Didactylos reviewed Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Review of 'Catch-22' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Re-reading it in chunks and at leisurely speed. One of the most influential books ever.
Paperback, 586 pages
German language
Published Sept. 30, 1994 by Fischer (Tb.), Frankfurt.
Catch 22, also Falle 22 oder Trick 22- das ist die ebenso irrsinnige wie ausweglose Dienstanweisung für das amerikanische Bombengeschwader, der zufolge Bomberpilot Yossarian nur dann von weiteren Einsätzen verschont bleibt, wenn er als verrückt anerkannt wird. Verrückt aber kann niemand sein, der sich weigern will, immer weitere großenteils sinnlose Einsätze zu fliegen. Also muß Yossarian ebenso wie seine Kameraden weiterfliegen, obwohl er sich die größte Mühe gibt, als verrückt zu erscheinen. Durch scheinbar absurdes Verhalten der militärischen Maschinerie ihre eigene Absurdität zu demonstrieren. Aber die Kriegsmaschinerie, gespeist aus persönlichem Ehrgeiz, Dummheit, Brutalität und Duckmäuserei, erkennt ihren eigenen Irrsinn nicht in dem Spiegel, den Yossarian - im Grunde der einzig Normale unter lauter Verrückten - vorhält. Doch die Sache hat einen Haken, genannt »Catch 22« (»Trick 17 mit Selbstüberlistung«): Wer immer wieder Einsätze fliegt, muss verrückt sein, wäre also fluguntauglich. Sich dies vom Arzt attestieren zu lassen, wäre aber höchst …
Catch 22, also Falle 22 oder Trick 22- das ist die ebenso irrsinnige wie ausweglose Dienstanweisung für das amerikanische Bombengeschwader, der zufolge Bomberpilot Yossarian nur dann von weiteren Einsätzen verschont bleibt, wenn er als verrückt anerkannt wird. Verrückt aber kann niemand sein, der sich weigern will, immer weitere großenteils sinnlose Einsätze zu fliegen. Also muß Yossarian ebenso wie seine Kameraden weiterfliegen, obwohl er sich die größte Mühe gibt, als verrückt zu erscheinen. Durch scheinbar absurdes Verhalten der militärischen Maschinerie ihre eigene Absurdität zu demonstrieren. Aber die Kriegsmaschinerie, gespeist aus persönlichem Ehrgeiz, Dummheit, Brutalität und Duckmäuserei, erkennt ihren eigenen Irrsinn nicht in dem Spiegel, den Yossarian - im Grunde der einzig Normale unter lauter Verrückten - vorhält. Doch die Sache hat einen Haken, genannt »Catch 22« (»Trick 17 mit Selbstüberlistung«): Wer immer wieder Einsätze fliegt, muss verrückt sein, wäre also fluguntauglich. Sich dies vom Arzt attestieren zu lassen, wäre aber höchst vernünftig und alles andere als verrückt – also muss derjenige weiterfliegen.
Re-reading it in chunks and at leisurely speed. One of the most influential books ever.
I really loved this book; tacking the mental issues suffered during war time would be really difficult, but Joseph Heller’s satirical take and amazing writing made it easier to both understand and read. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this; it was humorous, it was very enjoyable.
Hilarious, classic, and just a good read. Enjoyable through and through.
Hilarious, classic, and just a good read. Enjoyable through and through.
Hilarious, classic, and just a good read. Enjoyable through and through.
See my review of Cat's Cradle.
[August 2018] I don't know if this is the fifth time I've read it or the sixth. Or seventh. Doesn't matter; it might be my last. It's just not as funny when daily we hear of real-life Aarfys, Milos, Cathcarts and Korns and other cockroaches in too-powerful positions.
I will always love this book. Every page has crushing examples of how horrible humans can be; yet every few pages Heller reminds us how kind we can be too. While it's certainly not The Great Novel About The Human Experience—for one, there are no female characters—Heller covers huge swaths of the big ones: courage, cruelty, greed, compassion, blind moronic obedience. (Come to think of it, maybe this is the perfect book for the present republican administration). Most importantly—this is what keeps the reader going—Heller highlights it all with a tone of utter absurdity. Sometimes it's delighted absurdity, sometimes exasperated, but always …
[August 2018] I don't know if this is the fifth time I've read it or the sixth. Or seventh. Doesn't matter; it might be my last. It's just not as funny when daily we hear of real-life Aarfys, Milos, Cathcarts and Korns and other cockroaches in too-powerful positions.
I will always love this book. Every page has crushing examples of how horrible humans can be; yet every few pages Heller reminds us how kind we can be too. While it's certainly not The Great Novel About The Human Experience—for one, there are no female characters—Heller covers huge swaths of the big ones: courage, cruelty, greed, compassion, blind moronic obedience. (Come to think of it, maybe this is the perfect book for the present republican administration). Most importantly—this is what keeps the reader going—Heller highlights it all with a tone of utter absurdity. Sometimes it's delighted absurdity, sometimes exasperated, but always engaging and thoughtful.
This is an important book; and I don't mean one to have gathering dust on your bookshelf. If you haven't read it, please do.
It won't change your outlook on life, but it's definitely a must-read for anyone who appreciates literature.
There is a laughter about this book, but it is a maniacal laughter. If we did not laugh, we might just go insane. Heller does an amazing job of using humor and irony without glossing over the atrocities of war.
I am not generally a fan of âwarâ fiction, but wars and their justifications do become part of our mythology and our political discourse. Consequently, books that challenge the accepted political myth structure are important even if they are about war.
All of which is far too heavy an introduction to b:Catch-22|168668|Catch-22|Joseph Heller|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359882576s/168668.jpg|814330, which is a satyrical romp that savages bureaucracy, bogus bravery, and capitalism. Set in later World War II, it centers around the experiences of Yossarian, an American airman based on an island near Italy. Like a:Kurt Vonnegut|2778055|Kurt Vonnegut|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1357661500p2/2778055.jpg's b:Slaughterhouse-Five|4981|Slaughterhouse-Five|Kurt Vonnegut|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337996187s/4981.jpg|1683562, this is an important book that has changed our language ("catch 22" was a term invented by Heller), and our discourse. It is also hilariously funny.
Likely to appeal to people who like a:Tom Robbins|197|Tom Robbins|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351102884p2/197.jpg, a:Kurt Vonnegut|2778055|Kurt Vonnegut|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1357661500p2/2778055.jpg, or a:Milan Kundera|6343|Milan Kundera|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1216972285p2/6343.jpg.