jenjones83 's review for:

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

3.0

adventurous dark funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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3 out of 5 stars – Brilliant in Parts, But a Tough Slog

Catch-22 is a book I wanted to love more than I actually did. Joseph Heller’s satire is sharp, clever, and at times genuinely hilarious, especially in the way he exposes the absurdities of war and bureaucracy. The concept of the “catch-22” itself is iconic for a reason—it perfectly captures the frustrating logic traps that plague the characters.

That said, the novel’s nonlinear structure and constantly shifting timelines made it hard to stay grounded in the story. The repetition, while thematically intentional, started to feel tedious and slowed down the pacing. I also found it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level, since many of them felt more like caricatures than fully developed individuals.

It’s a unique and important piece of literature, and I can appreciate its influence and daring style. But overall, reading it felt more like an academic exercise than an enjoyable experience. Worth reading once—but probably not something I’d revisit.