Closing Time: The Sequel to Catch-22

Closing Time is as hilarious and imaginative as Catch-22 and Good as Gold, two other stories by Heller that I've read. I love the allusions to Dante's Inferno--that scene is rich with metaphor, the people on the steps/tunnel on one side of the door, separated from the good and the bad, the door between. And later on, the wires hanging separated, connections broken. The story is chock-full of allusions to other art, written, performed, and painted. One need not be fluent in allusion to appreciate the story. Many of the characters from Catch-22 are present and accounted for. There's a scene with ex-pfc Wintergreen and another...the name of which I've forgotten, Milo perhaps...that is truly hilarious. Profanity is employed. As I was reading it, I had to stifle my laughter, as the wife was nearby and rather than try to explain "honey! what are you laughing at" by interrupting my read by handing her the amazon kindle (this tool is a treasure) so she could read it herself (can you imagine the jokes that are coming? like the remote?)...where was I? But so...and but it was easier to try not laughing (not easy) than to interrupt my reading of the story...the offset is that I had to take numerous breaks to wipe the small screen. Oops. This story is way-under-appreciated. And it is well-worth a reread, given time.

It may be a sequel, but doesn't add much - if anything - to the impact of the original in my opinion.

Closing Time is the sequel to Catch-22. If you're of a certain age you'll remember the popularity of the book (we read more back then) and the ensuing movie. In Closing Time you can follow Yossarian post-retirement, livin' the dream, and how he foils a mili- -- oh wait. Nope. No spoilers. :-) I'd give it five stars except that nothing will ever match the original. But if you DID read the original (Nately's whore, and his death; Milo Minderbinder and the great parachute swap) reading this is catching up with old friends. Help the bombardier!

Good value

Truly brilliant- Joseph Heller revives some of the characters from his classic from 1961 to illustrate some very specific points about how the U.S. federal government has a habit of never learning from its own mistakes, specifically with regard to extremely reckless overspending on defense. In "Closing Time," Joseph Heller brings in characters from other authors too, and he also successfully manages to weave in themes from Wagner operas. Only a handful of authors in the entire world would likely be able to weave these elements together gracefully, if most people tried to write a book which borrows characters from some of their contemporaries plus characters from 19th century operas, it would likely deteriorate into a complete disaster notably quickly, but Joseph Heller manages to do so VERY gracefully here. I want to say more here but I really can't without revealing too much of the plot to the story here...

In lots of ways this "sequel to Catch 22" seems as much as way to get the publisher to spring for another undoubtedly fat paycheck, as a continuation of Catch 22, which was a damn fine novel (in its day -- dare I add that?). but Catch 22 was also not Heller's greatest book. In a hundred years, if there are people who read, if there are people (?), Something Happened will be recalled as Heller's great work. If you haven't been there, what are you waiting for?

Unfortunately no where near as good as Catch 22. 50 years on I am nowhere near as exciting as I was as a young soldier in Borneo and Northern Ireland. This is what has happened to Yossarian and Milo Minderbinder. They are dull pensioners.

There is so much happening here I am going to read J. Heller next book and then re-read this The Sequel to Catch-22 again. It is difficult to express what I felt when the book ended, other than to say....I need to re-read it again so I can better put everything together. Do not misinterpreted my need to re-read as to confusion or loss. Put it down to wanting to enjoy and gather more of the rather insane (of course I'm already insane myself according to my daughter. LOL) if not almost real book. Joseph Heller is however totally insanely sane and brilliant. A must read deffinately!

Great product

This is one of the most interesting, intriguing and challenging books I have read in recent years. I can also see why many people, including book critics were troubled by it. The authors first book and magnum opus, Catch 22, was a satirical, absurdist, insightful account of military incompetence towards the end of World War 2. First published 16 years after the end of the war, it attracted a huge following particularly from the substantial anti Vietnam generation of the time. It was a book that many could easily relate to and use as a justification as to why they shouldn't be conscripted and sent off to fight and die in a war that appeared to have no purpose or meaning for them. Closing Time is written with the same satirical, absurdist humour of Catch 22 but the author, when writing it, was 50 years older and the characters in this book are also 50 years older. Instead of just dealing with the subject of war and military, it deals with the human condition including old age and death, the politics of western democracy and many other aspects of life that many probably find uncomfortable to examine. Heller was a master wordsmith and this book, in my opinion, is very readable. Some reviewers however claimed that they struggled with the way in which Heller used the written English language. This is also very understandable. We now seem to live in an age where basic literacy is becoming a lost skill as it gives way to communication by sound bytes. I would suggest that anyone, likely to be troubled by the reality of the absurdity and pathos of the human condition, may want to give this book a miss. On the other hand anyone who is able to enjoy the warmth and empathy that comes from genuine human connection and is able to laugh at some of the ways we act and the things that we sometimes do to ourselves and each other may find this book as enjoyable and engaging as I did. PS I wrote the first review of this book in a tone that reflected my best ability to echo the language that Heller uses in the book. Amazon refused to publish it!

The book arrived safely & well packed, I have not started reading it as yet, but looking forwards to reading it,as this book is a follow up on one of the authors earlier book titled ‘Catch 22’ which I am reading now, & enjoying.

All good! My son is enjoying reading it.

I found this as equally challenging to get through as Catch 22, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. While retaining the characters we knew in Catch 22, particularly infamous yet loved Yossarian, it goes in a different direction. It retains the same rediculous dialogue, and the same terrible humour that one can't help but enjoy. By the end of the book, I felt I had little understanding of it, but I would read it again and again - I enjoyed it that much - until every little comment made in the book clicked into place. A definite for fans of Catch 22.