Comments on: Catch-22: Chapters 9 & 10

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:59:52 +0000

I think there’s a kinship of writing styles and personality quirks between Kinky Friedman and Joseph Heller. I recommend ‘Scuse Me While I Whip This Out, which references Friedman’s with Heller.

By: ajay

ajay — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:24:13 +0000

Robert Mason’s “Chickenhawk”, a memoir of flying helicopters in Vietnam, also has definite elements of “Catch-22″ humour.

By: thisislarry

thisislarry — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:41:04 +0000

Re the comment about Vonnegut, I think Slaughterhouse Five is a great complement to Catch 22. Both absurd, both set in world War Two, but then totally different. I like Slaughterhouse Five better. So it goes.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:10:54 +0000

It reminds me of Vonnegut’s style a bit.

By: Jon F

Jon F — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:51:10 +0000

Man, I really want to talk about what’s happening, but a lot of it is hindsight based on later chapters. So I’ll settle for this:

SPOILER ALERT for the people who are thinking of dropping out because no plot has happened yet:

It has, you just haven’t noticed, and that’s on purpose. Chapter 12, “Bologna”, is the first chapter not named after a character. That is where the plot *visibly* begins. Now that you know, it’s up to you.

By: Patti

Patti — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:17:44 +0000

Actually, Sarah might be looking for Moby Dick.

By: Claire

Claire — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:45:54 +0000

Gotta second the vote for Little, Big as the best book to read for 5 years. Also, A Winter’s Tale, by Mark Helprin. You’ll love the book for 100 pages, hate it for 100 pages, then love it again for the rest of your life.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:30:52 +0000

I’ve been traveling for the last week and Catch-22 has been the perfect book for a girl who’s been on 9 planes in 10 days. I pick it up, am highly amused for a few minutes, then get to switch over to my iPod when such devices are allowed. I’m totally okay with the no-plot plot, and have largely given up the idea that characters need to be straight in my head. That said, did I understand correctly that Milo was in the black market game for the express purpose of bombing Yossarian, et al? I had to go back and re-read, and I’m *still* not sure it wasn’t some metaphor or another…

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:02:32 +0000

I’m still with you. See, I think it’s the Adams/Carroll/Milne humor that keeps drawing me back from the ledge of despair.

I’m glad that this is my second time through the book, because I’m finding it tricky to deal with the tapestry of characters and story lines. Maybe if I just keep reading for the next bit of witty wordplay, and then the next, I’ll survive to reach the end again.

Oh, and thanks for the link on an earlier post. I’m no scholar, but I’m enjoying the book club discussion.

By: violetkey

violetkey — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:40:28 +0000

I too have put down the book. I can’t take any more of the conversations that the characters can’t seem to keep track of them selves.

Thank you for starting the challenge and I’ll keep popping in to read your reviews. Looking forward to seeing what will happen next year.