The protagonist in this book is Yossarian, an Assyrian who thinks that he’s not crazy. He’s flown enough missions to be sent back home. However, his colonel keeps raising the missions, making him have to fly more. Even if he wanted to leave, he can’t; Catch-22. Surrounded by the crazy and the sane, he must find a way to get back home without being caught.
What makes this book original is how it blends comedy with disasters. Despite set during WW2, the witty dialogue and detailed descriptions mix together well, which creates a comedic and sad book altogether. All of the characters are different and diverse, from Milo, who cares only about money and investment, to Hungry Joe, a wild, beastly man who sleeps with a cat on his face. Each chapter was loaded with something new and the story wouldn’t just be set at one place, making my mind change image whenever the characters moved to another place. How the characters are introduced makes me know all of the characters, exploring the different, crazy, sane characters that give the book more story.
Not every book is perfect, in my opinion. The confusing vocabulary makes some scenes more complex, as I try to figure out the meaning of the word from the situation, which ruins the ‘feel’. When the book changes from present to past in some chapters, it confuses me even more as I have to decide which chapter is in the present or in the past.
(well, I should have expected this from an ATOS 7.1 book...) With a character put under the spotlight every new chapter, it makes me feel more distant from the protagonist. Although Yossarian is included in each chapter (in a way), it doesn’t show things in his point of view, which makes me feel like I don’t know much about him when I’m supposed to. Also, there are parts of the book which seem inappropriate (age wise) and I feel are not necessary, ruining the feel of WW2.
A ‘mixed feeling’ book that’s unlike any war book and great nonetheless, I strongly recommend for people who haven’t read this book as it is a great, funny book that will hit the feels from time to time. With its complex structure and words, your reading and understanding level should be high to tackle this book. People 14 and up should read this as it covers some mature themes, not for younger readers. For ratings, a 4/5. (It would be 5/5 if it weren’t for the confusion...)