Reviews

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

willand90's review

challenging funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nattyyllie's review

3.0

(3.5 star) Reading through the inane violence, shocking immorality, and crude misogyny to experience Heller’s purposeful humor and profound satire is certainly the catch. It’s truly a remarkable story in the setting of war, with just the right balance of solemnity and hilarity to keep you interested in seeing it to the end.

jqq's review

funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

ronniemcclellan's review

slow-paced

iv3tte's review

1.0

this was seriously one of the worst books i have ever read.
i just didn't enjoy it at all.

icyirisreads's review

Renewed the loan all three times. REALLY long book. I’ll go back and finish it one day, very funny but can be kind of a slog. 

benford19's review

challenging dark funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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

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

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

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'.