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donnaviche's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jennajean's review against another edition
5.0
This book is just great. I didn't expect to laugh so much while reading it.
emlyy_who's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
nakenyon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
arya410's review against another edition
4.0
It took me 3 years..yeah 3 long years to finally actually read this book. My first attempt was I think in 2017 when I saw this in a list as one of the the best books ever written. I started reading it. I hardly went till the first 2 chapters I guess. Moreover I was reading the ebook version which made it worse. I just couldn't get any connection with the book which cannot be formed just by reading 2 chapters but I also didn't feel the urge to read any further.
Second 'major' attempt was in February 2019 again after finding the name of this book in various places as a must read. This time I was more determined. Again I started from the beginning because I didn't remember the name of any character. This time also I struggled a lot trying to remember the names of the surge of characters coming in. But this time I could see that the book has something really promising in it. I googled several times whether it is that difficult to read Catch-22? Is it really worth reading it? Everywhere people had mentioned they also struggled but we need to get past at least the first 150 pages in order to get into the flow. To actually enjoy the craziness. I struggled and finally reached some 100 pages but again lost patience and quit reading it.
I finished reading 5 other books after that. This book always pending in the currently reading section of my Goodreads account. Then came 2020 and I decided to take reading seriously this year. So I joined an online book library in March and the first book I ordered was Catch-22. Don't ask me why, I just believed in that book so much. I wanted to try reading it again but this time not the ebook the actual book. I can tell you that actually made a difference and also the fact that I had struggled to reach almost 150 pages by then and that itself inspired me.
Then came the pandemic and the lockdown and work from home and all these together with that fact that I had only Catch-22 in my hand to read! Yeah I finished reading it and not just that, I enjoyed it and realized that this book is really one of the best books ever written! Everything in that book was not craziness but that was the biggest truth ever told. When I was reading the final chapters I couldn't just keep the book down, rushing to read it as soon as I finished work, reading as much as I can before I had to go to bed.
I need to tell all those people who are struggling to read this book, this book is a marvel and it was worth all the struggle! I do believe I might read it again.
Second 'major' attempt was in February 2019 again after finding the name of this book in various places as a must read. This time I was more determined. Again I started from the beginning because I didn't remember the name of any character. This time also I struggled a lot trying to remember the names of the surge of characters coming in. But this time I could see that the book has something really promising in it. I googled several times whether it is that difficult to read Catch-22? Is it really worth reading it? Everywhere people had mentioned they also struggled but we need to get past at least the first 150 pages in order to get into the flow. To actually enjoy the craziness. I struggled and finally reached some 100 pages but again lost patience and quit reading it.
I finished reading 5 other books after that. This book always pending in the currently reading section of my Goodreads account. Then came 2020 and I decided to take reading seriously this year. So I joined an online book library in March and the first book I ordered was Catch-22. Don't ask me why, I just believed in that book so much. I wanted to try reading it again but this time not the ebook the actual book. I can tell you that actually made a difference and also the fact that I had struggled to reach almost 150 pages by then and that itself inspired me.
Then came the pandemic and the lockdown and work from home and all these together with that fact that I had only Catch-22 in my hand to read! Yeah I finished reading it and not just that, I enjoyed it and realized that this book is really one of the best books ever written! Everything in that book was not craziness but that was the biggest truth ever told. When I was reading the final chapters I couldn't just keep the book down, rushing to read it as soon as I finished work, reading as much as I can before I had to go to bed.
I need to tell all those people who are struggling to read this book, this book is a marvel and it was worth all the struggle! I do believe I might read it again.
b0okcupidity's review against another edition
5.0
I read and listened to this book at different times and ended up listening to it more frequently than reading it - the audio performance by Jay O. Sanders was fantastic, especially with the long, rambling sentences and various character affectations. I didn't know much about the story of this book beyond that it was an "important" classic. As a side note, I sort of fell in love with M*A*S*H last year, randomly, and ended up binge watching the entire run and I wonder if I would have felt the same about this book if that event had not occurred, being so clearly influenced directly or indirectly.
It also landed in the bonkers, what I liken to, Abbott and Costello type, sphere of humor that I enjoy so much.
I can see how some might find it difficult to get into and my advice to myself when I thought I was lost was just to enjoy the mania and let the story wash over me. At times hilarious and at times heartbreaking, I somehow ended invested and confused and...liked it.
Verdict: Completely Bonkers and Adroit. Together. At the Same Time.
It also landed in the bonkers, what I liken to, Abbott and Costello type, sphere of humor that I enjoy so much.
I can see how some might find it difficult to get into and my advice to myself when I thought I was lost was just to enjoy the mania and let the story wash over me. At times hilarious and at times heartbreaking, I somehow ended invested and confused and...liked it.
Verdict: Completely Bonkers and Adroit. Together. At the Same Time.
mchl_btt's review against another edition
4.0
Per le prime 250 pagine credo dia
la stessa idea di ascoltare un disco rotto: sai che le cose avevano un senso nel piano originario, ma ora non ce l’hanno più e non sai il motivo. È però un modo super interessante e convincente per far passare il concetto “eccoci tutti insieme nella testa di uno con la sindrome da stress post traumatico”. Forse all’inizio vai avanti perché è ridicolo e ti sembra di essere una pallina in un flipper. C’è da dire che è costruito in un modo intelligente per farti continuare a leggere, con capitoli brevi tutti strutturati nello stesso modo: parte descrittiva di un nuovo personaggio, seguita dialoghi folli e ridicoli. La cosa che mi ha stupito di più è che i personaggi sono tutti delle macchiette, le loro personalità si somigliano tutte (io sono più una lettrice da libri character driven di solito), però comunque ogni volta che moriva qualcuno mi importava anche se non sapevo niente del personaggio a parte il nome.
Long story short: è forse il libro più antimilitarista mai letto, sono felice che me lo abbiano prestato
la stessa idea di ascoltare un disco rotto: sai che le cose avevano un senso nel piano originario, ma ora non ce l’hanno più e non sai il motivo. È però un modo super interessante e convincente per far passare il concetto “eccoci tutti insieme nella testa di uno con la sindrome da stress post traumatico”. Forse all’inizio vai avanti perché è ridicolo e ti sembra di essere una pallina in un flipper. C’è da dire che è costruito in un modo intelligente per farti continuare a leggere, con capitoli brevi tutti strutturati nello stesso modo: parte descrittiva di un nuovo personaggio, seguita dialoghi folli e ridicoli. La cosa che mi ha stupito di più è che i personaggi sono tutti delle macchiette, le loro personalità si somigliano tutte (io sono più una lettrice da libri character driven di solito), però comunque ogni volta che moriva qualcuno mi importava anche se non sapevo niente del personaggio a parte il nome.
Long story short: è forse il libro più antimilitarista mai letto, sono felice che me lo abbiano prestato
scarletkeiller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
made me laugh but it's very clearly written for white men who love to monologue about historical events and who treat women like shiiiiiit. also, there was NO NEED for this book to be 520 pages long when nothing happens in it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape