Catch-22

I was not expecting that!

What a strangely and incomprehensibly difficult book to read and complete.

Inexplicably, my Kindle went on the blink, skipping forward multiple pages, increasing/decreasing the font, randomly highlighting words or phrases, and generally behaving like a retard for five minutes at a time to the point of needing a factory reset.

A book has never behaved this badly before, not even close, which may be a coincidence or an endless Catch-22 experience?

The book is a contradiction from start to finish, sometimes so complex it's impossible to progress, especially with new characters being introduced every chapter, seemingly leading nowhere as you never properly get to know anyone. It goes backwards and forwards, quipping and joking, contradicting itself page after page.

I came that close to throwing Catch-22 on the scrap heap multiple times, but somehow kept at it while questioning my sanity and mental capacity to read or comment on a book this bizarre, which is also strangely enjoyable and profound once you start to appreciate how sarcastic and darkly satirical everything is.

Catch-22 could be the most strangely beguiling book ever written?

Full of smut, humor, self-deprecating chauvinism and laugh-out-loud moments.

Yossarian, the main character, goes to hospital and meets a patient who sees double, so also pretends to see double to stay in hospital and avoid going on more dangerous bombing missions. Except the patient dies overnight! The doctor holds up two fingers the next morning and asks Yossarian how many fingers he can see? Naturally, Yossarian can only see one finger, his sight being miraculously restored.

This is a also a great book for quotes:

"The enemy is anyone who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on."

or

"... no craving for wealth or immortality could be so great, he felt, as to subsist on the sorrow of children."

Abstract vocabulary:

"callipygous", as in a callipygous (well-rounded) bottom.

And interesting expressions:

jamias vu, deja vu, presque vu.

I wanted to hate Catch-22, but will instead treasure it over time for the exquisite writing, incredible alliteration, poetry, prose, and cleverly worked sentences and structures.

The oddest of books that I almost put down on multiple occasions, but didn't because it might have remained on the bookshelf forever.

Maybe you're not supposed to understand Catch-22 from a single read through, but does it deserve a second sojourn? I don't know?