Catch 22- The discussion

[Raúl G.]

Hello everybody, I am new in Goodreads and in the discussion groups. I just happen to be re-reading Catch-22, and although I haven't finished it yet again, I will leave a tiny comment.

This book came to me the first time by itself, abandoned on a table in London with a bookcrossing label saying "pick me and read me" or something like that, It has been the only book I have ever read that made me laugh aloud in the middle of the bus, and not one but several times, and it was very hard to let it go and leave it on another table once I finished it. Not long after that I bought my own copy because it was a book I wanted to own. I have read two other books from Heller and none impressed me as much, so I started it again, and although it is tougher that I remember I marvel again at its absurd moments and at the way its timeline is arranged, forth and back, adding little bits of information and giving nothing whole.

PS: I liked it so much that I bought it as presents for my father in Spanish and as I leafed through the book I knew it was a mistake. It's humour is impossible to translate. If its not in English, the intelligent, witty, absurd humour becomes plain silly.

One of the best books I have ever read.
And sorry if it's a silly intervention.

[Sherry, Doyenne]

Rhulk wrote: "Hello everybody, I am new in Goodreads and in the discussion groups. I just happen to be re-reading Catch-22, and although I haven't finished it yet again, I will leave a tiny comment.

This book c..."

Not silly at all, Rhulk. Welcome to Constant Reader. I didn't reread Catch-22 for this discussion, but I certainly remember the absurdities and the dark humor. I can imagine that wouldn't be easy to translate.

[Yasmin]

not a silly comment at all, I'm new too and am now intrigued to read Catch-22, I've heard its excellent and it is on my to read list, but I do like to hear first hand recommendations :)

[Helen]

Rhulk wrote: "Hello everybody, I am new in Goodreads and in the discussion groups. I just happen to be re-reading Catch-22, and although I haven't finished it yet again, I will leave a tiny comment.

This book c..."

I love this book! The way it intertwines the ridiculous with the deadly serious is mind-blowingly great.

[Greer]

Rhulk wrote: "Hello everybody, I am new in Goodreads and in the discussion groups. I just happen to be re-reading Catch-22, and although I haven't finished it yet again, I will leave a tiny comment.

This book c..."

I can relate to this. It's my father's favorite book and he wouldn't let me read it when I was 13 because he thought I was too young to truly appeciate it. But of course I read it on the sly -- one day I was reading it in World History class instead of paying attention, and then laughed out loud, which didn't make my teacher too happy. It became my favorite book too and I've read it 5 times (but not for the last 15 years or so -- I'll have to revisit it soon).