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Summary: In response to those who would detract
Review: Several reviews on this page, even the ones that label this masterpiece as a 5-star novel, fail to accurately grasp the book's significance on a moralistic level. True, it can be said that it is an anti-war statement, but that is a shallow interpretation at best. It questions the establishment of course, but in a sense so do all novels. Its comedy is tremendous, but again, Catch-22 goes far deeper.Catch-22 is perhaps the greatest novel of our time because it explores humanity from a perspective and depth of insight never before seen. The significance of man in the modern world, the ironic yet inexplicably logical meanderings of man's mind, the wittiness, insecurity, hope, despair, failure, and, above all, the ultimate triumph that humanity possesses is utterly represented. This novel has never failed to make me laugh, cry, despair, and ultimately to appreciate life. Humanity is something to cherish, and Heller's Yossarian is the tangible embodiment of that ideal.
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Summary: Catch 22 and the 1950's
Review: The novel Catch 22, by Joseph Heller is dismissed by many as being a book simply about World War 2, which on the surface, it is. However, after analyzing the novel more thoroughly, one finds that not only does it describe WW2, but it also serves as a social commentary on life at the time. Written in the early sixties, Catch 22 accuratly describes life in the 1950's using Yossarian as the voice of a generation. The novel also does an excellent job juxtaposing the of fear of death with the uncertainty and often times irony in life.
This novel is a must read for anyone interested in fifties society, culture, the atomic bomb or the second world war.
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Summary: Catch-22
Review: In my words Catch-22 is overrated. This book could have been summed up in one chapter, and in all its wordiness the only point is that war is extremely boring. Although each chapter had something exciting, Joseph Heller droned on relentlessly about a single character. The climax of the book is when Yossarian is up in the bomber on a mission to Bologna and the gunners guts fall out, because a piece of flak went into his stomach. The whole time the gunner is crying out "I'm cold, I'm cold!" One side of the book that I liked was how Joseph Heller made each chapter about one person, which makes it slightly better, because the cast is always growing. Each character is unique, and I value that, but his subject matter poor. All in all I had to force myself to read this book.
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Summary: Clever, but...
Review: At first this book puts off because it is so clever and cynical. The whole 'madness of war' concept has been covered so often that the book seems stale (though this was one of the first modern American books with this theme). This cynical and clever criticism appeals maybe to self-centered young men but it was tiresome. However the humour is genuinely suprising and the book starts to have some heart about half way through. Not everyone is an idiot and there are some nuanced portrayals of more complex characters. So read it for the wit, but unless you've never read anything of the genre (i.e. anti-war novels), don't expect any fresh insights.
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Summary: It's Joke, Joke, Joke, and then somebody dies
Review: Catch-22 was written by Joseph Heller who served as an Army Air Force bombardier during WWII, which seems obvious since some of the information described seemed like it could only have come from someone who actually was there and went through the war. Rule Catch-22 seems to be a lose lose situation. You can be discharged from duty during war if you are insane. But Catch-22 points out that only people who are insane would participate in war to begin with, so if you know you should not be participating in it, then you're sane, and thus have to serve. John Yosarian the main character reminds me a lot of Corporal Klinger from M.A.S.H., (I'm sure that that T.V. show had to have used this book as a model, if not intentionally, then at least subconsciously), but unlike Corporal Klinger who is trying to get a section 8 to get out of the war because he's lazy, Yosarian is trying to get a section 8 to get out of the war to save his life. It's not as funny when you put it that way. This book was quite an emotional roller coaster ride. It's full of sarcasm which I like, but it's Joke, Joke, Joke, and then someone dies. When that happens I didn't know whether I was supposed to laugh or cry. Then just when you get used to this type of format it changes to the reverse where it touches upon a really sincere issue, and then hits you with more satire to follow it up. The tension in the book keeps mounting and mounting as the number of missions a bombardier needs to fly to qualify to go home keeps mounting. You find yourself routing for the character just to survive. It's full of lot's of irony, and all of the characters are wonderful. I'm not a psychiatrist, but I'm sure each one of them represents some part of his psyche. Overall it was a very good book. P.S. A movie based on the book came out in 1970.
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Summary: One of the funniest books ever written
Review: Heller was one of the few authors who could make me laugh out loud constantly. After reading this book for the first time, I read every Joseph Heller book I could get my hands on. None of them equaled this book, but none of them disappointed me either. This is the story of a group of pilots and their crews in World War II. The main character wants to get out. He claims he's going crazy, but the fact that he's afraid of getting killed proves he can think rationally, which proves he's not crazy. If he stops worrying about getting killed and requesting a discharge, that will show that he is crazy, but then he won't want the discharge. That's basically what Catch-22 is. The book is filled with memorable characters from Major Major to Milo Minderbinder. If you enjoyed the movie MASH, you should really love this one.
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Summary: Heartbreaking and hilarious all at once
Review: Heller's Catch 22 is the funniest book I have ever read, but it is also a surprisingly tragic story. The plot (about a bombardier named Yossarian who wishes desperately to find a way out of fighting in WWII) is not truly concrete, and the entire book is mostly a study in character. The conflicts of John Yossarian's various friends and foes are explored, and the ineffectiveness of bureaucracy is mercilessly satirized. Here's an example of the trademark wit and absurdity that characterizes Catch 22: "They're trying to kill me," Yossarian told him calmly.
"No one's trying to kill you," Clevinger cried.
"Then why are they shooting at me?" Yossarian asked.
"They're shooting at everyone," Clevinger answered. "They're trying to kill everyone."
"And what difference does that make?" A great and memorable book, I highly recommend it.
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Summary: A diddy on Catch 22
Review: I began this book with the intent of it giving me something to read for a class assignment.. I figured i was going to dislike it very much, and just pretend to read it. The way that Heller mixes fact and comedy blows me away. The details and descriptions of characters and places in this book are almost like watching a movie. Each character is drawn well, and very defined-- I began to feel for a few of them, and reading doesn't usually do that to me. There were a few parts of profanity that I wasn't totally getting a feeling for, but other than that it was good, and well worth the reading. My favorite character happens to be one by the name of Major Major. It is quite the story how he got the name, which you will have to read to find out. His character stuck with me from the first introduction. This book is about crazy people: You're crazy if you want to stay in the war. You're crazy if you want to leave, because you know you won't be able to. I definately give Heller kudos on this book, and I plan on reading more by him.
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Summary: Catch- 22: A Great Novel
Review: Joseph Heller's Catch-22 is a great peice of literature. Filled with wit, humor, and sadness it makes reading about such a terrible thing like war enjoyable. Reading about Yossarian and company's journey trough World War II was slow at some points, but I am glad that I forced myself through these moments and read on. It picks up twards the end and makes for a great read. I was forced to read a novel for a high school project, but I am glad that I picked up this book, it does not only tell about the war, but it takes you through a great story at the same time. It shows the courage of Yossarian and others as they fly in and out of dangerous mission day in and day out. Anyone who liks books about war is sure to love this novel, it truly is a great book.
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Summary: Nothing like it.
Review: Joseph Heller's Catch-22 is one of America's greatest works of literiture. It is a funny, powerful, sad, and ironic portrayal of war. I'v never read anything quite like it.
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