Catch-22
discussion
I can't get past the first two chapters - is it worth pushing through?!
If I can add - When we look at each other for distorting mirror, someone who is seeking the humour and understands - laughs. This book is about life "in a distorting mirror."
Catch 22 is a masterpiece.
Rebecca wrote: "I'm an avid reader, and not shy of trickier reads, but I just cannot seem to get past the first two chapters of this book. I've tried twice now, and each time I'm left feeling either bored, confuse..."Try the audio book. Hearing it helps.
The answer is no put the book away for the rest of the summer book after reading and just kipping to Major Major Major. It gets funny there after that it gets very repetative. Once you read something funny the subject matter changes rapidly to serious matter. It took me year to read my copy for the sole purpose of finishing the book. Honestly Cartch-22 is not a page turner of a book. For me the book sucks because it's not edited to today's modern books where subject matter is broken up in parts with triple spaces' astericks' or a new capter. The content is offensive because their is violence agianst women. The thing is that Yussarin dosn't want to fly more mission and get oui of the war. With 400 plus pages it bores the hell out of you. Good Luck Rebbeca.
I previously wrote not to read unless you want to, but I changed my mind. Sometimes, it is not a waste to read what you can find no values in. I also thought two chapters was enough, but many here seem to have got it long after that. So, maybe you should complete those two chapters you read into an experience either unexpectedly great or just disastrous.
I have always said if you don't like the first couple of chapters, you won't like the book. It is more than simply satire but rather satire mixed with absurdist humour that either you love or hate. I personally love it.
It's a super weird book and can be hard to get through, but i definitely found it worth reading. As the book goes on it gets more interesting and, personally, I got very intrigued by the characters and the 'catch 22' scenarios.
Ken wrote: "It made such an impression, on my impressionable young mind, that when we had to write our mid-term English exam I signed mine, Washington Irving."Too funny!
I couldn't read it first time, could read it the second. It's lived with me ever since.
Yossarian is one of my favorite characters; the book baffled me when I first read it; I was 13 years old; after some 100 pages, I couldn't understand a thing; thought maybe I wasn't the only one with the deficiency! Second time reading made the book more clear, at the third it finally paid my time with satisfaction and built more love for the characters. Same goes for another book "Infinite Jest", which is currently my "Favorite book".
I've read it 3 times, I love this book.However, I was bought by the first couple of chapters, so if you didn't like it, there's more of the same coming up.
The thing about this book is that you think it all adds up in the end, but it's very hard to actually do the adding up. So if you don't enjoy the jokes and the mad-raving-type of writing, maybe you should skip this one.
Rebecca wrote: "I'm an avid reader, and not shy of trickier reads, but I just cannot seem to get past the first two chapters of this book. I've tried twice now, and each time I'm left feeling either bored, confuse..."Hi, still think that Catch 22 is definitely one of the Great Novel of the 20th century. I would suggest to go on reading but, probably, if you didn't enjoy first pages you won't enjoy the rest... Bye
Joseph wrote: "I read "Catch 22" when I was in the army in the 1960s. At first, the humor caught my attention, but the thinking process continued long after the read. During the read, it occurred to me that Helle..."I agree completely. I found it on my dad's shelf when I was 14 and I tought it was an anti- war novel (back then we used to have Vietnam, Chile and the military regime in USSR). I read it again in the Army and when I finally became an adult (ah ah ah) and I changed my mind: this book, which is a masterpiece of american literature, is concerned with the danger of something like a dictatorship which seems to be implicite in every social system (Heller must have been something like an anarchist). pS, it's curious that my dad, who intriduced me to Catch 22, used to tell us about the B25's bombing the harbour of La Spezia just 10 miles from where he lived when he was a kid..Probably Heller was aboard....
Rebecca wrote: "I'm an avid reader, and not shy of trickier reads, but I just cannot seem to get past the first two chapters of this book. I've tried twice now, and each time I'm left feeling either bored, confuse..."There is some history or story before the story with Catch-22. After WWII, everyone was writing The Book about the war. Heller felt that he was not willing/able to write The Book, so he wrote about the frustration of the rules of the military and the personalities that were found there. Somehow, his take on how war is 'organized' became The Book about WWII. Knowing the times and the culture of this book might help you enjoy it.
Catch-22 is always listed as one of the classic humor books of all times but when I finally read it, I found it very much overrated. To be fair it could be that, like the title itself, many ideas in the book are now taken for granted in American culture. I'm sure it was revolutionary in it's time, but for me, I prefer Vonnegut's treatment of war.
Catch 22 has been shown to be one of the most abandoned books on Goodreads. More people pick it up to never finish it than almost any other book. And it's probably because the book is so randomly out of order. Most people don't get attached to the characters until over 100 pages in.
So push through. Get to about 150-200 pages before deciding if it's worth finishing or not. And if you make it that far, you will want to finish it.
So push through. Get to about 150-200 pages before deciding if it's worth finishing or not. And if you make it that far, you will want to finish it.
In a word: obnoxious. The book has been sitting on my shelf for years because the first couple of chapters were opaque nonsense which I have been unable, or unwilling, to penetrate and go on to the rest of it.
Julie wrote: "I really enjoyed reading this book, but I do see what you mean about the slow start. I read it on a train, in the days before smartphones and ipads, so I either had to read it, or look out the win..."Perhaps that's what Heller's intent was with the opening - to 'cultivate boredom'. Problem is, he was so successful I couldn't persevere.
Hmmm. I'm currently trawling my 'to read' list trying to choose my next read and Catch-22 is still no closer to being endured...anyone want to suggest something scintillating?!
Just think Groucho Marx being channeled by angry, word-bloated 1950s English major on speed, flying off the handle about war. Then it is all clear.
"Cultivating boredom" makes sense. I mean, at least you'll live longer.
I had to read it in high school. Considering I didn't like to read back then, and that I remember enjoying it, I recommend finishing it. I didn't start reading for enjoyment until I attended college, and someone placed Hunt for Red October in my hands.
This is one of the very few books that has made me laugh out loud. This and George Melly's, 'Owning Up'. Sometmes I say, 'I see everything twice' just for fun. Utterly absurd yet, to me, very, very funny. Went to the doctor this week and was tempted to say, 'I see everything twice'. I was sure it wouldn't go down very well, so I didn't.
"It was love at first sight," Helller begins Catch 22, and I was hooked on page 1. I have no idea how many times I've re-read it since and still can't think of all those crazy characters without smiling. BUT readers are wired differently and tastes vary. Some will never appreciate the anti-bureaucracy humor. Writer Graham Greene called Marcel Proust the greatest novelist of the 20th century, but, in my opinion, Remembrance of Things Past, with its 2,000 characters, is a seven volume root canal. C'est la vie. Ol' Graham and I are just wired differently.
Definitely Yeah!.. i have heard this from many people,even i put this book down many a times and much to my disappointment, whenever i pick this book, i had to start all over again!.. Finally, one day when i did somehow manage to go halfway through,i could not put the book down, further, i read it a couple more times on my kindle, even purchased the audiobook and still go through the highlighted portions!..
Hi, I know what you mean, when I first started to read it I was wondering what all the fuss was about but I did get hooked, and although 'enjoyable' isn't perhaps the right word to describe it, I did get engrossed in the story and I'm glad I did finish it - won't read it again though.
>I can't get past the first two chapters - is it worth pushing through?! The answer is yes.... :-)
Reply to Rebecca: I can only suggest you keep reading until you find out what "catch 22" is.
James wrote: ""It was love at first sight," Helller begins Catch 22, and I was hooked on page 1. I have no idea how many times I've re-read it since and still can't think of all those crazy characters without sm..."Your comments made me smile...thank you!
Gary wrote: "Reply to Rebecca: I can only suggest you keep reading until you find out what "catch 22" is."Doesn't everyone know what Catch-22 is?! It's sort of part of our culture now, isn't it?! Or are there more secrets hidden in the book?
The difference could be explained as some sort of cultural divide. By that I mean that Catch 22 was published in 1961 - when I was 16 and World War II still loomed large in our cultural memory. I read the book in the mid 1960s while I was in the army and when many people were questioning the values of corporate America. Today it seems like media and even the government treats corporate leaders as superstars, when they do not deserve it and even when they steal from us. It is still a funny book, but I can see why the overriding metaphor is not so easily grasped our culture has turned in a different direction.
Rebecca wrote: "I'm an avid reader, and not shy of trickier reads, but I just cannot seem to get past the first two chapters of this book. I've tried twice now, and each time I'm left feeling either bored, confuse..."I felt good with the book as I put it down sometimes and thought of different things. The more I read further the more fun the story was to me.
It is a tough read but hang in there it does get better. Also, try to finish whatever books you start. Try not to make it a habit to stop reading prematurely.
I agree with Abdullah - sometimes I ask myself why I am reading a particular book, I continue on and find that it all comes together for me in the end and I do not regret hanging on.
I gave up on it 30 years ago; still have it on my bookshelf. Every once in a while I pick it up and leaf through it. I keep getting a 'no, not yet'. That is enough for me. There are hundreds of great books that I have read and/or waiting for me to read. If the urge to read it ever comes I will. I took War and Peace to Cuba with me and read it on the beach. The environment and culture of Cuba almost set the mood to read the book. I read Ulysses once when I needed to prove something to myself. If I can get through those two, I know I can read "Catch 22". But it will not dictate to me when I am to open its cover again; I will tell it when I want it to be ready for reading... LOL
I definitely had to be in the right mindset for this book. Lots of fits and starts. That said, it's a good book to have marinating in your mind for a few decades . . .
I was reading this in 1988 while sitting in the orthopedic surgeon's office with a grade 3 A/C separation, and when I read the line, "Is anyone in the John, Milton?" I started laughing aloud, despite the agony it induced. I have no explanation for this.
John wrote: "I was reading this in 1988 while sitting in the orthopedic surgeon's office with a grade 3 A/C separation, and when I read the line, "Is anyone in the John, Milton?" I started laughing aloud, despi..."If I was in the John, reading that line, I would sh*t my pants LOL. Thanks for the 'friendship' John
Ronald wrote: "I definitely had to be in the right mindset for this book. Lots of fits and starts. That said, it's a good book to have marinating in your mind for a few decades . . ."Well it has marinated in my mind for three decades also, so I guess what I hear you saying is to smell the bouquet, swirl and imbibe - then pretend that I like alcohol or the euphoric feeling one gets after a bit of titillating activity - have I kinda got your drift? LOL
Not all books are for all people. (I have a very well read sister who insists that Moby Dick is nothing but a boring catalog of whale species.) I loved Catch 22 when I first read it, but I had the benefit of (often absurd) military service behind me. If you can't get into the book yet, give yourself some time to season. It will still be there when you feel up to it.
Really, try the audio book, then go back the print. It is a great book.
A.R. wrote: "Not all books are for all people. (I have a very well read sister who insists that Moby Dick is nothing but a boring catalog of whale species.) I loved Catch 22 when I first read it, but I had the ...""Give myself some time..." You make me feel young - thank you. I am 70 next year. LOL
I read this in high school and did like it then. It struck me, in spite of the very serious situations in the story, as somewhat amusing. (Remember I was a teenager!!) But after working for government for 40+ years I don't see the story as so very amusing anymore. Many people have died because of these screw-ups, misunderstandings, miscommunications..... whatever anyone wants to call them. (To me they are cluster#$@#s.)
It is now a totally different story to me than it was. Well-written and telling a very valuable story.
I have friends, even today, that tell me it is the kind of story that goes too far to ensure that there will be a real story line. If it were only a story and not all too real!!!
Yes, it is definitely worth pushing through - you highlight a good point about Catch-22, one of my all-time favorites: the opening is weak, or, the opening is the weakest part of the book...Rebecca wrote: "I'm an avid reader, and not shy of trickier reads, but I just cannot seem to get past the first two chapters of this book. I've tried twice now, and each time I'm left feeling either bored, confuse..."
Oh, I see that this thread is almost one year old now...question is, did you push through and read Catch-22?Rebecca wrote: "I'm an avid reader, and not shy of trickier reads, but I just cannot seem to get past the first two chapters of this book. I've tried twice now, and each time I'm left feeling either bored, confuse..."
Glenn wrote: "Yadvendra wrote: "The story connects better with people with a military background."Some elements of it, perhaps, but you don't have to be in the army to get Heller's message that war is futile.
..."
The character Milo Minderbinder points out who really wins in war. Those who profit from it.
I found Catch 22 an extremely good book to read many years ago. But I tried to read Lord of the Rings etc about 3 times and never got past page 2. I guess different people like different things.
Christine wrote: "To me, this is just part of Catch 22. The first time I read it it took me years of picking it up, loosing interest and putting it back on the shelf again. Finally, when I did manage to convince m..."Ruth wrote: "Very pleased that Rebecca has decided to give this book another try. I agree with D. and Paul. Readers need to understand that this is satire. The first time I tried to read it I didn't realise thi..."
Rebecca wrote: "I'm an avid reader, and not shy of trickier reads, but I just cannot seem to get past the first two chapters of this book. I've tried twice now, and each time I'm left feeling either bored, confuse..."
Wendy wrote: "It is definitely worth sticking with it. First read it when I was younger and didn,t really get it, but after reading it a few times I have to say it's up there with my favourites."
One of best treatments of absurdity of modern warfare.
One of best treatments of absurdity of modern warfare. It is deeply ironic, which is probably a way to preserve sanity while in the midst of asinine but lethal demands.
James wrote: "Oh, I see that this thread is almost one year old now...question is, did you push through and read Catch-22?Rebecca wrote: "I'm an avid reader, and not shy of trickier reads, but I just cannot see..."
Hi James - not yet!! But I've gone from 'probably won't ever muster the energy to plough on', to 'definitely will read it, just not right now'.
After reading all of the comments (thank you all so much for taking the time to respond) it appears that most people concede that it takes a bit of perseverance, and the main consensus is that it's worth it, so I am determind to read it, just not quite yet!
I've just been a bit of limbo with which genre/book to read at the moment, opting for something less intense and requiring less concentration so I'm reading 'The suspicions of Mr Whicher' which is an easy but interesting read.
What are you reading now?
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I agree 100 percent, although sometimes it is difficult for some to understand entirely the satire ........:)