Tuesday, July 24, 2007

CATCH-22


By Joseph Heller


Catch-22 is a satirical, historical fiction novel by the American author Joseph Heller, first published in 1961. The novel, set during the latter stages of the Second World War from 1943 onwards, is frequently cited as one of the great literary works of the Twentieth century.The novel follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier, and a number of other characters. Most events occur while the airmen of the Fighting 256th (or "two to the fighting eighth power") Squadron are based on the island of Pianosa, west of Italy. Many events in the book are repeatedly described from differing points of view, so the reader learns more about the event from each iteration.


I have heard about this novel a lot from my friends, from different magazines and other sources. So, I got it as my birthday gift from one of my close friends. And after hearing a lot about it, when I read it. At start, as usual I thought the plot is being built. And the problem was even after 100 pages I still felt I need to be more patient and let the plot build. But around 150 pages, I lost my patience and simply torn the book and threw it in the dustbin. This was happened to me for the first time. I don’t understand why the book was written and why so much popular. According to me, it was pure clutter. My biggest mistake in my reading life was to read this shit 150 pages and to corrode my mind with this shit. I simply tell anybody to not to read it if you intend to and throw it in dustbin if you have already got the copy of it.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The book is not that bad!!!

Anonymous said...

I somehow feel a feeling close to hate when I find a person who leaves a book unfinished, and that feeling is strong when you know that the book that was left unread was one of your favourites..

I have recently read the book and it literally made me laugh many times and that doesnt happen often to me. It was written in a way I dont a book has been written by any other author.

And I loved all the Catch-22 situations, they made me think and laugh at the same moment. The paradoxes are so real and Yossarian is one I am in love with.

Will tell you more some other day about this wonderful classic

Anonymous said...

I somehow feel a feeling close to hate when I find a person who leaves a book unfinished, and that feeling is strong when you know that the book that was left unread was one of your favourites..

I have recently read the book and it literally made me laugh many times and that doesnt happen often to me. It was written in a way I dont a book has been written by any other author.

And I loved all the Catch-22 situations, they made me think and laugh at the same moment. The paradoxes are so real and Yossarian is one I am in love with.

Will tell you more some other day about this wonderful classic