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.