Catch-22 Complete!

By Joseph Heller

Wow. What a book! The style of Catch-22 is almost a character itself. It takes a bit to get into the rhythm, to get used to the style, but it is thoroughly enjoyable once you do get comfortable with it. Hilarious and yet darkly honest, there is something so incredibly unique about the way it is written and it oscillates between humor and the horror of war with a perfect balance. There is no doubt that this is a master work. It can be jolting sometimes, as time jumps around quite a bit, but it isn't so distracting that it makes it hard to follow.

There are so many themes this book explores related to war as it is set during World War II, near the end of the war. The asinine, disconnected leadership of our Generals, Colonels and Majors in the war, striving to use their power in ridiculous ways with no real value for the lives they put in danger on a daily basis, was prevalent. The clawing to move up in the ranks through creating some sort of a show that impresses, rather than for good decision-making, is completely comical.

"What do you know about?" he asked acidly.

"Parades," answered Colonel Scheisskopf eagerly. "Will I be able to send out memos about parades?"

"As long as you don't schedule any." General Peckem returned to his chair still wearing a frown. "And as long as they don't interfere with your main assignment of recommending that the authority of Special Services be expanded to include combat activities."

"Can I schedule parades and then call them off?"

General Peckem brightened instantly. "Why, that's a wonderful idea! But just send out weekly announcements postponing the parades. Don't even bother to schedule them. That would be infinitely more disconcerting."

The fear of dying and the banter between the characters about death, and the avoidance of it, make the reader chuckle while being disturbingly true. Is it paranoid to think everyone is trying to kill you if it is really true? And why should anybody be ok with being target for death?

"Of course I'm right. You're immature. You've been unable to adjust to the idea of war."

"Yes, sir."

"You have a morbid aversion to dying. You probably resent the fact that you're at war and might have your head blown off at any second."

"I more than resent it, sir. I'm absolutely incensed."

"You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people hate."

"Consciously, sir, consciously," Yossarian corrected in an effort to help. "I hate them consciously."

This is the kind of back and forth that makes Catch-22 so unique and pleasing. I loved it! Thoroughly amusing.

The casual sadness towards the anonymous soldier, completely encrusted in a full body cast that is 3 different soldiers at different times in the story I believe, seems a fitting reminder of the many that parish who are nameless and unnoticed in the mass of death that war brings about. The first soldier was dead inside his cast for who knows how long before someone noticed.

Many more themes and truths are to be found in this book, and while, as a women, I sometimes found the treatment of women in this novel to be a bit irritating as they all pretty much served the physical need for sex only, I also can't really take issue with that because I think it paints a pretty true portrait of how soldiers do treat women and the situation they are in (short leaves, inflated testosterone levels, stress, fear of death) doesn't exactly create an opportunity for lasting, deep relationships. So Nately's whore (and many the other whores mentioned, for that matter), while I'm sure you did have a name, the book didn't give you more than that, but I guess that is who you were for the purpose of the story.

I absolutely recommend this book. It is a classic, as it should be. The unique style alone make it a worthy read, but the truth embedded in the humor make it an interesting look at survival and the insanity of war.

The Axemaker's Gift by James Burke

Boy, this one took awhile!
"The Axemaker's Gift" by James Burke and Robert Ornstein is an impressive and ambitious nonfiction examination of technology and its effects on humanity, from the pre-historic development of stone axes to our modern computer age. The authors' thesis - that technology is a mixed blessing that has at every step fundamentally changed the way we interact with each other and the world - is examined and backed up with an exhaustive (and, yes, at times exhausting) history of western civilization. It is definitely very informative and insightful and I learned tons, but it was a bit dry and trying. It's a worthy read, though; the connections and explanations the authors give are well-reasoned, and I have a much better grasp of the development of western civilization (from egalitarian hunter-gatherer bands with a close connection to themselves and the earth) through the medieval ages and to the modern era, where the gaps in knowledge and resources between the haves and have-nots is ever-widening, our connection to the earth and each other is increasingly splintered, and the impact of technology and development on our health, happiness and habitat is becoming ever more clear and dubious. Should everyone read this tome? Probably not. Am I glad I did? Sure. I think anyone with a keen interest in history and/or technology would appreciate it, but its probably not a great choice for the casual peruser.
Although appreciative of the authors' considerable effort and noble aim, I finish the book (at last) very eager to read something that feels a little more like recreation and a little less like college homework.