eBook, 523 pages
English language
Published April 5, 2011 by Simon & Schuster.
Catch-22 is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller. He began writing it in 1953; the novel was first published in 1961. Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the twentieth century, it uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, describing events from the points of view of different characters. The separate storylines are out of sequence so the timeline develops along with the plot. The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of antihero Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th US Army Air Squadron is based on the island of Pianosa, in the Mediterranean Sea west of Italy, though it also covers episodes from basic training at Lowry Field in Colorado and Air Corps training at Santa Ana Army …
Catch-22 is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller. He began writing it in 1953; the novel was first published in 1961. Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the twentieth century, it uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, describing events from the points of view of different characters. The separate storylines are out of sequence so the timeline develops along with the plot. The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of antihero Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th US Army Air Squadron is based on the island of Pianosa, in the Mediterranean Sea west of Italy, though it also covers episodes from basic training at Lowry Field in Colorado and Air Corps training at Santa Ana Army Air Base in California. The novel examines the absurdity of war and military life through the experiences of Yossarian and his cohorts, who attempt to maintain their sanity while fulfilling their service requirements so that they may return home. The book was made into a film adaptation in 1970, directed by Mike Nichols. In 1994, Heller published a sequel to the 1961 novel entitled Closing Time.
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Great book on the absolute absurdity of war and how it is normalized before, during (and especially during) and after the war. The absurdity is told with extreme comedy but what's happening to these men (and women) is heart breakingly tragic. Kept laughing all throughout but couldn't help feel very sad at the same time.
Je ne pense pas avoir déjà lu un livre qui m'ait fait rire au point d'en avoir les larmes aux yeux, pour, quelques lignes après, être saisi aux tripes par le récit des horreurs vécues par les femmes et les hommes que nous accompagnons dans ce supplice. Car nos personnages sont coincés en enfer, dans l'univers absurde de la Guerre, et les dialogues qui parsèment le récit se retrouvent dans le procédé littéraire du roman. À tel point qu'à un moment, nous nous demandons si ce n'est pas trop, si la répétition des dialogues et des situations ne va pas trop loin. Mais en ce qui me concerne, à peine ce sentiment éprouvé, j'ai senti une soudaine évolution du récit et un changement dans la tonalité de la narration. Il n'est pas étonnant que ce livre ait été utilisé par celles et ceux qui, en Amérique, luttaient pour mettre fin …
Je ne pense pas avoir déjà lu un livre qui m'ait fait rire au point d'en avoir les larmes aux yeux, pour, quelques lignes après, être saisi aux tripes par le récit des horreurs vécues par les femmes et les hommes que nous accompagnons dans ce supplice. Car nos personnages sont coincés en enfer, dans l'univers absurde de la Guerre, et les dialogues qui parsèment le récit se retrouvent dans le procédé littéraire du roman. À tel point qu'à un moment, nous nous demandons si ce n'est pas trop, si la répétition des dialogues et des situations ne va pas trop loin. Mais en ce qui me concerne, à peine ce sentiment éprouvé, j'ai senti une soudaine évolution du récit et un changement dans la tonalité de la narration. Il n'est pas étonnant que ce livre ait été utilisé par celles et ceux qui, en Amérique, luttaient pour mettre fin à la guerre du Vietnam.
Interesante, aunque acusa el paso del tiempo. Caótico, variopinto. No salen las mujeres muy bien paradas (no lo estaban en ese tiempo).
Interesante, aunque acusa el paso del tiempo. Caótico, variopinto. No salen las mujeres muy bien paradas (no lo estaban en ese tiempo).
I was a little disappointed in this one. It's obviously a classic, and hailed for being such a funny story. But I think I smirked a few times and laughed out loud only twice - I didn't find it very funny. Perhaps the humor is a bit dated, but it was still a good story and thought-provoking at times, especially when it veered into ethical or moral discourse.
I was a little disappointed in this one. It's obviously a classic, and hailed for being such a funny story. But I think I smirked a few times and laughed out loud only twice - I didn't find it very funny. Perhaps the humor is a bit dated, but it was still a good story and thought-provoking at times, especially when it veered into ethical or moral discourse.
Starts strong but the absurdity is wearing by the last third of the book.
What's left to say about this tour de force? The quintessential anti-war, anti-bureaucracy, anti- incompetent leaders who spin and doublespeak novel. Mostly as relevant as it ever was. Even the uncomfortable misogyny echoes in our own time (think Access Hollywood tape and "locker room" talk). I was as rewarded by reading this now as when it first was published.
What's left to say about this tour de force? The quintessential anti-war, anti-bureaucracy, anti- incompetent leaders who spin and doublespeak novel. Mostly as relevant as it ever was. Even the uncomfortable misogyny echoes in our own time (think Access Hollywood tape and "locker room" talk). I was as rewarded by reading this now as when it first was published.
I can't recall a book that's made me laugh as much as this one. Very funny. The famous strange circular prose was even better. One of a kind.
I can't recall a book that's made me laugh as much as this one. Very funny. The famous strange circular prose was even better. One of a kind.
What a rambunctious, rowdy, swashbuckling roller-coaster of a book! Perhaps the world is, indeed, divided into those who have read Catch-22, and those who haven't.
What a rambunctious, rowdy, swashbuckling roller-coaster of a book! Perhaps the world is, indeed, divided into those who have read Catch-22, and those who haven't.
I found this book utterly annoying. The concept of Catch-22 is interesting but I don't see any reason why it should be spread on 500 pages with erratic dialogue and no plot whatsoever. I get it, war is hell. But that doesn't mean I should torture myself with this book...
I found this book utterly annoying. The concept of Catch-22 is interesting but I don't see any reason why it should be spread on 500 pages with erratic dialogue and no plot whatsoever. I get it, war is hell. But that doesn't mean I should torture myself with this book...
Irritatingly juvenile, though I understand the role it served at a point in US history. DNF
Maybe I should revisit this. I read it a long time ago and it just fell flat for me.
Very close to a three star rating thanks to all the repetition and things. :-/
WTF was that?
Better than Kafka though.
It's one of the best book about war I ever read. Funny, sad, insane, truthful. Most of all it shows the absurdities of war.
It's one of the best book about war I ever read. Funny, sad, insane, truthful. Most of all it shows the absurdities of war.
This was a tough read. It's really not a comedy, but more of an absurd tragedy. if you don't believe me, try applying a "divine fulcrum" to an acquaintance, and wait for the hilarity to ensue.
I am sure this book allowed Heller to work through his PTSD, because I felt it myself.
This was a tough read. It's really not a comedy, but more of an absurd tragedy. if you don't believe me, try applying a "divine fulcrum" to an acquaintance, and wait for the hilarity to ensue.
I am sure this book allowed Heller to work through his PTSD, because I felt it myself.
