The Catch 22 Challenge
December 3rd 2006 01:03
Image: Wikipedia
I’m long overdue on it, but I have finally picked up the sequel to Catch 22 – Closing Time by Joseph Heller. I successfully read Catch 22 (I say successfully because it took a few attempts) a couple of years ago and became adamant that I would read the sequel. Many people have told me they could not read Catch 22, ‘Reading fiction should not be that difficult’, and ‘I could make no sense of it’ are just some of the comments I’ve heard. But I have never met anyone who has read the whole book and not found it, at most, brilliant or at least interesting from a writing perspective.
My sense of achievement on completion was enormous, and I can’t help but think Heller would have felt the same when he finished writing it. Somehow it seems right that both writer and reader should have this in common. The legendary Yossarian is a complex character (in extraordinary circumstances) who simply has to grow on you, and that takes time, as Heller will not come straight out and feed you the details. You must work (read) for them. For me, this is reading satisfaction in its purest form.
Image: powells.com
So I would like to issue a challenge to fiction readers out there, who have not yet read or finished reading Catch 22. Pick it up (again) and find the rhythm and enjoy one of the best, clever novels written in the 20th Century. Then post me a comment. I would like to see if my prediction is right. That you will find some form of literary gratification, if not pure delight in the reading.
Poscript : The Oxford Dictionary entry for catch-22 reads -
• noun a difficult situation from which there is no escape because it involves mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.
— ORIGIN title of a novel by Joseph Heller (1961).
Definiton of a successful novel - Title warrants a place in the dictionary!
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