Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Book Number Two

Favorite Book Number Two is Catch 22, by Joseph Heller.  I've read this about three times in my life from the first time around 1964.  It was a very different type of novel and it certainly introduced a new expression to the culture.  Set in Pianosa, a small Mediterranean island in WWII, it describes some of the idiocies of war with such characters as Crazy Joe; Major Major, The Dead Man in Yosarian's Tent; General Dreeble and of course, Doc Daneeka who coined the phrase Catch 22.  This was the ability to escape from the endless and very dangerous bombing runs by asking for a stoppage on the grounds of insanity.  Unfortunately by asking for such leave, it proved you were quite sane, therefore ineligable - Catch 22!  My favorite character was Milo Minderbinder, who turned everything into a business opportunity with his M&M Enterprises.  The slogan "What's good for M&M enterprises is good for you," didn't do the aircrew any good when they bailed out and found this message attached to the release on their parachutes; Milo had sold the elastic for a good profit!  A film was made of it in the 70's which was quite interesting, but it wasn't as good as the book; they seldom are.

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