Rating: 
Summary: A clever novel
Review: Joseph Heller began work on Catch-22, the story of a US airman's attempts to survive the madness of the Second World War, shortly after returning from the conflict himself. The book - tells the story of Captain Joseph Yossarian, a member of a US bomber crew stationed on the Mediterranean island of Pianosa. Yossarian is convinced that the military is trying to get him killed, and that those around him are insane, and he spends the book trying to get out of flying any more seemingly suicidal missions. Yossarian is surrounded by a cast of bizarre characters, including Colonel Scheisskopf, obsessed with winning military parades at the expense of just about everything else, the newly promoted Major Major, who spends most of the war trying to hide from his men, and the profiteer Lieutenant Milo Minderbinder, a pure capitalist whose only ambition is to make money out of the war, and who ends up charging a commission on every military engagement. Using satire, black humour and seemingly undefeatable logic, the book argues that war is insane, that the military is insane, and that, quite probably, modern life itself is insane too. As Yossarian struggles against the self-serving bureaucracy at the heart of the military machine, Heller argues that the individual will always struggle against the vested interests that control the world. And, perhaps, that madness is an entirely relevant reaction to this.
Yossarian's dilemma is summed up by "Catch-22" of the air force's code of practice, "which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind". What this means, as the book's Doc Daneeka explains to Yossarian of another flyer's situation, is that "Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to". In other words, the only sane reaction to war is to recognise its madness. But in doing so, and proving his sanity, Yossarian makes himself eligible to fight. As Yossarian puts it: "That's some catch, that Catch-22". The doctor, whose job is to save lives only so that they can be put in danger again, can only agree that "it's the best there is".
Rating: 
Summary: In a Class by Itself
Review: Some people judge satire on how funny it is. This is unquestionably one of the funniest books you will ever find. However, what makes this a classic, for me, is the force and power of its insights. It is powerful because it is true. It is not afraid to speak the truth. Catch 22 sustains a high level of devastating truth page after page. In this it is greater than any other modern novel I've read. In future generations, as long as there are people who are able to read and understand, this book will stand with Jonathan Swift, Rabelais, and Cervantes as one of the greatest satires. I'm not saying it is their equal, but it is definitely in their class. One last observation for those who know, or who want to know -- "T.S. Eliot".
Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Classic!
Review: The greatness of Joesph Heller's Catch-22 cannot possibly be overstated. It is simply one of the finest books ever written, and one can only hope that it will continue to be read by people young and old forever.
The novel is considered a satire. Set during World War II the main character is Yossarian, a wise cracking bombadier that wants nothing more than to survive the war. Yossarian proves too smart to be killed, but he is never smart enough to figure a way out of the war. The reason being Catch-22.
The "catch" is that the Air Force considers a man to be insane if he willingly continues to participate in bombing missions. The Air Force would not allow an insane man to do this, but he is volunteering.
On the flip side, if a man puts in a request to be relieved from bombing duties, then he must be sane. After all, is not attempting to prolong ones life the most sane thing to do. Of course, a sane man cannot possibly be relieved of duty. He is needed for the bomb run. The predicament confounds Yossarian throughout the novel as he attempts to stay alive. He has made it his mission to live forever even if it kills him. Of course, the closer Yossarian gets to completing his tour, the more his superior officer increases the number of bombing missions required to gain release from duty.
The novel is a black comedy that goes back and forth from hilarious to horrific. We laugh at the apparent conspiracy to keep Yossarian in the war. We cringe when the conditions at the military hospitals are fully detailed. It is impossible not to laugh at Major Major Major, who much to his dismay, looks too much like Henry Fonda. It is equally impossible to not to ponder the situation of the soldier in white, covered head to toe in bandages, if he is really there.
While the book is an anti-war piece focused on World War II, Catch-22 has not lost its importance today. Its biting sarcasm and wit can be enjoyed as much today as it was in the early 1960's when it was first published.
Heller employs a style that is all his own. The irony and satire that he creates is unparalleled. I am truly unable to think of a single person that would not love this book. Try it for yourself! I also must recommend another, totally obscure little novel called The Losers' Club by Richard Perez -- another absolute winner!
Rating:
Summary: Theres Always a Catch
Review: The novel Catch-22 deals with the soldiers stationed on a small island just off the coast of Italy during World War II. The main plot is focused around the story of Yossarian, one of the many soldiers on the island. Yossarian is different from many of the men stationed there as he takes the war personally and gets annoyed that he has to be there, facing danger everyday. He continually tries to find ways to get out of the war and go home, but every plan he comes up with always has a catch, catch-22. This catch ruins all his plans and makes them seem illogical. Throughout the novel Yossarian has to fight against everyone to gain back his life and get what he wants.
I enjoyed this novel because of the serious yet satirical tone that is used to convey the major theme. Heller used humor to make the book less controversial and to entertain the reader, while trying to make a statement. He also dealt with a very serious subject matter, the topic of war, which everyone has differing views on. He discusses the fighting and death that occurs in any war and is very graphic in his descriptions of what happens, but through being straightforward and blunt, Heller makes a stronger statement about war and its brutality. The descriptions affected me and my heart went out to all the soldiers involved in the war. Then, when Heller brought the humor back in I began to laugh out loud at the experiences he discussed. I truly enjoyed the way Heller wrote the novel and found that the mix of humor with the serious topic of war worked well to convey his message and made the novel truly original.
The novel does not only discuss war and cannot just be considered an anti-war novel. The novel can relate to any aspect of human life and make sense in almost any situation, making it a universal novel. The issues that Catch-22 deals with are issues and emotions every person has confronted at one time or another, such as anger, loss, pain, determination and selfishness. All the characters have to overcome these emotions if they want to survive the war and make it in the world.
I found Catch-22 to be an excellent novel about gaining your own freedom and becoming your own person and enjoyed the fact that it used such a controversial and universal topic as war to convey that message.
A great read for anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Top of my list
Review: There are only a handful of books that refuse to fall into pre-determined "categories." CATCH 22 is one such book. Only a few others come to mind (think McCrae's THE CHILDREN'S CORNER or possibly FIGHT CLUB) These are books that thumb their nose at convention and the usual forms and ideas. Thank goodness we have these and some others, but the one that stands out in my mind the most is CATCH 22. There are several characters in the book, but the one that Catch-22 is rooted to is Yossarian, who throughout the whole book is always wondering why people he has never met are trying to kill him. His wondering why leads him to try to leave the army in any way possible, but he is always confronted with "catch-22", which in his case means he can leave the army if he is crazy, and he must be crazy to fly the dangerous bombing runs, but, and here's the catch, "anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy...that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind". Catch-22 is used in different situation throughout the book, each with its own underling meaning. Joseph Heller, the author, does a great job in explaining the circumstances and events that happen in war. He does a very great job in describing all of the characters and how they all feel. He also relates all of the feelings of the characters, to the real life feelings that people would have while in war. The main theme of the story is that Yossarian has to sacrifice himself in order to save the other men in the war.
Rating:
Summary: Catch this one
Review: This book has no equal. But what makes it really charged is that somehow, in today's society, with all that's going on in the world, the novel is even more powerful. This is the true definition of a classic--something that stands the test of time and actually has merit long after it was written. As if this weren't enough, throw in excellent writing, a stellar plot, and characters that are so real you'll swear they're in the same room as you, and you've got a hit. No, this book isn't "literary" like Steinbeck's EAST OF EDEN or McCrae's CHILDREN'S CORNER, but it is a great fun read with harrowing twists and turns. I highly recommend this tale to anyone with a pulse.
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