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Heller, Joseph - Catch 22

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Heller, Joseph (1923- 1999)

Catch-22

Exerpt from A Confederacy of Dunces-
There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.
"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.

Summaries-

pinkmonkey - If you're actually planning to read the book (as you should) then don't bother with this site. This site is for all you High Schooler with an essay due tommorow. The material is a lot like Spark Notes but, it does give an overview of the entire work.

Critical Material-

Internet Resorces - Bill Barrett has assembled a great collection of information about Catch-22. I especially like hearing that Catch-22 has been banned. Something about anti-war novels being unpatrotic I would assume. Well for me Oscar Wilde summed up blind devotion to one's country when he said that, "patrotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel". The interniew with Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut is well worth reading.

human-nature - This site has a well written essay that explores the novel at length. Anyone that works in a, " space inside the psychic anus" to a discussion of a work of literature is worth reading.

BBCnews - This site has an incredibly good article on the importance of Catch-22 today. This is a must read for everyone interested in the novel.

generationterrorists - This site has quotes from the book. Actually, it might be more accurate to say that it has virtually every memoriable passage from the text, and a number of less memorable passages as well. If you need a quote, or three, from the book this is the place to visit.

InfinateJest - This site illustrates the way that this novel is still relavant today. Here you will find a cartoon that pits Heller and Vonnegut against America's decision to invade Iraq again. "Poo-Tee-Wee, Vonnegut. Poo. Tee. Wee."