Catch-22 is like no other novel we have ever read. It has its own style, its own rationale, its own extraordinary character. It moves back and forth from hilarity to horror. It is outrageously funny and strangely affecting. It is totally original. It is set in the closing months of World War II, in an American bomber squadron on a small island off Italy. Its hero is a bombardier named Yossarian, who is frantic and furious because thousands of people he hasn't even met keep trying to kill him. (He has decided to live forever ...
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Catch-22 is like no other novel we have ever read. It has its own style, its own rationale, its own extraordinary character. It moves back and forth from hilarity to horror. It is outrageously funny and strangely affecting. It is totally original. It is set in the closing months of World War II, in an American bomber squadron on a small island off Italy. Its hero is a bombardier named Yossarian, who is frantic and furious because thousands of people he hasn't even met keep trying to kill him. (He has decided to live forever even if he has to die in the attempt.) His problem is Colonel Cathcart, who keeps raising the number of missions the men have to fly. The others range from Lieutenant Milo Minderbinder, a dedicated entrepreneur (he bombs his own airfield when the Germans make him a reasonable offer: cost plus 6%), to the dead man in Yossarian's tent; from Major Major Major, whose tragedy is that he resembles Henry Fonda, to Nately's whore's kid sister; from Lieutenant Scheisskopf (he loves a parade) to Major -- de Coverley, whose face is so forbidding no one has ever dared ask him his first name; from Clevinger, who is lost in the clouds, to the soldier in white, who lies encased in bandages from head to toe and may not even be there at all; from Dori Duz, who does, to the wounded gunner Snowden, who lies dying in the tail of Yossarian's plane and at last reveals his terrifying secret. Catch-22 is a microcosm of the twentieth-century world as it might look to someone dangerously sane. It is a novel that lives and moves and grows with astonishing power and vitality. It is, we believe, one of the strongest creations of the mid-century.
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Very Good jacket. Signed. First Edition. First THUS. Signed by author. Minor edge wear may be present due to storage. Otherwise NF, appears unread. Very Clean Copy-Over 500, 000 Internet Orders Filled.
One thing I hate in a work of fiction is a lot of "telling" over "action" but with Catch-22 I figured I had to be missing something that it was ME - after all, it is regarded as one of the greatest novels ever. Now, I understand that there are different styles when it comes to telling vs showing but this book so far has been ridiculous and I now know why I have tried 3 times unsuccessfully to get past the first few chapters. I am going to fight my way through it this time but not happily because I have been told for so many years by people whose literary opinions I respect that Catch 22 is the bee's knees. At some point, maybe the next chapter, or the chapter after that, I will get to the action. I know the story has action to it - I know there's a plot, because it's been made into a fine movie. And I know that some authors tell a little more than others and some readers enjoy a little telling with their action. But I have no idea what Heller is up to in the first 5 chapters of Catch 22. I've been told that the book is hilarious but if it is, it must be later on. The movie is very funny so that's what I'm hoping for. I normally would wait till I finish a book to review it but I am making a special exception for Catch 22 because so far it has been agonizingly boring.
Rick
Apr 12, 2016
Better than expected
The copy I received was better than expected. This book is a classic and a must to under stand the origin and meaning of "Catch-22" so commonly used in our language today.
David W
Aug 31, 2014
Sane insanity
Once you have read this book, one realises that the widespread use of "Catch 22" to describe a situation so often; could not be further from the truth of the definition as described in this book.
Read it, and enjoy.
Dr S
Nov 21, 2013
A Classic
There is nothing to review. A Great book and a Great writer. I lent my copy and never got it back. No bookcase should be without one and so I have replaced mine. It should be read every three years on a regular basis for its humour and insight into life and human frailty.
Jack W
May 2, 2013
Heller's Book is a classic
Joseph Heller only wrote one book worth reading, but it is very good and a joy to read. My only paperbac k copy is long worn out and I had to have a good hard copy for my library.
