tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post5603159505621509114..comments2023-08-20T07:42:52.010-05:00Comments on Trish's Reading Nook: Catch-22 - Joseph HellerTrish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-62477310464916052122009-12-20T14:30:49.979-06:002009-12-20T14:30:49.979-06:00I'm so glad you persevered. This is my favouri...I'm so glad you persevered. This is my favourite book ever. I buy copies for people all the time, but I'm sure not many of them have been read!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16939685887171772759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-5683547665532700942009-09-20T20:28:33.525-05:002009-09-20T20:28:33.525-05:00Thanks for letting me know, Trish. I posted the l...Thanks for letting me know, Trish. I posted the link <a href="http://warthroughthegenerations.wordpress.com/book-reviews-wwii/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<br /><br />--Anna<br /><a href="http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Diary of an Eccentric</a>Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-55286223285083253612009-08-15T12:31:03.232-05:002009-08-15T12:31:03.232-05:00*Damnedconjuror - Wow--I haven't heard of Lana...<b>*Damnedconjuror</b> - Wow--I haven't heard of Lanark OR Alasdair Gray but I'll have to check it out.<br /><br /><b>*Amanda</b> - I can't imagine reading this one in high school either--I definitely would have given up. Try it again!<br /><br /><b>*Anna</b> - This would be a great one for WWII--probably not one people would immediately think of but gives a great perspective.Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-91007708383433833432009-08-01T22:42:46.218-05:002009-08-01T22:42:46.218-05:00Never had to read this one, though it sounds more ...Never had to read this one, though it sounds more interesting than most of the stuff I was forced to read.<br /><br />Would it be okay to link to your review at <a href="http://warthroughthegenerations.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">War Through the Generations</a>?<br /><br /><br />--Anna<br /><a href="http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Diary of an Eccentric</a>Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-34637575024469835562009-07-29T10:16:49.604-05:002009-07-29T10:16:49.604-05:00I was assigned to read this in H.S. and I didn'...I was assigned to read this in H.S. and I didn't. Well, I read a chapter or two and then stopped. I just didn't get it. But I've been wanting to read this now because I think I'll understand it more now.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-76209499116900884932009-07-29T06:26:04.238-05:002009-07-29T06:26:04.238-05:00Yep, that's one of the reasons it's endure...Yep, that's one of the reasons it's endured for so long. <br /><br />My favourite? That would have to be Lanark by Alasdair Gray. I have a mental list of favourite books which changes all the time; books go up or down, new books come in but Lanark has stayed consistently at number 1 for a long time now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-1303337102718362952009-07-28T20:36:28.352-05:002009-07-28T20:36:28.352-05:00*Joanna - I didn't necessarily thing it was to...<b>*Joanna</b> - I didn't necessarily thing it was too long--and I actually LOVED the last quarter of the book. But it took too long to get into for me. <br /><br /><b>*Michelle</b> - LOL--I hope you can get to it. I guess it is intimidating, but not as much as I thought it was or made it out to be in this review.<br /><br /><b>*Heather J</b> - I had no idea the phrase Catch-22 actually comes from this book. If that doesn't scream "this is a classic!" I don't know what does. Never watched Lost. :P Hope you can get to it; I think you'll like it.<br /><br /><b>*Damnedconjuror</b> - Well, that begs the question--what is your FIRST favorite book?? :) I don't think this will fall in the top 10 list for me, but it's definitely one that I'll remember again and again. And yes, I think it speaks to the classic nature of this book that the insights can really be transfered to *any* war. It really is a fantastic book, huh?Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-15221658414297891502009-07-28T14:28:04.626-05:002009-07-28T14:28:04.626-05:00I think this might be my second favourite book. I ...I think this might be my second favourite book. I haven't read it in a couple of years so it might have changed. <br /><br />I loved the sheer absurdity of it, you're meant to be bewildered and confused, that's the whole point. Heller is saying that war isn't a neat, orderly bunch of matches against two sides but about people, sometimes foolish, sometimes crazy, with different agendas, different ideas and with events that border on the ridiculous and the absurd happening around them. <br /><br />While it's extremely funny, it's also one of the best and insightful novels about war; even though it's about WWII it can be about any war.<br /><br />You've made me want to read it again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-32089802078236777112009-07-27T15:27:43.424-05:002009-07-27T15:27:43.424-05:00I never had to read this one for school but it IS ...I never had to read this one for school but it IS on my list for the LOST (tv show) Books Challenge. I honestly had no idea what it was about until I read your review – all I knew was that to be in a Catch 22 was a bad thing. And I know that is has something to do the LOST of course. \<br /><br />I’m definitely going to read it, but probably not until next year sometime.Heather J. @ TLC Book Tourshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10474181812740579350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-64724313672442325782009-07-27T14:43:27.703-05:002009-07-27T14:43:27.703-05:00I'm still a little afraid of this book. One of...I'm still a little afraid of this book. One of these days. Maybe. Probably. Oh, we'll see.Michelle Fluttering Butterflieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08793681725475475156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-28199775014051675622009-07-27T03:09:50.130-05:002009-07-27T03:09:50.130-05:00I've been wondering what you'd make of thi...I've been wondering what you'd make of this book! :-)<br /><br />I liked it when I read it too, but struggled with the same things you struggled with. I couldn't keep the characters straight either! And I thought it was it long, it could have done without the last 100pp or so. But it was a great read and it's definitely a classic and here to stay! It definitely made me think about how futile and ridiculous war is, so it got its message across.joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14952558113054391317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-27918677389364934632009-07-26T09:40:55.193-05:002009-07-26T09:40:55.193-05:00*JT Oldfield - I really like what you say about le...<b>*JT Oldfield</b> - I really like what you say about leaving out the war makes this book more timeless. And I absolutely agree--this book is more about the experiences of the soldiers and what they're going through and in many ways that's timeless.<br /><br /><b>*Steph</b> - Oh I hope you get a chance to re-read this one soon! I can understand why some might not like this book, but there is so much to like when you think about it.<br /><br /><b>*Nymeth</b> - You've got to read this book! I've heard it compared to Slaughterhouse Five and I remember you saying you liked that one? Anyway, I do think you'll like this one. too.<br /><br /><b>*Jeane</b> - It definitely took me more than 10 pages to get into the rhythm of the book. I was pretty much confused for the first 100! :) Not very encouraging, huh?<br /><br /><b>*Samantha</b> - I look forward to hearing what you think of this one! Do you think you might have read it for assigned reading in school?<br /><br /><b>*Terri</b> - Well, Scott hadn't read the book and didn't know very much about it when he picked it out for me. Just liked the title. :) But yes, this is such a great book--I think it's one of those that the more I think about it the more I like it.<br /><br /><b>*Kim</b> - I had no idea that phrase Catch-22 actually came from this book--I think that's so cool! I've heard others compare it to Slaughterhouse Five. I still need to read that one.<br /><br /><b>*Bookfool</b> - Oh no! Well, I can completely understand your frustration and getting rid of the book. I was bound and determined to finish mostly because if I didn't I would never hear the end of it from Scott.<br /><br /><b>*Laura</b> - The tone stays the same throughout the book, but I think it got easier for me because I stopped trying to understand the book as a whole and just read. This would have been a great one for the book club, but I think the others would have been frustrated as well.<br /><br /><b>*Debi</b> - I really wish I had read this as assigned reading for a class. This is one of those that has so much going on it's hard to get it all on your own. It does take patience to read, though!<br /><br /><b>*Joanne</b> - I was really intimidated by this book as well--and my print was really small. :) It isn't necessarily a difficult book, but it does take some patience! I hope you'll get to it.<br /><br /><b>*Bookdevourer</b> - I can understand! There were several times when I wanted to throw the book across the room. I hope you'll keep at it!Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-38763424382935819242009-07-26T08:17:50.145-05:002009-07-26T08:17:50.145-05:00I've started, and given up on this one more ti...I've started, and given up on this one more times than I can remember. I shall re-double my efforts :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-52990999504271581972009-07-25T17:54:21.536-05:002009-07-25T17:54:21.536-05:00Terrific review! This is one of those books that a...Terrific review! This is one of those books that are on my shelf but I'm avoiding because I'm intimidated by it. I want to read it, and I know I should try but I just need the right time ya'know?<br />Thanks for sharing all your thoughts, it's helped to push me closer to eventually reading Catch-22 myself :)Joanne ♦ The Book Zombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369534827454703222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-21734253785433339082009-07-25T14:40:27.642-05:002009-07-25T14:40:27.642-05:00Oh Trish, what an incredible review! You've ma...Oh Trish, what an incredible review! You've made me think that I need to give this another go. I didn't dislike it at all, as I recall...but I think I was just to lazy to keep at it. This one was never assigned reading for me, but I kinda wish it had been.Debihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15429881953804634592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-79503167670633971852009-07-24T08:30:56.394-05:002009-07-24T08:30:56.394-05:00It sounds like I should have definitely pushed thr...It sounds like I should have definitely pushed through those first 100 pages and kept going! I'm glad you liked this one so much! Now I regret selling my copy. Since it is the only book that I have started and never finished, I think it will probably bother me until I read the whole thing. We should have read it at the same time so you could have helped me understand what was going on a little better.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048221087572023485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-56875951952407408802009-07-23T20:49:43.042-05:002009-07-23T20:49:43.042-05:00I feel a little relieved that you were lost during...I feel a little relieved that you were lost during the first quarter of the book. I've never made it past about page 50. In fact, I tried at least 3 times and finally gave up. I got rid of my copy.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-57637519793579676812009-07-23T20:01:09.396-05:002009-07-23T20:01:09.396-05:00Great review! I have not read this book, but my d...Great review! I have not read this book, but my dad always talks about it, and of course the title has become such a part of popular culture, I feel like I should read it to feel educated. <br /><br />From the plot, it sounds like it might be similar to Slaughterhouse Five, which was one of my favorite reads ever. Thanks for the rec!Kim Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15024112944002002232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-1288896230169556242009-07-23T18:51:43.698-05:002009-07-23T18:51:43.698-05:00I absolutely LOVED this book and I read it also be...I absolutely LOVED this book and I read it also because my husband rather insisted that I would LOVE this book! Like you, I'm glad I did. You did a great job reviewing this insane book :o)Terri B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12215878121282668358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-82461057040358270612009-07-23T18:02:04.323-05:002009-07-23T18:02:04.323-05:00Sadly, I cannot remember if I've read this one...Sadly, I cannot remember if I've read this one or not. I do plan on reading it (or again) and your review made me want to do that sooner rather than later. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!samantha.1020https://www.blogger.com/profile/04124614710493747821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-13978611366725982652009-07-23T16:39:38.029-05:002009-07-23T16:39:38.029-05:00I couldn't read it. I tried, and it was so con...I couldn't read it. I tried, and it was so confusing, I don't think I made it through ten pages. But I feel like I ought to try again...Jeanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-87679226509316902632009-07-23T16:19:10.949-05:002009-07-23T16:19:10.949-05:00Just plain shenanigans sounds good to me :P
Serio...Just plain shenanigans sounds good to me :P<br /><br />Seriously now, I have been meaning to read this for so long that I had sort of forgotten why. Thank you for reminding me. Also, I will keep what you said about it being confusing at first in mind and persevere!Ana S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-13988269779662593202009-07-23T15:57:38.093-05:002009-07-23T15:57:38.093-05:00I haven't read this one in ages (I first read ...I haven't read this one in ages (I first read it when I was in highschool), but I did buy myself a copy last year with the intention of re-reading it. I remember really enjoying it back in the day, finding it baffling but funny, and based on your review, I think it will be a rewarding re-read for me. I'm really glad you liked it. This is one of those books that I know some people really don't like, but I have to be honest and say that I can't understand why!Stephhttp://www.stephandtonyinvestigate.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-13098142171803593062009-07-23T14:29:31.378-05:002009-07-23T14:29:31.378-05:00Wikipedia has a whole entry on all of the characte...Wikipedia has a whole entry on all of the characters, which I found helpful when writing my review.<br /><br />I think that the not knowing much about the war helped to really focus on the soldier's experiences, and the idiocy of war. While there wasn't an overt "we don't even know why we are fighting" element, leaving out the big shifts in war (strategy/politics/etc) makes it more timeless, and completely in a grey area (no black vs white, good vs evil, which is all too common in books about WWII, arguably with good reason).<br /><br />Good review--I didn't mind the length at all!J.T. Oldfieldhttp://bibliofreakblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-81081982899353022012009-07-23T13:06:29.599-05:002009-07-23T13:06:29.599-05:00*Paxton - Without knowing just what kind of books ...<b>*Paxton</b> - Without knowing just what kind of books you like, I'm not sure how you'll like this one. It is a little tough, but worth it for me. I just picked up another Heller book used the other day. Not sure if it's Closing Time or not--will have to check!<br /><br /><b>*Regularrumination</b> - Yup, I think all the word games and the ridiculous events in the book do show how absurd it was. It's interesting because I would have expected this type of fiction to come from Vietnam rather than WWII!<br /><br /><b>*Joy</b> - This would be a really interesting one to listen to! Um, or annoying. :) Give it a try and let me know how it goes for you. A lot of the book is play on words or such stuff, so I wonder how taking this one in verbally would impact or highten the reading!<br /><br /><b>*Melissa</b> - This one will definitely make you think a little bit, but it's also a lot of fun in a while. I laughed out loud several times. I hope you like it!<br /><br /><b>*Alison</b> - Major Major Major cracks me up. I was talking to hubby about it last night and he said that during Desert Storm there was a reporter whose first name was Major. Every time he got on the air he explained that Major was his first name, not his rank. But definitely try this one again!<br /><br /><b>*Carol</b> - I don't think this book is for everyone, but it's worth a try! I definitely didn't feel like picking it up at the time either.<br /><br /><b>*Care</b> - I'm actually surprised at how little I've seen on the blogosphere about this one. Books like these make a lot of lists and such, but I wonder if that's all that happens to them. Stay on a list instead of get read? Lord of the Flies is a good one, too! Although I didn't read it when I was assigned to in school. :)<br /><br /><b>*CJ</b> - I would be really interested in hearing your perspective on this one! I think I'm going to pass it on to my dad and he read it while he was in high school as well. I would think that a reading with 30 years between would be very different!Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.com