I don’t really know what to say about Catch-22 so far. It is confusing, even unintelligible in spots. The characters fade in and out the story. The story jumps back in forth throughout time in an almost random sequence of flashbacks and it is futile to try and string together to events of the story in your head. And there is absolutely no plot (at least none so far). It violates or stretches almost every rule of literature that you can imagine. I love it. For some reason, I love this type of storyline. The book Jarhead (upon which the movie starring Jake Gyllenhall was based) was the same way. No definite plot, just a collection of anecdotes related by subject or approximate time. I guess plot ruins to current moment by introducing a new one. Once I find that moment, I don’t want it to end. Anyway, Catch-22 fits the bill and I really enjoy reading it.
All of the literary properties of the book that would normally make a story confusing, in this case, appeal greatly to me. I mean, reading this book never gets boring because it never focuses on one event or character for more than a number of pages. It is always unpredictable and is always a challenge to interpret. Reading this book is like spending a day with that kid who incessantly makes inside jokes to his friends in passing but never explains any of them as you follow along in complete humorless confusion. I hate that kid. But I still love this book.
However, I think the structure of Catch-22’s storyline is deliberate or at least effective in describing the wartime lives of the characters. It is easy to see a goal if you are reading a book or watching a movie that compresses years into hours. However, you would get lost if you read a book that took five years to read. That’s how I perceive the characters in this book. Their story is so long that they can’t see where they are going or where they have been. They only vaguely know if they are alive or dead, and that drives them.
I think the structure of the story reflects this attitude. Not really a story, just a collection of memories that are so convoluted that they cannot be ordered anymore, just recalled. I don’t know what that really means. The book also appeals greatly to my sense of humor. Everything in the story is backwards. Even old adages and clichés are backwards in this story. And yes, all of it highlights the absurdity of the war and the military hierarchy. It is so sarcastic and sardonic and ironic and I love it. So far, the military court scene with Clevinger has been my favorite part of the book. I can’t even describe how amazing it is.
Anyway, Heller’s persistence in maintaining the absurd environment in which Yossarian lives is inspiring. To tell the truth, I have no idea what is going on in this story. Heller has got me thinking that maybe I am the crazy one. And I think that’s exactly what he wants.
Sorry this blog is late Mr. Coon, but this time I just wanted to read further in the story before posting any commentary. The delay really didn’t help me any. Ironic.
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2 comments:
Dave Barry says, "If you can regularly come up with lunatic interpretations of simple stories, you should major in English."
Gary says, "Reading this book is like spending a day with that kid who incessantly makes inside jokes to his friends in passing but never explains any of them as you follow along in complete humorless confusion. I hate that kid. But I still love this book."
Question: Should Gary be an English major?
Comment #2: I want it noted that I predicted that you would enjoy this novel. Also, I think your ideas about the disorienting plot structure and the psychological and moral realities of war are probably going in a productive direction.
Keep going, and see what you can find on JStor that will help you.
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