Ian Swenson .com

I thought I’d occasionally highlight a book that I’ve read with my opinions and comments about it. I figured I’d start out with a classic instead of my usual fantasy fare.

I just recently finished reading Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.

First of all, I really enjoyed the book. The message that the “normal” social and legal rules are effectively suspended during wartime is very effectively conveyed. Not only is the message strong, it’s delivered primarily through snark, sarcasm, and satire.

The book begins with the main character, Yossarian, in a military hospital in the Mediterranean campaign in 1944 Italy. He’s doing his damndest to avoid flying any more missions — not because he’s unpatriotic, but because he doesn’t want to die when the War is all but won. Catch-22 parades a cavalcade of quirky and idiosyncratic characters including Colonel Korn, Major Major Major Major (the army couldn’t resist promoting him), Chaplain Tapman, Lieutentant Scheisskopf, Nately’s whore, and Major ——— de Coverly (who’s so gruff no one’s ever asked his first name).

The war effort seems to conspire to keep Yossarian flying in the war. Logic seems to escape most of the decision-makers, as the infamous titular paradox makes apparent: if you’re crazy, they’ll send you home when you ask. But if you have the capacity to ask to go home, you must not be crazy. Even though some of Yossarian’s best friends are dying in combat, his clueless superiors are being promoted.

Through all of the frustratingly annoying decisions and character deaths, the endless stream of humor and characters kept me entertained.

My only complaint would be in my unfamiliarity with a plotless storyline. Heller’s strength lies solely in the characters and there is very little story. Because of this it was initially difficult for me to get into the book. I half-assedly read it over the course of two weeks before I finally hunkered down and read in solid blocks. Once I was reading more than one or two chapters at a time, I found it to be a much better book than I was giving it credit. I was able to pick up on the nuance quite a bit more.

Oh, and on a minor side note, Heller’s language is superb. His dialogue is very natural (despite its absurd content), and his choice of words is delightful. Plus, you can learn a lot of new words. Ones for me included prolix, infundibuliform, ebullient, and phlegmatic.