Rating: 
Summary: not a deserving sequel for a awesome classic like catch-22
Review: In Closing Time, Heller satyrizes city-life, enterprise, and corporate greed at the end of the 20th century just as well as he painted the anxieties and horrors of World War II.
Nowadays, there is little threat of a violent death, instead there is the terrible certainty of approaching mortality as Yosarian approaches seventy years of age. In some ways, this book is about dying.
I think Heller was influenced by Mark Twain and Grouch Marx for his comedic style.
The acerbic comical aspects are up-to-date, and relevent to professionals in the corporate and poitical realms, of all ages. The same hilarious wordings and characterizations of Milo and Wintergreen and the Chaplain are all here, striving in today's world...Just trying to thrive, as well as survive.
Yosarian is, of course largely agnostic though not nihilistic, but pradoxically axiomatic; so consequently the book is largely about sex, death, money, power, corruption, yet a hope for justice and the punishment of the wickid ("Dirty Old Man Stuff" as one reviewer mistakenly puts it).
I loved "Catch 22" (and will re-read it), but I *fully* appreciate "Closing Time" (and have re-read it several times).
The symbolism and literary depth are really innovative. For example, Yosarian's son proposes that the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal is actually what Dante's Inferno was supposed to represent, and it seems completely believable.
Much more needs to be said about this fine work of pseudo-fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: Relevent to our times, acerbic, poignant, hilarious!
Review: In Closing Time, Heller satyrizes city-life, enterprise, and corporate greed at the end of the 20th century just as well as he painted the anxieties and horrors of World War II.
Nowadays, there is little threat of a violent death, instead there is the terrible certainty of approaching mortality as Yosarian approaches seventy years of age. In some ways, this book is about dying.
I think Heller was influenced by Mark Twain and Grouch Marx for his comedic style.
The acerbic comical aspects are up-to-date, and relevent to professionals in the corporate and poitical realms, of all ages. The same hilarious wordings and characterizations of Milo and Wintergreen and the Chaplain are all here, striving in today's world...Just trying to thrive, as well as survive.
Yosarian is, of course largely agnostic though not nihilistic, but pradoxically axiomatic; so consequently the book is largely about sex, death, money, power, corruption, yet a hope for justice and the punishment of the wickid ("Dirty Old Man Stuff" as one reviewer mistakenly puts it).
I loved "Catch 22" (and will re-read it), but I *fully* appreciate "Closing Time" (and have re-read it several times).
The symbolism and literary depth are really innovative. For example, Yosarian's son proposes that the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal is actually what Dante's Inferno was supposed to represent, and it seems completely believable.
Much more needs to be said about this fine work of pseudo-fiction.
Rating:
Summary: not a deserving sequel for a awesome classic like catch-22
Review: individually the book isn't too bad,but as a sequel to catch22 it SUCKS!
closing time tries to cash in on the phenomenal success of its prequel, but miserably fails.
i advise those who haven't read catch22 yet,not to prejudge it based on closing time.catch22 is one of the best books ever!
Rating: 
Summary: Give It Up, Joe
Review: Is this the same Yossarian from "Catch 22"? This reader doesn't recognize him. Or Milo or anybody else. Maybe it's the abridgment for audiotape. Well, I'm just thanking my lucky stars I heard the tape, because I can't imagine anything more boring and pointless than reading the entire book. Heller, give us a break. Go out and get a job. People don't act like that in corporate America. (Nor do they act the way you described them way back in "Something Happened," for that matter.) Time for a reality check, man. The only time you scored was by correctly asserting that the Wagner "Ring" cycle is a clue to our modern demise, and with the teeny point that wives make it impossible to hear an entire opera on the stereo without at some point interrupting with some inanity. But is that worth sitting through an entire book? Also, Elliot Gould is to be commended for applying his dull, lifeless voice to Heller's dull, lifeless prose. Congrat! s, both. This is one cliched apocalypse you can live without. Now, I'll tell you what's a good sequel: the books following "Rabbit, Run" by John Updike.
Rating: 
Summary: catch 23?
Review: It could be argued that in embarking on writing a sequel to "Catch 22" was indeed the ultimate Catch 22 itself. Unless "Closing Time" proved to be an absolute classic, a wonderful funny-sad commentry on contemporary life, then it would pale in comparison with it's predesessor. Make it too similar, of course, and the author is open to charges that he is merely retreading old ground. Heller waited 25 years to write this sequel, and sets some of the characters introduced in "Catch 22" in modern life. More than forty years after the War, Yossarian remains as abrasive and dissatisfied as ever in his old age. Milo remains the entrepreneur of his earlier life. Both these characters have made successes of themselves in the business world. "Closing Time" attachs the absurdities of the contemporary business world in the same way as "Catch 22" attachs the absurdities and attrocities of war. Milo's new idea is to sell a stealth bomber type aircraft to the American military, and he employs Yossarian and his son, Michael, to help him sell the plane to the military. Yossarian has the ear of the "little p***k", the American President, who is obsessed with video games. Yossarian also has the plan of holding a massively expensive and gaudy wedding ceremony in a bus shelter. When exploring this possibility he finds a network of tunnels beneath the ground, where officials are safe from nuclear war, and dead people live with their wealth.The characters of Yossarian and Milo remain as good points in this book. Yossarian has the feel of a "dirty old man" in some of his sexual flirtings, and has certainly grown old disgracefully. He does however show a devotion to his son Michael. Yossarian still shows that biting wit at times, especially when dealing with the private detective that has bugged his telephone, and in conversations with his son Michael over what he is going to do with his life. Milo's dodgy dealings remain as fun as ever, attempting to sell a plane he has no intention of building. Mingling with these are passages from other old characters Sammy and Lew, which bring a note of seriousness in comparison with the decadent lifestyle led by the other two. It remains strange to see Yossarian in such circumstances as in this book. "Catch 22" is a difficult if impossible book to follow up, and the only way to really read this is to totally detach that book. If you do not expect another "Catch 22" you will still enjoy the updated exploits of Yossarian and friends.
Rating:
Summary: catch 23?
Review: It could be argued that in embarking on writing a sequel to "Catch 22" was indeed the ultimate Catch 22 itself. Unless "Closing Time" proved to be an absolute classic, a wonderful funny-sad commentry on contemporary life, then it would pale in comparison with it's predesessor. Make it too similar, of course, and the author is open to charges that he is merely retreading old ground. Heller waited 25 years to write this sequel, and sets some of the characters introduced in "Catch 22" in modern life. More than forty years after the War, Yossarian remains as abrasive and dissatisfied as ever in his old age. Milo remains the entrepreneur of his earlier life. Both these characters have made successes of themselves in the business world. "Closing Time" attachs the absurdities of the contemporary business world in the same way as "Catch 22" attachs the absurdities and attrocities of war. Milo's new idea is to sell a stealth bomber type aircraft to the American military, and he employs Yossarian and his son, Michael, to help him sell the plane to the military. Yossarian has the ear of the "little p***k", the American President, who is obsessed with video games. Yossarian also has the plan of holding a massively expensive and gaudy wedding ceremony in a bus shelter. When exploring this possibility he finds a network of tunnels beneath the ground, where officials are safe from nuclear war, and dead people live with their wealth.The characters of Yossarian and Milo remain as good points in this book. Yossarian has the feel of a "dirty old man" in some of his sexual flirtings, and has certainly grown old disgracefully. He does however show a devotion to his son Michael. Yossarian still shows that biting wit at times, especially when dealing with the private detective that has bugged his telephone, and in conversations with his son Michael over what he is going to do with his life. Milo's dodgy dealings remain as fun as ever, attempting to sell a plane he has no intention of building. Mingling with these are passages from other old characters Sammy and Lew, which bring a note of seriousness in comparison with the decadent lifestyle led by the other two. It remains strange to see Yossarian in such circumstances as in this book. "Catch 22" is a difficult if impossible book to follow up, and the only way to really read this is to totally detach that book. If you do not expect another "Catch 22" you will still enjoy the updated exploits of Yossarian and friends.
Rating:
Summary: Some people can't take the hint
Review: It is almost funny that this would be described as a sequel toCatch-22, when it is not a sequel at all. It seems to me that Hellermerely took a few of the characters from Catch-22 and dropped them into another story. Does that make it a sequel? No, there is irony in the fact that he stole characters from everything he felt like. Death in Venice, or Dr. Strangelove, and Kurt Vonnegut himself, because I think Heller is making a comment on all of us, not on the characters. Has anyone noticed besides myself that the Chaplain's name is different in the two books? The modern world is obsessed with profiting from others' work. It is a satire, people. A satire takes a situation, and sends it spiraling out of control. Hell under New York? Or is New York Hell? The Little Pr**k? And the fact that characters can exist in their own realm of logic, and force the world to work around them...Not a traditional narrative, a satire. He even put himself in the book. Steal from whatever you want, as long as it makes a profit. Evidence, you ask? Ever listen to a word from Milo's mouth? Cheer up, all of you disapointed Catch-22 fans. Joey Heller is leading you down a path, and the more you recognize it, them more you will enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: The Unobtainable Perfection of History
Review: It seems most people that read this book have read Catch-22 at one time or another. And there is one undiniable fact about this book, it is simply not as good as Catch-22, but then what is?one annoying aspect is the fact that the chaplains name has changed from Catch-22 (as i'm only half way through this book, so that might be explained later, so forgive me if it is) from Shipman to Tappman. and no Orr so far either! But apart from that it is still a great book!
Rating: 
Summary: Not as annovative as Catch-22
Review: It seems that the best way to enjoy this book is to read it
before reading Catch-22. Thus one can overlook the flaws in
the writing (As compared to Catch-22) as well as some major
flaws in the plot.
Rating:
Summary: How the HELLer did this book ever get published!?@#$%^&*+
Review: It stinks! Don't buy it! In an age when publishing houses refuse to read manuscripts by new unpublished writers, (The brilliant classic "Catch-22" would have gone, unread, onto the "slush pile" if it had been written in the 90s) and only want material written by established authors...well nuff said. Joseph Heller please don't do this to me again. Please rest on you former laurels. Make this bomb your last bombing mission. You've had it. Even Doc Daneeka and Colonel Korn would send you back to the states after "Closing Time".
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