Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – Book Review

 

I recently read one of those "classic" novels (that everyone always raves about), and honestly, I wasn't very impressed. I've heard much about this one over the years, and when I found a copy not long ago, I was eager to finally read it. My excitement lasted about fifty pages. After that, it was a slugfest. Not one to be defeated by a mere book, I persevered to the end and it actually did get a little better as it progressed, but I really wouldn't recommend this one. Not to a friend anyway. (LOL) 

In all fairness, part of the problem was likely a matter of high expectations. When you hear reviewers tossing around such accolades as "brilliant" or "finest comic novel of our day" or "a cornerstone of American Literature" and such, it's hard not to get your hopes up. Personally, I expected something akin to MASH by Richard Hooker, you know, comic hijinks and pranks to relieve the pressures of war. Well, this isn't that.

Now, I appreciate good satire, but in this case, the humor was a bit of hit and miss. There were some funny scenes and dialogue, and occasionally the absurdity is amusing, but I would tend to disagree with the readers who proclaim it to be "laugh out loud” funny. Often, the jokes are funny until extended for pages and pages, at which point, I just wanted the author to get on with the story.

Many readers have issues with the non-linear narrative. That part didn't bother me. Not to spoil, but there's some pretty obvious foreshadowing, and I deduced fairly early on that some traumatic experience would eventually be revealed that would help me understand the main character and his actions throughout the book. It didn't work for me.

Which brings me to my true complaint. I didn't like the book, primarily, because I didn't like any of the characters. In particular, the main character Yossarian, I found completely unlikeable. Consequently, I really never cared what happened to him. And yes, war is terrible, and sometimes your superior officers (or bosses) are horrible and incompetent, but I believe that one’s true character is revealed under pressure. How a person responds in the face of extreme stress or tragic events matters.

In this case, our main character responds by shirking his duty, avoiding his job and responsibilities as often as he possibly can, and displaying overt acts of cowardice that cost the lives of others, often friends. Whether hiding in the hospital faking illness, deliberately sabotaging missions, or walking around naked to avoid wearing his uniform, he is a disgraceful figure. Again, completely unlikeable. And he is by no means the only one.

All of the officers are selfish idiots. The few decent crew members on the base are killed off, mostly early in the book. All the women characters are portrayed as sex objects and serve no other purpose than to be used by the men. A large part of the book is used to detail Milo and his misuse of his position as mess officer to create a profitable (for him) enterprise, again at the expense of others. We’re supposed to think he is clever, I guess, but for me, he is just one more selfish unlikeable character.

Overall, the major contribution of the novel to pop culture is the iconic phrase Catch 22 which can be defined as a “tricky problem or no-win or absurd situation.” That, I do appreciate, but it is hardly clever enough upon which to base an entire book. Just my opinion, and obviously, it is based on my never having served in the military, which I am sure would give me an entirely different perspective. If you’ve read this one, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought.