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ronanmcd's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Ok, first off, this book is hugely problematic in its depictions of women. They are there for relief and using. They aren't allowed feelings of expression.
Aarfy's coerced rape back home, then rape/murder in Rome, and Yossarian's sexual assaults on Nurse Duckett maybe date the book, or were maybe always shocking. These are not comic actions by sympathetic heroes, as they seem to be presented, with the exception of the violence in Rome which is intended to shock.
Apart from that, and it took some doing to read the book with those concerns aside, the book is spot on with its lampooning of war and business. Ostensibly about the military complex in WW2, it hits much harder when read in the post WW2 era of globalised commerce, undeclared wars and covert operations, and the relentless and unquestioning pursuit of prosperity. Anything is ok, as long as you are in the clique and making profit.
Milo Minderbender is the perfect character. Anything is allowed, even treasonous acts, as he pursues personal gain, painting his profit as beneficial for all. It doesn't take a genius to see this in our world of billionaires, voters fooled in voting against their best interests, and politicians aided to the top by foreign enemies. The creation of his character may seem prescient, but it's more likely these things were always there, but just not as exaggerated as now.
Likewise the military police disappearing people, questioning them on unknown charges, finding the evidence tells the opposite of the truth, and ruling they are right anyway because they say they are. In a world that has seen Guantanamo, this no longer feels like satire.
Aarfy's coerced rape back home, then rape/murder in Rome, and Yossarian's sexual assaults on Nurse Duckett maybe date the book, or were maybe always shocking. These are not comic actions by sympathetic heroes, as they seem to be presented, with the exception of the violence in Rome which is intended to shock.
Apart from that, and it took some doing to read the book with those concerns aside, the book is spot on with its lampooning of war and business. Ostensibly about the military complex in WW2, it hits much harder when read in the post WW2 era of globalised commerce, undeclared wars and covert operations, and the relentless and unquestioning pursuit of prosperity. Anything is ok, as long as you are in the clique and making profit.
Milo Minderbender is the perfect character. Anything is allowed, even treasonous acts, as he pursues personal gain, painting his profit as beneficial for all. It doesn't take a genius to see this in our world of billionaires, voters fooled in voting against their best interests, and politicians aided to the top by foreign enemies. The creation of his character may seem prescient, but it's more likely these things were always there, but just not as exaggerated as now.
Likewise the military police disappearing people, questioning them on unknown charges, finding the evidence tells the opposite of the truth, and ruling they are right anyway because they say they are. In a world that has seen Guantanamo, this no longer feels like satire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
littlefish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It took me about 100 pages of being confused before I got properly into this but very much worth it in the end. Great study on pointless bureaucracy and power-seeking rich guys, it really made me angry at points!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual violence
obczytane's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, and War
lynxalot26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Rape
imaginefishes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
Was difficult to read at times because of the repetitions between chapters and non-consecutive storylines, but it had its funny and ironic moments which make you consider if the structures which hold us down (even in civil society) exist at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Stalking, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
halftimelord's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The first time I read Catch-22 was when I was 16 (nearly half my life ago!) I loved it then and thought it was due a revisit.
For a book with so many characters, where the time and events jump around so much and every other sentence is a joke, it should be hard going but it's very easy to read. Catch-22 manages to be hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. The final scene in Rome is one of the best climaxes to a book I've ever read.
Unfortunately I definitely found the way the book treats and talks about women very uncomfortable.
With that caveat, I'm really looking forward to the next time I pick this up and get to experience Catch-22 again!
For a book with so many characters, where the time and events jump around so much and every other sentence is a joke, it should be hard going but it's very easy to read. Catch-22 manages to be hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. The final scene in Rome is one of the best climaxes to a book I've ever read.
Unfortunately I definitely found the way the book treats and talks about women very uncomfortable.
With that caveat, I'm really looking forward to the next time I pick this up and get to experience Catch-22 again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and War
chasekj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My brain is scrambled in the best way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, and War
eyesofcrows's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s such an odd book and the timeline isn’t consistent and various characters do awful things—I hate one specific character—but it’s absurd in the best of ways. There’s no direct plot other than Yossarian’s deepest need to get out of the cycle of his military duties. There’s millions of subplots between pages and words that I would love to understand myself. I hadn’t even realised the timeline was inconsistent until half way into the book. When I had, I wanted to reread from the beginning but I carried on.
I liked it. There’s times that made me uncomfortable and the occasional thing but it was a fun book to read and witness. Even in the most serious moments, humour interjects itself in such an absurd manner that it’s actually fitting
I liked it. There’s times that made me uncomfortable and the occasional thing but it was a fun book to read and witness. Even in the most serious moments, humour interjects itself in such an absurd manner that it’s actually fitting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and War
Moderate: Blood and Sexual harassment
to_ilektraki's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
madzie's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape and Grief