Catch+22-+A+Review

=Catch 22 By Joseph Heller.=

//"There was only one catch and that was Catch- 22, which specified that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he would have to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch- 22 and let out a respectful whistle. “That’s some catch, that Catch- 22 ,” he observed. “It’s the best there is,” Doc Daneeka agreed" //

__Author Background:__
Joseph Heller was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 1st 1923, and passed away at the age of 76 on December 12th 1999 on the beaches of East Hampton, New York. Heller was a member of the Air Force during world war II and used many of his experiences during the war to help write his most famous novel--this novel (Catch 22). Aside from being an author Mr. Heller was also wrote various broadway plays, newspaper articles, and other short stories. He based the majority of his stories on the struggles of the middle class, as well as satires. Specifically Catch-22 is a satire based upon Heller's experiences in the Air Force, where he much like his main character Yossarian, flew various missions over the Italian front throughout the war. Heller studied after the war (using his G.I Bill) at The University of Southern California, New York University, Columbia University, and Oxford University.

For More Information on Joseph Heller Click HERE.

__Setting:__
Catch-22 takes place on Pianosa, a small island off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea. This serves as the base for Yossarian (our main character) and the rest of his squadron throughout the war. Yossarian also frequently visits Rome Italy, which serves as the second, and only other predominant setting in the story.

Pianosa is a real Island. Click Here to see the Island.

__Plot Line:__
Catch-22 is the story of Yossarian's trials and tribulations during the second world war. We watch as Yossarian and the rest of his squadron suffer the wrath of the military's bureaucratic iron fist, as the number of missions they must complete before they may return home to the states continuously raises (to a high of 60) all while the level of difficulty and danger in each mission rises as well. Yossarian becomes terrified of death as he sees the people around him, that were once his friends, disappear forever in the misty clouds of death. This fear of death causes Yossarian to continuously try to escape military duty, and the army until the war is over. This satire gives a comic, and unfortunate twist, with a hint of murphy's law to an awful situation--war.

__Characters of Importance:__
Yossarian- The main character of the story, Yossarian spends his time trying to leave military duty, and slowly goes insane, as he is fully enveloped in various irrational fears, as well as a blatant and strong fear of dying. Eventually Yossarian runs away from his military duties.

Milo Minderbinder- The head mess hall chef for Yossarian's squadron, Milo has two main goals; to serve his squadron the best food in the entire military, and to make obscene amounts of money off the war. Milo makes various efforts working with the black market, and even sells germans anti-aircraft weapons that shoot down people in the squadron he feeds.

Doc Daneeka- The selfish doctor on Pianosa who rather than helping his soldiers, worries about himself, and turns to a long depression, because of the loss of his wife, and his economically booming practice.

The Chaplain- The religious leader of the unit, The Chaplain is a friend of Yossarian and becomes less religious as he sees the full effects of the war, throughout the story.

Hungry Joe- The longest serving soldier in the squadron, Hungry Joe tries his hardest to get with all of the Ladies, he is a true gigolo. Hungry Joe was also a photographer for LIFE magazine before the start of the war, and uses this to swindle various women to pose for him, although these photographs never come out as well as they should.

__Themes:__
The two major themes of the story are the inevitability of death, and the bureaucracy that controls the military. Heller spends the brunt of his novel using satire to attack these two topics, in an attempt to gain the public's attention on both of the matters.

__Recommendation:__
This book is incredible, a beautifully written satire based on the Second World War that is great for all levels of readers, and should be read by all people as it is pivotal for the expansion of the young minds of the world. It's a little bit long, weighing in with just over 40 chapters, however they fly by as this book is a real page turner. I give Catch-22 By Joseph Heller Two Thumbs Up.

__Quick Quotes :D__
//"One of the things [Yossarian] wanted to start screaming about was the surgeon’s knife that was almost certain to be waiting for him and everyone else who lived long enough to die. He wondered often how he would ever recognize the first chill, flush, twinge, ache, belch, sneeze, stain, lethargy, vocal slip, loss of balance or lapse of memory that would signal the inevitable beginning of the inevitable end." //

This quote demonstrates Yossarian's incredible fear of death, a fear so strong that it becomes a central theme throughout the book. Yossarian believes that as long as he stays away from war, he will never die, and therefore has become very innocent, and afraid of death itself, something that, when the time comes, should be embraced.