The Whole Shabang: Catch-22, written by Joseph Heller, is a satirical novel set during World War II. The narrative primarily follows Captain John Yossarian, a B-25 bombardier in the U.S. Air Force. His attempts at weaseling himself out of the line of duty due to the paranoia in thinking everyone fighting the war has a personal vendetta against him. Through his attempts, a new light is shed on war, one that begs the question if it, along with its soldiers, are really as honorable as we make them out to be. 

Maturity: This book is meant for an older audience (16+). There are crude themes throughout the book that are sometimes plot centric, swearing, and gore. The characters within the book are often misogynistic, though this is by no means a misogynistic book (it’s important to remember that Catch-22 is a satire; it doesn’t endorse misogyny, rather uses it as a tool to show the crude, unethical nature of people we put on a pedestal and to criticize military culture). 

What’s Good: Catch-22 is truly one of a kind. It’s the first novel I’ve ever read where there really are no side characters. You get an insight into nearly every person Yossarian meets and get to know them from the inside out. Even the little details are included that, while they may not add a whole bunch to the plot, create a personal connection between the reader and the characters. As much as there are no side characters, there are no boring ones, either. Each person has their unique and comedic quirks that set them apart from the rest of the cast and complex struggles that grasp the reader’s interest. Catch-22 is hilarious with its absurd scenarios and occasional randomness, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get its fair share of hard hitting moments, too. There’s plenty of points in the book that really make the reader stop and linger on every word and every phrase for a long while and scenes that make your gut drop. A must read, for sure. 

What’s Not: As great as Catch-22 is, it’s not free from criticism. A major downside would be the confusing setup. Catch-22 is told in a sequence of flashbacks without a set timeline of the order of events. This can be very confusing to readers as perspectives and narratives often change suddenly without sticking to a traditional plot line. There’s also a lot of military talk that can be confusing to readers who may not know about military protocols. While it didn’t bug me, some readers may be frustrated with the many side plots in the story. It can occasionally feel as though the book is going on a tangent, dragging on unnecessarily (especially in the first couple of chapters), or throwing a bunch of characters at you all at once. If that isn’t your thing, then Catch-22 may not be your cup of tea. It is also a rather long book (450 pages, sometimes up to 500 or 550 depending on the version), and it is a fairly difficult read. If you are more of a casual reader and can’t dedicate a hefty amount of time to this novel (and likely a re-read), it’s probably not for you. 

Overall Opinion: I believe that Catch-22 is a phenomenal novel. It’s entertaining and thought provoking with a million different things to dissect in every chapter. I often end up dropping books because of boring main characters or annoying cliches, but Yossarian had a complexity and uniqueness that interested me more than most main characters. It kept me hooked on the story line. While this novel is a challenging read, it pays off in the end. Catch-22 is one of those books that you don’t really understand the first read, but everything clicks on the second run through. While it may seem a daunting task to read upwards of 500 pages twice, I assure you that, with time and patience, it will be a worthwhile read you’ll never forget.