Reviews

This book goes as deep or as surface level as you want it to go. Irony moved throughout this book. A seemingly unimportant detail will build to be a defining moment. Every time something begins to work out, it will fail in a way that was originally unforeseen. Is it a must read? Maybe not (IMO). But is it impactful, thoughtful, provoking? Absolutely.

reaghan527's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

deanna_rigney's review against another edition

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5.0

Has this book possibly worked its way into my coveted Top 5? Is it really that good? Hells yeah. I’ve always been vaguely aware of Catch-22, being a classic and all, but I never had to read it for school or anything. Too bad really. How Heller is able to put both hilarity and devout sadness into the same moment, or even the same sentence, is beyond me, but I loved it. I never once felt like my emotions were being violated (are you listening Mr. Sparks, because you should, and your entire lazy ilk), and I never felt like anything was being “dumbed down” for the reader. And though we’re taking ‘bout war/people/America from a while back, the themes and ideas resonate just as well today as I’m sure they did then. Heller is great at showing the disconnect between administration and the common man, only in militaristic style. Also Heller has provided us with a surplus of interesting characters that don’t seem like caricatures. Let me conclude my praise-pouring by gushing on my new Teen Beat heartthrob crush for Yossarian…love, love, love this character.

votesforwomen's review against another edition

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4.0

There are two ways to read this book.

Read it slowly, and catch all the nuances.

Or read it quickly multiple times, and catch all the nuances.

Either way, this book needs attention if you are to understand its points.

And it's WAY better a second time through. Just sayin'.

penalbatoday's review against another edition

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5.0

War is worse than hell because the innocent die there. Meanwhile, the soldiers live the absurd meaningless reality. "There, there", they say.

junyan's review against another edition

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1.0

dnf. Modern American lit isn’t for me. I hate every book that I’ve read or tried to read.

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