Catch-22
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I don't get it!













What would you expect from a sociological piece? Human beings don't make sense!


As you keep going, though, you start to "get it" a little better. It becomes funnier, you adapt to the style of writing.
The end makes the whole thing worth it. It took a little persistance, but the book is a classic for a reason, and I ended up loving it.
For those who think it's stupid, persist. For those who think you're stupid for not liking it, get off your literary high horse.


That said, other works considered genius by others are not those that I adore.
I agree with those who say that if you're not enjoying it by half way through, you're not going to care about the ending. I was one of those who couldn't put it down and cared about the characters immediately.

For me, it is The Novel of the 20th Century, or at least the second half of the century.
Interesting that so many people find it difficult to get into. I'm sure modern agents and publishers would drop it by the end of the first page. I'm glad to see that the people above are not afraid to get into difficult reading - which really repays the effort in this case.



The ending was so exciting and it came as a wonderful surprise. The system and its minions can be beaten! (Compare that to the bleakness of The Castle)

Maybe that says something about me, but I don't really mind. I think it's great - beginning, middle, and end (and yes especially the end). But if you don't like it, I'm okay with that also, not every book is meant for every person.





I didn't find it difficult to read. I just gave in and let Heller take me where he wanted to take me. There are few gratuitous details, and the shifts in time all make sense after a while.
It may not be The Great American Novel, but it sure as hell is A Great American Novel, and certainly the only one that I would classify as Essential Reading.

If you don't like it, don't plough through it hating it more and more, take a break a book shouldn't be a chore. If people are telling you that you should read it and insinuate that you are too stupid to appreciate it because you don't like it tell them to re read The Emperor’s New Clothes as they were clearly too stupid to appreciate that.


I will return though...
For first time readers, I've heard it numerous times that you should try to persist past the 100 page mark and things will become clearer.


Is the book better than the film?
.... easy now ...
I first watched the film when I was far too young, all I remember was “Help the bombardier ...help the bombardier”, it probably scarred me for life. It took about 25 years for me to bring myself to watch it again. I had heard so much about it, I thought I would finally enjoy it being older however, it appears I was none the wiser! While I understood the concept it appears I had missed the wit. Should I read the book to right this wrong?









The movie couldn't begin to capture the feeling of the book and the studio and director tried to play it safe with a more standard approach to telling the story. Allen Arkin was a great choice for Yossarian, but others, especially Art Garfunkel, tended to detract more than contribute.


The movie Catch-22 was good in its way, but we thought it distorted the story some because "help the bombardier" overwhelmed the movie out of proportion to its place in the book.


I read it in this time frame also and thought it most lucid and brilliant. And Timeless.

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Is it worth finishing?