Catch-22

[moonbit]

I'm trying to read Catch-22. Notice the word "trying." I love books, and will often read through some outstanding crap just because I want to know what happens next.

However, I'm finding it difficult to engage with this book. I get it that the main theme is that war drives you crazy, fine line between sanity/insanity, etc., but the fact that this is demonstrated by the jumping around from situation to situation, with barely a segue or a nod to any sort of place in a timeline, is threatening my sanity.

I can hang with non-linear storytelling, but what I guess I want to know is whether or not a coherent narrative emerges after awhile, or it just ends up being a long procession of loosely associated situations that reinforce the main theme.

So which is it? Has anybody else that's read this have the same struggle? I'd feel awfully embarrassed to put down a "classic" because it boggled my mind too much.

 

[SirStev0]

actually never read it... always wanted to and my roommate is ridiculously in love with it.

 

[skrilla]

I started the book at one point and never finished it. I think I remember feeling somewhat the same way.

 

[Yreka]

Try watching the movie first maybe ? It was also pretty good.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I love that book. Problem is, the first time through, you have no idea what the hell is happening. however, the second time through, everything become very clear.

Spark notes can also help clear up every chapter.

Its pretty funny too.

I still don't get how a guy sells his own product to himself and make a profit.

If you hate the non linearity, you would hate Slaughter House 5. But you Probably already read it though.

 

[Yreka]

Yeah, I remember many of the jokes going way over my head the first time through. It is a really funny book.

 

[NuclearNed]

Unlike what someone else posted, I'm going to tell you to not EVER watch the movie. While it may have a few merits, it is complete nonhumorous bastardization of the book.

Yes, a complete narrative emerges. When you get to basically the final chapter, everything makes a whole lot of sense.

 

[esun]

I read it but also had a very hard time getting through it. It just didn't grab my attention. I also have many friends that love it absolutely. That's the thing with books, though: it's all subjective. If you don't like it and you don't have to read it for a class or something, then don't. Just move on to a book you do like, because it's not worth wasting the time reading something you don't like when you could be reading something you do like.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: moonbit
I'm trying to read Catch-22. Notice the word "trying." I love books, and will often read through some outstanding crap just because I want to know what happens next.

However, I'm finding it difficult to engage with this book. I get it that the main theme is that war drives you crazy, fine line between sanity/insanity, etc., but the fact that this is demonstrated by the jumping around from situation to situation, with barely a segue or a nod to any sort of place in a timeline, is threatening my sanity.

I can hang with non-linear storytelling, but what I guess I want to know is whether or not a coherent narrative emerges after awhile, or it just ends up being a long procession of loosely associated situations that reinforce the main theme.

So which is it? Has anybody else that's read this have the same struggle? I'd feel awfully embarrassed to put down a "classic" because it boggled my mind too much.

I would tell you if it got better, but I only read it halfway through. I highly enjoyed the half I read though. I've been planning to get it and finish reading it.

I lost my first copy on a plane. In all fairness, if it wasn't so hard to read I would have probably replaced it immediately.

 

[Luthien]

I read it a long time ago like 15 years or something. I hardly remember it outside the fact of what a catch 22 is.

Now that I think of it a Catch 22 defines religions too, lol.

Basically anyone sane enough to know they are not fit for combat is sane enough to to be in combat and anyone insane will not know they are not fit for combat so they will never leave combat unless in a body bag.

 

[HombrePequeno]

I didn't have much trouble reading it. It's actually one of my favorite books. Maybe because I loved the type of humor in the book.

 

[Agentbolt]

I'm waiting for the first Liternazi to come in here screaming about how people aren't capable of reading challenging books anymore, etc, etc..

I read it and had the same problem you did. It starts making MORE sense, but still not very much. There's a nice comfy grey area between spelling everything out like you would to a two year old, and catch-22, where you have to struggle and re-read everything a million times for it to make sense. A book can be good in spite of difficulty reading, not just because of it. /Rant.

 

[Xecuter]

Great book.

 

[txrandom]

Originally posted by: tenshodo13
I love that book. Problem is, the first time through, you have no idea what the hell is happening. however, the second time through, everything become very clear.

Spark notes can also help clear up every chapter.

Its pretty funny too.

I still don't get how a guy sells his own product to himself and make a profit.

If you hate the non linearity, you would hate Slaughter House 5. But you Probably already read it though.

Half of reading book was trying to figure out where on your mental time line the event happened. I didn't really like Slaughterhouse 5. It seemed like random blabbering about events in the past.

Although the subject of the book was interesting, overall I thought it was pretty bad.

Never read Catch-22, but I heard it was good and bad. One consensus was that is was hard to read.

 

[Kwaipie]

One thing to keep in mind when trying to read this book is realize that Heller is a master of wordplay and attempts to befuddle the reader at every turn. It's also very easy to not accept Yossarian as the anti-hero, if you can't get behind the protagonist, you're going to struggle.

 

[daveshel]

Not as easy book to read, but well worth it. The sequencing of events is whacked, but it all comes together in the end.

 

[KarmaPolice]

it was ok...

 

[Agentbolt]

One thing to keep in mind when trying to read this book is realize that Heller is a master of wordplay and attempts to befuddle the reader at every turn

Exactly, and I'll never understand that tactic in writing. It's one thing to make a book so simple a 3 year old could read it, but what's the point in punishing the reader constantly for trying to read the book. The only thing worse is the snooty, uppity reader who manges to figure things out and starts instantly regarding everybody who didn't bother to fight with the book enough to understand it inferior.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Major Major Major Major!

 

[five40]

I finished it while having the exact same thoughts as you did. I finished it for finishings sake. In any case, the book never got any better for me. It's a book I'll never read again, or recommend to anyone. I loved the catch 22 concept, but after a handful of chapters of bouncing around it just go really old and stale.

 

[bignateyk]

Read it back in high school...

sure as hell beat the scarlet letter and great gatsby...

Im tempted to go back and read it now that im much older and could probably get more of the jokes.

 

[moonbit]

Ok, thanks for the opinions. I'll fight with it, just for the reward at the end. Then I can feel that tremendous sense of accomplishment that comes from being a little more "learned."

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Luthien
I read it a long time ago like 15 years or something. I hardly remember it outside the fact of what a catch 22 is.

Now that I think of it a Catch 22 defines religions too, lol.

Basically anyone sane enough to know they are not fit for combat is sane enough to to be in combat and anyone insane will not know they are not fit for combat so they will never leave combat unless in a body bag.

Close, but no cigar.

"There was only one catch, and that was Catch-22, 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. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and he would have to fly more missions. 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."

(Yes, that's from memory.)

The book is, quite simply, a masterpiece of logic as used against itself. It's one of the best arguments against an over-adherence to a system of logic and beautifully illustrates the sheer absurdity that can result from too closely following a logical system as applied to inherently non-logical humanity. Also, some the darker humor and philosophical musings are wonderful.

"Man was matter, that was Snowden's secret. Drop him out the window and he'll fall. Set fire to him and he'll burn. Bury him and he'll rot like other kinds of garbage. The spirit gone, man is garbage. That was Snowden's secret. Ripeness was all." (I did have to look this one up to get the order right.)

ZV

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Agentbolt

One thing to keep in mind when trying to read this book is realize that Heller is a master of wordplay and attempts to befuddle the reader at every turn

Exactly, and I'll never understand that tactic in writing. It's one thing to make a book so simple a 3 year old could read it, but what's the point in punishing the reader constantly for trying to read the book. The only thing worse is the snooty, uppity reader who manges to figure things out and starts instantly regarding everybody who didn't bother to fight with the book enough to understand it inferior.

The author wants to stretch the readers mind. While, it may not be to your taste, the writing style is legitimate. If you want to try reading a truly punishing work, try The Three Musketeers. A 44 page internal soliloquy by D'Artagnan while deep in his cups at the tavern will have you ready to dig Dumas up just so you can slap him around for inflicting himself on his readers.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Agentbolt

One thing to keep in mind when trying to read this book is realize that Heller is a master of wordplay and attempts to befuddle the reader at every turn

Exactly, and I'll never understand that tactic in writing. It's one thing to make a book so simple a 3 year old could read it, but what's the point in punishing the reader constantly for trying to read the book. The only thing worse is the snooty, uppity reader who manges to figure things out and starts instantly regarding everybody who didn't bother to fight with the book enough to understand it inferior.

I don't think that Heller tried to confuse anyone with the writing and I certainly don't think anyone would have to "fight" with the book to understand it. Perhaps it's just that my style of thinking is similar to Heller's, but I'll never understand why "Catch-22" is considered by some to be a "difficult" book.

Now, "Waiting for Godot" or an Edward Albee play, those I can see being difficult.

ZV