities went topsy-turvy, reread with a gusto after days of There are few books that leave you gasping for breath, not out of sheer annoyance, but a bitter pervading truth, happily ignored, rising like a threat inside you, rushing like a devastating flood through every vein and capillary and exploding inside your head leaving behind a gaping hole of nothingness. This was what I went through with 'Catch-22'-a book I have been struggling to read over the past few months, abandoned reading when priorities went topsy-turvy, reread with a gusto after days of desertion, screamed a silent shout when the Catch-22 in 'Catch-22' started making sense and although I feel victorious for finally finishing the book I felt lost, dejected and helpless upon having completed the book. Undoubtedly there is humour in the most bizarre of all situations but it is, rather, the laughter of relinquishment, the kind of laughter you laugh when you know there is nothing to save you and it is better to laugh then sulk and ponder. Yet, the mind dangerously strays over enemy lines of thinking and knowingly, unknowingly jumps over an earth filled with landmines of catalysts of more thinking.

My knowledge of World War II was limited to the Nazi oppression, nuclear attack on Japan, countries involved; little did I read about the plight of soldiers in the battle. Of all that I had read and seen about the war was about the dire straits of the denizens torn in the war between countries. 'Catch-22', in its unique way, narrated the internal battle the soldiers had been fighting in the fight to uphold the 'honour' of their countries. Yossarian, the main protagonist, an American soldier, is possessed by the thought that everything and everyone is plotting to kill him and is desperate to return home. 'Catch-22' is largely his whacky tale and that of the other soldiers. It is a sheer cacophony, a complete madness, senseless, illogical, but there is an underlying sense that emerges slowly, a pattern develops and somehow one and one start making two. The madness that war brings about, of all that it does, leaves behind, destroys under its wrath-not just places but people too. 'Catch-22' was one of the most unconventional books that I have read and likely will be.
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Dec 28, 2016 Sagheer Afzal rated it really liked it

Having now read this renowned tome I can certainly appreciate its position in the canon of 'Great books'. It is an audacious romp' deploying everything possible to make you laugh at the absurdity of war. Non sequiturs, oxy-morons, bawdy scenes; are all used unstintingly to entertain the reader.

Heller; like many writers who teach English adores the whole 'streams of consciousness' technique and it most certainly does not detract the appeal of the book. But it is verbose and you can't help but fe ...more

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