Okay, you know what? Reading this book is going to be easy peesy. My copy of Catch-22 starts on page 15 and ends on 463. That’s 448 pages in total. Round up to 450, divide by the 30 days in November–15 pages a day. No sweat.
Of course, your book may have different pagination, so we’ll go by chapters. I plan to write about Catch-22 every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in November, which works out like this:
| Date | Chapters To Be Discussed |
|---|---|
| November 2nd | Chapter 1: The Texan Chapter 2: Clevinger Chapter 3: Havermeyer Chapter 4: Doc Daneeka |
| November 5th | Chapter 5: Chief White Halfoat Chapter 6: Hungry Joe Chapter 7: McWatt Chapter 8: Lieutenant Scheisskopf |
| November 7th | Chapter 9: Major Major Major Major Chapter 10: Wintergreen |
| November 9th | Chapter 11: Captain Black Chapter 12: Bologna Chapter 13: Major – De Coverely |
| November 12th | Chapter 14: Kid Sampson Chapter 15: Piltchard and Wren Chapter 16: Lucina Chapter 17: The Soldier in White Chapter 18: The Soldier Who Saw Everything Twice |
| November 14th | Chapter 19: Colonel Cathcart Chapter 20: Corporal Whitcomb Chapter 21: General Dreedle |
| November 16th | Chapter 22: Milo the Mayor Chapter 23: Nately’s Old Man |
| November 19th | Chapter 24: Milo Chapter 25: The Chaplain Chapter 26: Aarfy |
| November 21st | Chapter 27: Nurse Duckett Chapter 28: Dobbs |
| November 23rd | Chapter 29: Peckem Chapter 30: Dunbar Chapter 31: Mrs. Daneeka Chapter 32: Yo-Yo’s Roomies |
| November 26th | Chapter 33: Nately’s Whore Chapter 34: Thanksgiving Chapter 35: Milo the Militant Chapter 36: The Cellar Chapter 37: General Scheisskopf |
| November 28th | Chapter 38: Kid Sister Chapter 39: The Eternal City Chapter 40: Catch-22 |
| November 30th | Chapter 41: Snowden Chapter 42: Yossarian |
Now let’s take a moment to briefly review the NaNoReMo rules. Ha, sike! There are no rules. Start reading the book early, finish late, translate the thing into Klingon as you go–I don’t care.
But I intend to adhere to the above schedule. If you are reading along, we’d love for you to join in the conversation, either by chiming in on the threads I initiate on the designated days, or by posting your thoughts on your own site and sending me the link (which I will compile and include in my posts).
No. Please god no. I slacked off in high-school for a reason.
Posted by Brennan on October 23rd, 2007.
15 pages a day? No sweat. The first ten chapters are going to suck, though, because I hate re-reading books within three years or so.
Posted by Brendan on October 24th, 2007.
OMG, I copied your exact words without realizing it. I need to get more sleep.
Posted by Brendan on October 24th, 2007.
My copy from Amazon arrived over a week ago.
Is it cheating to start early?
Posted by Jens Fiederer on October 24th, 2007.
For extra credit, try to compile a timeline of the events in the novel. (Heller acknowledged he used one to keep things straight in his mind, and a scholar has reconstructed it, somewhere very obscure…)
Posted by jb on October 24th, 2007.
I’m a little sorry I was already signed up and gung-ho about NoNoWRIMo when I was directed to your site. I’d totally be reading along (and if it didn’t sound so daunting to do both, I would). This idea rocks.
Posted by Keri on October 24th, 2007.
I can’t believe this last trip around the sun has gone by so quickly. It was a year ago that I discovered your site. I remember being so impressed that you were reading Mody Dick (one of those greats I live in shame of having never read) and writing about it. Yes, I noticed when you gave it up. Perhaps think about moving your NaNoReMo to another month other than that of NaBloPoMo or NaNoWriMo. Let every month have a theme, and we’ll read, write and party our way around the sun one more time.
Posted by Brian on October 24th, 2007.
Hm, I may just have to join in on this one, if I can find my copy of the book….
Posted by John H. on October 25th, 2007.
I started reading your blog last year just before you announced Nanoremo and it locked me in. I did my own NaNoReMo last year as a result of giving up on NaNoWriMo halfway through the month, and I wound up finishing Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov in 20 days. It was a great exercise!
I plan to do my own again this year, except with A Canticle For Liebowitz. I’m so glad that you picked Catch-22, can’t wait for it to get started.
Posted by Ryan on October 25th, 2007.
Wow, I’m a slow reader, so it would never occur to me to join in on this venture. But you just happened to pick one of my favorite novels. Maybe I will play along.
Posted by nathan on October 25th, 2007.
Cool! I think i’m a sucker for clubs. I’m already doing NaBloPoMo and another site is hosting Art Every Day Month. I read a lot anyway so why not on a schedule! I’ll have to go get a copy quick.
Posted by violetkey on October 25th, 2007.
My Capitan, My Capitan!
well, I’m going to pick my copy up this weekend to be fully prepared and I’m going to try, TRY, to keep up on my own blog as well… we’ll see if that happens… I was crying with laughter last year during the MD excursion so I can’t wait.
Posted by MR. RICKEY on October 26th, 2007.
I’m in. Read it in high school, and always wanted to give it another try. Now if my trading partner on Bookins would only rush me the copy… C’mon USPS!
Posted by Patrick on October 26th, 2007.
I’m in.
Posted by Dawn on October 26th, 2007.
Me too!
Posted by Deron on October 28th, 2007.
I found Catch-22 to be a great read, partly because it wasn’t compulsory at the time that I read it. I couldn’t finish the sequel, though. Bleah.
And Ryan, I just read A Canticle for Leibowitz this year– actually several slow starts, but stick with it– it has a very rewarding and provoking ending.
Posted by LAN3 on October 29th, 2007.
Purchased my copy today, at independent bookstore prices, so you know i’m serious! I did get a lovely free cup of hazelnut coffee while I was there, so there’s something… who knows if I’ll be able to keep up on posting too, but I’m following along with the rest of the crowd! Good reading all.
Posted by MR. RICKEY on October 29th, 2007.
I love Catch 22 – and I’ve got two whole days to either find my copy or check it out of the library. I’m in!
Posted by Laura on October 29th, 2007.
Count me it too! I just picked up a copy from the library at lunch today. Can we start or are we all trying to go at the same pace….
Posted by Sta on October 31st, 2007.
I’m already committed to writing so much during November but, you know what? Bring it. I’m in.
Posted by Atherton Bartelby on November 2nd, 2007.