Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is one of those novels that everyone’s heard of, but few realise just how wild and sharp it really is until they dive in. Set during World War II, it follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army bombardier desperately trying to survive the madness of war while everyone around him seems to be losing their minds, or perhaps they already have.

From the very first chapter, Heller’s absurd, circular logic pulls you in. The infamous “catch” itself is simple but devastating: to be declared insane and grounded, a soldier must ask to stop flying missions, but asking proves he’s sane. It’s one of literature’s greatest paradoxes, and it perfectly captures the chaos, hypocrisy, and futility of bureaucracy.

✅ What I Liked:
Heller’s writing is nothing short of genius. The dark humour, the looping conversations, and the sharp satire all work to show how absurd and dehumanising war can be. Every page feels like a balancing act between hilarity and horror. I laughed out loud more than once, only to be hit by something bleak and profound in the next paragraph.

The cast of characters is huge and chaotic, but intentionally so. Each one represents a fragment of the insanity of military life, from the greed of Milo Minderbinder to the blind obedience of Colonel Cathcart. Heller captures the madness of systems where survival depends on contradictions and rules no one can win against.

I also loved how the novel refuses to follow a straight timeline. It loops and folds in on itself, mirroring the confusion of Yossarian’s world. Once you accept the structure, it becomes part of the experience rather than a frustration.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
It’s dense, and it demands patience. The nonlinear storytelling and overlapping scenes can feel disorienting at first, and the humour might not land for everyone. Some sections drag slightly, especially when the absurdity stretches to extremes. But the payoff is worth it if you stick with it.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
Because it’s one of the most important anti-war novels ever written. Catch-22 isn’t just about World War II; it’s about the systems that turn people into cogs, the contradictions that govern modern life, and the struggle to stay sane in an insane world. It’s biting, hilarious, and tragically timeless.

💭 Final Thoughts:
More than sixty years after its release, Catch-22 still feels fresh, funny, and frighteningly relevant. Joseph Heller captured something universal about human absurdity, and his wit cuts as sharply now as it did then. It’s a novel that rewards re-reading and lingers long after you close the last page.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

Final Rating ★★★★★ – A darkly comic masterpiece that exposes the madness of war and the futility of reason with unmatched brilliance.