Catch-22 is the satirical story of a fighter pilot squadron during WWII. The book is full of wit and humor, as well as dealing with some very serious issues and underlying political commentary.Heller opens the story with a fighter pilot named Yossarian who appears to be a deserter - faking illness to get grounded off combat missions, as every time he comes close to the required amount, the number gets raised. Heller's story is really about Yossarian, but it is told in an anecdotal format, so each chapter is told from another person's perspective. All the stories intertwine beautifully, leaving you with a very complete story. Several themes appear and reappear throughout the book, such as (for those who have read it): the Chaplain's plum tomato, Milo's black market enterprise, egg-selling, Nately's whore, the countess and her daughter-in-law, the maid, Capt. Flume and Chief Halfoat's threat, Hungry Joe's cat, etc. The story also reveals the original Catch-22 - the only way to get prematurely grounded from combat duty was to be determined crazy, and if you didn't want to fly more missions, you were sane, but if you did, you were crazy. The book explores the theme of several versions of Catch-22, all perfectly told, and possessing their own witty, ironic humor. I would recommend this read to everyone, but to fully enjoy it you must be in possession of a sense of humor.
Overall: 10 out of 10. A great book.
Details:
Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Reprint edition (September 4, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0684833395
ISBN-13: 978-0684833392
