This certainly was a difficult read! There were several times throughout reading this novel where I wanted to cast it aside to my finish later/probably never pick up again pile. However, once I reached the half-way mark, I did find myself starting to enjoy it. I’m glad a persevered through as I do believe this is a notable book with an important message. Below is my review, broken down based on the setting, plot, character development, writing style and my overall opinion/recommendation.
Setting
Catch 22 is set in a military base in Italy during World War 2. Through reading this book, you are able to feel the horror and fear Yossarian experiences when flying his missions. Several scenes are quite graphic and depict the horrifying, violent nature of war. (1 star)
Plot
This book almost feels like there was no plot. There was a sense of randomness, where events, such as going to the hospital, flying more missions, bizarre encounters, just seemed to be happening over and over again. Due to the lack of a structured plot, I found it difficult to stay engaged and focused with the novel. (0.5 star)
Characters
There were a lot of characters to keep track of (too many in my opinion). It wasn’t until I was half-way through the book when I managed to recognize who each one was. That being said, I found the main character, Yossarian, to be well developed. I feel I was able to get a good sense of who he is, his moral compass and motivations throughout the book. (0.5 star)
Writing Style
I enjoyed the writing style. I found it to be very witty with a great deal of dark humour. Even though it’s such a dark subject that Heller is tackling, he manages to inject it with humour that will actually make you laugh out loud. My favourite scenes involved those with the chaplain and the psychiatrist! Absolutely hilarious! (1 star)
Overall Opinion
Although I found this book difficult to get into and a bit long-winded, I can appreciate the genius of it. It reveals a lot of hard truths about war and power. One of the main themes is how those in power abuse it and care only about protecting their image and status. Absurdities and bizarre, circular reasoning abound. While it wasn’t my favourite book to read, I would still recommend it, particularly if you like satirical, war time novels. (0.5 star)
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Written by : Nicole Plumridge
