CATCH-22 written by Joseph Heller in 1961, though the copyright was 1955 and 1961. My copy was a re-release in 2011 by Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. in this copy there is an introduction by Christopher Buckley. I did not read the introduction, preferring to read it after I have written a review. There are also notes in the back that goes over Mr. Heller's notes and reviews from various people. I did not read those either, choosing to come up with my own thoughts on this book. I will read them after I write this review. Maybe I will add some new notes after reading them, but that will be a different page.
The phrase Catch-22 is still in use today. I have used it several times to explain the way the world works to my children. In this book there are some crazy uses, such as Catch-22 used when someone says they are crazy to get out of service, the catch is that if you think you are crazy then you are not really crazy because you want to get out of the service because you are trying to preserve your life which is clearly not a crazy thing to do. The book goes on and on dumping the Catch-22 when ever they want to explain something away. Even if that is all they say, " Well, it was because of Catch-22," leaving the hearer trying to figure out what it means.
The characters are terrific and terrifying. We have the main character Yossarian, who is tired of flying missions, only to have the number of flights increasing every time he is within three flights of going home. Then Colonel Cathcart who is the one increasing the missions, for a couple of reasons, one he gets mad at something the men do or he is afraid to order in new replacements because he has to train them. Milo Mindbender who is making money on both sides of the war effort, with his syndicate, even bombing his own men to make a buck. The Chaplain who is questioning God and whether he saw a miracle of a naked man in a tree. Plus a whole host of other characters which make this story come to life.
The setting like the characters are fictitious, an island in the Mediterranean Sea which serves as the Air Force base where excursions to Rome to meet prostitutes was the norm. Mindbender used resources to fly everywhere to help the syndicate get supplies. He wanted to bilk the military of 1000's of dollars and give it to members of the syndicate, which was everyone.
I loved this book, being a military spouse there were several times our orders changed just because of what was needed at the time. I related to you can't do this because of that, then the change where they did it anyway. A very comical, dramatic and well written book. GREAT.
Showing posts with label WWII. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WWII. Show all posts
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Sunday, February 28, 2016
All the Light We Cannot See-review
ALLTHE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doer, published by Scribner in 2014, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
What words can be used to describe this book? I have thought of a few but do they really give the essence of the book. So here are my few, mystical in terms of the Sea of Flames s stone believed to destroy lives and yet gives life to the owner. This piece weaves the tale and brings two lives together and yet destroys those around them. Transformative- our characters due to the war have to become something that they would not have normally become if they had been able to live their life without interference. The biggest transformaton is Werner, who goes from an orphan gifted in the art of mechanics and engineering, who is dropped into the schooling for Hitler Youth. He sees this as a stepping stone and is honored, his sister sees this as his downfall. It is only after his friend Frederick who is forced by his parents to go to this school gets hurt by the other boys that he sees a problem.
But what else can he do, one way or another he will have to serve for Hitler.
I have said this before, I like books that make me think, that teach me new things. In this book it was about the recruitment of the youth. I knew that they recruited youth and that the parents let them go because they felt it was an honor. I did not know they had specific schools of learning, before they were sent out into the war. I was amazed at the ferocity of the boys and officers to the students, the scenes where the boys were singuled out made me want to cry. If the Nazis could do that to their own students, I can see why they would not care if they did it to anyone else. I think this is the scare tactic that put all nations onto high alert. Educational and maddining would be words I would use for these scenes.
Then of course there is poor Marie-Laure, a young girl full of life, blinded right after learning about the cursed stone. Who is loved by all, especially her father, who has been tasked with hiding the stone or the replica of the stone. When they learn about the Nazis coming he grabs his daughter and they flee to an Uncles house. Where her life is turned upside down, with fear. Her father forbids her to leave the house because he has heard what becomes of blind children. His fears cause his capture. I will not get to all the details, but another word to use especially for Marie-Laure is resilience, perserverence and determination.
I have read other WWII books and I am always amazed at the people who turn others in for rewards. Who give up information sometimes without being asked so that they can gain favor with the oppressors. This book has some of the same scenarios. It saddens me that this happens and it makes me wonder, would I do that? Would I be so desperate for food, that I would turn in another human being for a loaf of bread.
This is a great book, I look forward to reading his other stories.
What words can be used to describe this book? I have thought of a few but do they really give the essence of the book. So here are my few, mystical in terms of the Sea of Flames s stone believed to destroy lives and yet gives life to the owner. This piece weaves the tale and brings two lives together and yet destroys those around them. Transformative- our characters due to the war have to become something that they would not have normally become if they had been able to live their life without interference. The biggest transformaton is Werner, who goes from an orphan gifted in the art of mechanics and engineering, who is dropped into the schooling for Hitler Youth. He sees this as a stepping stone and is honored, his sister sees this as his downfall. It is only after his friend Frederick who is forced by his parents to go to this school gets hurt by the other boys that he sees a problem.
But what else can he do, one way or another he will have to serve for Hitler.
I have said this before, I like books that make me think, that teach me new things. In this book it was about the recruitment of the youth. I knew that they recruited youth and that the parents let them go because they felt it was an honor. I did not know they had specific schools of learning, before they were sent out into the war. I was amazed at the ferocity of the boys and officers to the students, the scenes where the boys were singuled out made me want to cry. If the Nazis could do that to their own students, I can see why they would not care if they did it to anyone else. I think this is the scare tactic that put all nations onto high alert. Educational and maddining would be words I would use for these scenes.
Then of course there is poor Marie-Laure, a young girl full of life, blinded right after learning about the cursed stone. Who is loved by all, especially her father, who has been tasked with hiding the stone or the replica of the stone. When they learn about the Nazis coming he grabs his daughter and they flee to an Uncles house. Where her life is turned upside down, with fear. Her father forbids her to leave the house because he has heard what becomes of blind children. His fears cause his capture. I will not get to all the details, but another word to use especially for Marie-Laure is resilience, perserverence and determination.
I have read other WWII books and I am always amazed at the people who turn others in for rewards. Who give up information sometimes without being asked so that they can gain favor with the oppressors. This book has some of the same scenarios. It saddens me that this happens and it makes me wonder, would I do that? Would I be so desperate for food, that I would turn in another human being for a loaf of bread.
This is a great book, I look forward to reading his other stories.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Review: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I just finished UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand, paperback version, published by Random House, Trade Paperbacks. Originally published in 2010, this copy was published in 2014.
Wow, so many emotions went through me as I read this book. I thought I would pick it up, read a few pages, put it down and just finish it before book club at the end of the month. However, what happened is I picked it up this weekend and could not put the book down. I wanted to be there to support the men fighting for there lives. I cried several times throughout the book. Anger for the treatment of the POW's. Two days later and I was finished with the book, but there are pictures and stories that will haunt me, just as pictures of captives in Germany make me sad. So thin, so gaunt, so hungry.
We always hear about the tragedies in Europe, but this book brought information that I never realized, one being the amnesty granted to war criminals, for the price having allies. I knew that we did something, but I did not realize it was that. It makes me sad to think that these people were allowed to live their lives as if they did no harm. But I think all war time crimes are intolerable, no matter who participates. All the people who go to war do it for the reason they deem important, it is always one groups and in some instances one persons philosophy that pulls whole nations into war.
When we fight wars is there ever, really a clear winner. In this book we "won", but so many died, so many lost their way, so many families changed. But then we saved so many people. War is always a bitter pill to swallow. Thank you Laura for bringing this side of the WWII to the masses.
Wow, so many emotions went through me as I read this book. I thought I would pick it up, read a few pages, put it down and just finish it before book club at the end of the month. However, what happened is I picked it up this weekend and could not put the book down. I wanted to be there to support the men fighting for there lives. I cried several times throughout the book. Anger for the treatment of the POW's. Two days later and I was finished with the book, but there are pictures and stories that will haunt me, just as pictures of captives in Germany make me sad. So thin, so gaunt, so hungry.
We always hear about the tragedies in Europe, but this book brought information that I never realized, one being the amnesty granted to war criminals, for the price having allies. I knew that we did something, but I did not realize it was that. It makes me sad to think that these people were allowed to live their lives as if they did no harm. But I think all war time crimes are intolerable, no matter who participates. All the people who go to war do it for the reason they deem important, it is always one groups and in some instances one persons philosophy that pulls whole nations into war.
When we fight wars is there ever, really a clear winner. In this book we "won", but so many died, so many lost their way, so many families changed. But then we saved so many people. War is always a bitter pill to swallow. Thank you Laura for bringing this side of the WWII to the masses.
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