Book 145: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.

“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.”

It dawned on me last night that I hadn't written anything about my thoughts on Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. I read the book with my students near the end of the school year for an independent novel project.

The project went fine until the kids seemed to fizzle out of their enthusiasm. :) Only half of them really liked their books-the other half realized a few days into the project that they didn't like the books they picked. And then they decided to just stick with their books rather than starting something new.

Anyway, we made it through the project just fine, and the end of the school year, and I have completely failed at discussing my thoughts past this first post.

I did end up finishing the book in time to talk about it with them. And while I enjoyed it and thought it was pretty funny in some parts (not always "ha-ha" funny...you know what I mean), I'm having a hard time remembering those specific details I wanted to talk about. :)

I think what I mentioned in that first post with my initial thoughts was true even as I finished it. To put it bluntly, Catch-22 is a book that doesn't seem to make a ton of sense as you read. However, once you DO finish it, it seems to make all the sense in the world. Events and characters are sometimes introduced and seem out of context, but pages or chapters later, it would all click into place. It's almost as if the novel was like a big puzzle, with bits and pieces here and there that needed to be placed together slowly.

“They're trying to kill me," Yossarian told him calmly.
No one's trying to kill you," Clevinger cried.
Then why are they shooting at me?" Yossarian asked.
They're shooting at everyone," Clevinger answered. "They're trying to kill everyone."
And what difference does that make?”

It was a book that I definitely need to read again, and I wish I would have written this when the book was fresh in my mind. :)

What did you think of this one?

Catch-22 Update 1.

“He was going to live forever, or die in the attempt.”

I am about a third of the way through Joseph Heller's Catch-22. You might recall that I am reading this book as my juniors are working on their independent novel project (the projects are going alright...they are losing enthusiasm as we near the end of the school year). I'm really enjoying the book so far, even though I am not as far as I should be (shhh...don't tell my kids that).

Going into reading the book, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew the book was set in a war, so I was expecting more of that. I didn't really expect the sarcasm, satirical wit, and outright craziness of the novel.

It opens with a group of soldiers in a hospital. Yossarrian, the main character, discusses the men around him and his desire to avoid actual fighting in the war. He uses his own issues to avoid being sent back into action, and avoids telling the doctors the truth to stay in bed longer.

The whole opening through me for a loop. I wouldn't say that the narrative is linear. It seems to start with one person, then travels to another topic, then another....and while the topics are connected by thin strands, you end a chapter with a completely different perspective from where you started. It's...interesting, to say the least.

But I like the circular narrative and the way things have to be fit together as you go. It keeps me turning the pages and waiting to see what points Heller is trying to make. I particularly loved the following passage, and read it a few times over just to enjoy the reasoning a bit more:

"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.""

And that's just a taste of the flavor of Catch-22. :)

My students have enjoyed hearing about the book, and one of them has decided to read it over the summer. He said it seems like a book he would enjoy, so "if" I am back in that school next year, I will have to hunt him down to ask him if he read it.

How many of you have read this? It seems as if people either love or hate this one!

Independent Novel Projects and Catch-22.

With my seniors finishing yesterday, the 8 juniors remaining in my elective "Exploring Literature" class have been hounding me to let them watch movies for the rest of the year.

Ahem. No.

Instead, we compromised on a project to take us through to June 15 (my last day of school). With about 3 1/2 weeks to work with, I didn't want to read the remaining novel that was designated for the class (Alas, Babylon. No, I haven't read it). And since some of them had already gone and read Catching Fire, that was out as well.

So, we decided to do an independent novel project, with almost all of the work being done in class. I managed to get 8 laptops from the Media Center to use in the classroom each day, so that the students can post on a private forum in response to questions, prompts, etc about their novels. They're also being required to respond to each others' posts, so it should be a nice, interactive way to read their novels of choice-like mini book blogs!

The requirements for their novels is that it needed to be something of a reasonable length. Since the writing and posting portion of the daily work will only take half the hour or so, they will be getting almost 30 minutes of reading time per class period. That's a lot! I also pointed out to them that we read The Hunger Games in three weeks, and Ender's Game in 3 1/2. Their books must be fiction and can be in any genre. We've read a pretty heavy science-fiction diet in class, so I am assuming they're going to branch out from there.

The last few days will be spent creating a Photo Story using a program by the same name. The program allows you to integrate images, music, narration, etc to create a mini-movie. On the day of their final, we'll eat breakfast and watch everyone's reports on their books. :) It should be a wonderful day and a great way to end the year.

I have also decided to participate with them. I very much believe in modeling for my students. I usually bring a book with me to school...even though I never read it, to show them that hey, I really DO read outside of school. I also update my back whiteboard with the titles and authors of books I am reading, or recommendations.

Anyway, to model the project for them, I've decided to read Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. I've been meaning to read it for awhile now, and since it is on some of my challenge lists, I was going to get to it anyway. I already planned out my reading schedule, so it should be a fun experience to read a book with my kids. :)

I'm hoping that by the end of this, they all walk about with a few more books to read in the future, and the knowledge that no matter how old you get, reading and exploring literature is important.