Catch-22 in 101 Books to Read Before You Die

Mar 06, 2013 Jaclyn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-in-print

I first wanted to read Catch-22 a number of years ago when I spotted it in the cupboard of my ex-boyfriend's mother. Me, being shy, asked him to ask her if I could borrow it and he, being moderately useless, never did. Now, about eleven years laters I finally went out, bought the book, and sat down to read with much anticipation.

Finally, after a month or so of reading, I have to admit to myself with much disappointment (in myself) that I did not enjoy this book.

There, I said it.

Heller's writing ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2012 Alana rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-to-film, comedy, political, classics, boxall-s-1001-books, satire

I's brilliant, although extremely harsh, which was probably the intent. It's witty, sharply funny, tragic, and incredibly thought-provoking. The treatment of all women was appalling, the fights between the colonels and generals trying to look better would have been funny if it weren't literally costing men their lives. The whole absurdity of war and violence in general from all of mankind is treated equally harshly, with no answers presented other than to run away.

I listened to an audio version ...more

1 like · Like · see review

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

Like · see review

Jun 12, 2009 Irene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Funniest book ever!

Like · see review

May 20, 2013 Casey Albert rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014-challenge, amazon-100-challenge, 2015-challenge

Definitely worth reading! It took me a while to get through, but it is a one-of-a-kind book that is at once funny and horrifying, enlightening and puzzling, cohesive and scattered. I can see why this is considered by many to be a literary masterpiece.

Like · see review