#8 - Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Classic, 561 pages

So, I finally finished Catch-22. I swear it was one of those books that just seem to get longer as you are reading it. I actually finished it several weeks ago, but I am just now getting around to sharing my thoughts on the experience.

Catch-22 has an extensive cast of characters, and, rather than proceeding in a linear fashion, the plot is more like a series of vignettes recounting some of each characters back story and then highlighting their association with the protagonist, Yossarian. Although the plot is so non-linear, the book does have a definite end, and Yossarian does go through some degree of development throughout the book. I think.

When you read Catch-22, you are plunged into a black comedy set in World War II Italy. Yossarian is a bombardier, currently in the hospital at the start of the book. There is really nothing physically wrong with Yossarian, he just feigns illness as much as possible because being in the hospital is the only way to ensure that he is grounded.

After his release from the hospital, and upon discovery that the required number of combat missions for each man in his unit has been increased (just when he had almost met the first required number of flights), Yossarian, sometimes aided by his cohorts, sometimes not, decides to go on the offensive about being permanently grounded or shipped back home.

He tries various avenues to accomplish his goal: Telling the doctor that he was ill or crazy, who tells him that, according to “catch-22”: if Yossarian were crazy, he would not object to flying the missions. But if he is not crazy and does not want to fly the missions, then he is capable of flying them and must do so. Yossarian sabotages information in the intelligence tent to end the need for a mission. He turns back during one flight, pretending that his equipment is defective. He appeals to Major Major Major, who tells him that he ultimately cannot do anything to help, and then he appeals to the Chaplain, who is too spineless to do anything. Finally, following the death of Nately, one of his dearest friends, Yossarian flat out refuses to fly any more missions.

When the Air Force realizes that Yossarian cannot be dissuaded, the officers try to make a deal with Yossarian. The only catch is that the deal is ethically repulsive to him; they will send him home as long as he likes them. If he does not give in, he will be court-martialed for being involved in black market practices. Yossarian protests but the officers claim they are justified in jailing an innocent man to keep the war effort going. Seemingly left without any other choices, Yossarian runs away to avoid a court-martial. The story ends with this act, but there is really no resolution.

It isn't that I didn't like Catch-22, but the discussion of missions and the military men whoring around really started wearing on me after a while. The story was really fairly interesting, and the narrative style chosen by Heller (vignettes rather than a linear plot) was certainly an intriguing choice. If only it had been 200 pages shorter, I think I would have enjoyed it much, much more. There are some really poignant sections of prose, and some quite funny sections as well - it is a black comedy, after all - but this book was quite the trial for me.

I could certainly see the value of reading this book in a high school class - it seems well suited to group discussion. Likewise, I can see many chapters, parallels between characters and real-life figures and differences between characters within the story that would make great questions/topics for papers for an English class. Also, the book isn't awful, and if you are the type of person who enjoys military stories, you would probably enjoy it much, much more than I did. Personally, I will never read this book again, and it is a relief to be through with it. I would have to give it a 3 out of 5.