Catch-22 discussion

I thought this book had a good amount of humor in it while still being serious...

Are there other books similar to this kind of writing you can think of? They don't necessarily need to be about war. I thought the House of God had a similar feeling to it, and I also liked that book.

I hope this question made sense...

Thanks

I think Vonnegut is very similar. Try Slaughterhouse-Five or Breakfast of Champions.

Vonnegut is very similar to Heller, yep.

For someone clearly influenced by the American satirists, but who writes in a different style and about different issues (his humour is a little more subdued, and his themes tend to be more personal), you might also try John Irving.

These, in my opinion would fall within the same classification.

I agree...Vonnegut... but if you look for somebody who treats rules lightly just as Yossarian does - Ken Kesey: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

The River Why by David James Duncan is hilarious and wise.

Memoir From Antproof Case by Mark Helprin is also LOL funny with a lot of world wisdom mixed in as well.

I agree with One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

I find Neal Stephenson's early work to be similar in humor/seriousness levels. Although the setting is post-cyber-punk rather than WWII

I would recommend A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole, becuase of the humor and defend it against those that say the novel is not serious.

There is a sequel to CATCH-22, called CLOSING TIME. It features Yossarian & Milo as old men involved in bomber sales, government conspiracies and explorations of vast labyrinths under the Port Authority of NY. It is more absurd/bizarre than Catch-22 and should have been edited further.

Carl Hiaasen kinda has the same mix of humor, social commentary, and horror. He focuses on environmentalism, instead of war. Emphasis on the 'mental' bit.

Vonnegut! Although Slaughter-House 5 is his most acclaimed book, I say start with Cat's Cradle or Mother Night.

Vonnegut's Galapagos is my favorite.

I enjoyed "Slaughterhouse-Five", but I do believe "Catch-22" is a much better written book. And, in terms of books that are similar in tone, I know that Samuel Beckett kept popping into mind while reading this. The self-negating logic of Catch seems to have a direct lineage from Beckett's writing.

Thomas Pynchon. The Crying of Lot 49 is easy place to start but if you have more time on your hands, I'd suggest V.

I would second A Confederacy of Dunces. If you're a Shakepeare fan and aren't afraid of things getting a bit wacky, I'd also recommend FOOL by Christopher Moore - absolutely lovely use of language.

Bombardiers by Po Bronson is a modern homage to Catch-22 but set in the financial industry and not WWII.

Vonnegut's short story collection Welcome to the Monkey House and Phillip Roth's Goodbye Columbus (also short stories) and Portnoy's Compliant

Eric wrote: "I find Neal Stephenson's early work to be similar in humor/seriousness levels. Although the setting is post-cyber-punk rather than WWII"

His book Cryptonomicon is mostly set in WWII but retains the humour and writing style of his earlier works, like Snow Crash. It definitely feels like a nerdier (but still thoroughly enjoyable) version of Catch-22 for large parts.

Have never laughed harder than when reading Catch 22. Vonnegut definitely brought the laughs as well. Perhaps not ready to be in the mix with the legends, but I personally find Gary Shteyngart to be rather hilarious at times too.

How is it that no one has suggested Fahrenheit 451 so far?
Also Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead (although of all postwar literature I've read, I find this one to be the hardest-but still worth reading).

Pynchon. Especially the early stuff.

J.P.Donleavey's books, Gingerman, Fairytale of New York to me have a similar tone and anti-hero.
But Catch 22 is one of my favorite books; I've been in the military for 15 years and just have to reread it from time to time.

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...as for others...

-anything by Vonnegut
-anything by Hunter S. Thompson
-anything by Woody Allen

All great references. I agree with Tooles's Confederancy of the Dunces;I found that novel hard to finish, because of the idiot protagonist or narrator or whatever, esp with the hot dog stand thing and his revolt/just took too long to get there. I almost abandoned the cause.

The best BEST BEST NOVEL/ RELATED TO WAR AS A MIND-F**K--only this guy wants to go outside a medical military hospital in the USA for some fresh air-- this book called "Johnny Got his Gun," written bout WW1,then taken off shelves during WW11 cause of Hitler, and put back on the shelves with new stats by the author for the Vietnam (conflict during his time)War put my mind in a tunnel with know freaking way to break out until I read it straight through--when I finished I felt like I could breathe again.

I'd suggest these have a similar tone (in particular order):

Skvorecky's 'Republic of Whores' (a bizzare translation of the original title, which I think was just 'Tank regiment' or something) - story of Czech army conscripts ... and absurdity

Mo Yan's 'The Republic of Wine' - story of police detective dealing with corruption ... and absurdity

Shirley Hazzard's 'People in Glass Houses' - story of bureacracy in the UN ... and absurdity

And Victor Pelevin's 'Omon Ra' - men in bear suits and cosmonaut training camps ... and absurdity

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Republic-Wine...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/People-Glass-...

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Going after Caciatto..forgot the author, different setting.

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I disagree with Slaughter House Five being similar in tone. True they both center around a war, but I find the tone to be different. Love both books, but differently.

I always felt "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" was closest in tone to Catch 22 (at least from my readings). Both point out the absurdity and futility of life, while maintaining a twinkle in the eye optimism and humor.

Fobbit is a newer book about a newer war -- things haven't changed much

Andrew wrote: "I disagree with Slaughter House Five being similar in tone. True they both center around a war, but I find the tone to be different. Love both books, but differently.

I always felt "Rosencra..."

I agree with your disagreement to similarity between Vonnegut and Heller. Vonnegut's humor is more ironic than satirical, in my opinion. Love Vonnegut, and I liked Heller's Catch-22, but it is his best, whereas Vonnegut is more consistent and, also in my opinion, much more talented. I like the comparison to R&G though and with previous suggestions of Philip Roth.

Our Gang by Philip Roth is a great read.

The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway The Gone-Away World has a very similar tone and humour.

good choices, yes I agree with Vonnegut and Ken Kesey. not just absurdist humor but more complicated. borne from vaudville wit, it's roots are almost Kafka, and Vaudville combo. Even Buster Keaton or Marx. A kind of farce right on the surface of "assumed reality." I would call it neurotic humor. later, Mash, Portnoy's Complaint, World According to Garp....woody allen movies, etc.

Jenn wrote: "How is it that no one has suggested Fahrenheit 451 so far?
Also Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead (although of all postwar literature I've read, I find this one to be the hardest-but still wo..."

not the same kind of "funny" doesn't smell the same funny...

Andrew wrote: "I disagree with Slaughter House Five being similar in tone. True they both center around a war, but I find the tone to be different. Love both books, but differently.

I always felt "Rosencrantz a..."


The Beckett...Stoppard (maybe Pinter) lineage...similar to linguistic chess and sillyness of Catch 22 yes.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Good as Gold by the same author. It lives in the same absurdist world as Catch 22, but this time we're in the realm of politics. It's a very funny book.

I'm on the "yes" to Vonnegut/Slaughterhouse side here.

Farenheit 451 isn't a comedy, so that's a good start for why it wasn't getting mentioned.

Pynchon is a good call, though a more challenging read.

I hadn't thought about it until I saw it mentioned, but there are some Hunter S. Thompson works that kind of fit, yeah.

Give Gary Shteyngart's "Absurdistan" a try. I find the tone and humor similar.