Part 1

Of course I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard it was unusual, but also that it was very good and thus worth reading even though it is a bit lengthy and must be finished before high school is.

At first I wasn’t quite sure if it was going to work for me. Hospitals are frightening, Yossarian is a pretty weird name, and why is the first chapter named The Texan when this Texan is not even the main character. Then I got past the first page and realized it would all work out. Yossarian is sort of an arse, just like me. Then I got to the second chapter. I was confused again. Clevinger, who is he and is he as unimportant as The Texan. Also why does everyone have such weird a weird name. They are Americans, and yet The Texan is about as regular as any name gets.

Few more chapters in and I realized how the novel was going to work(made sure by checking late in the book and yes the chapters were still named after people, lots of people). After getting over all of that I really started to enjoy the structure. Rather than going somewhere in a linear fashion the plot was more like a bunch of conjoined short stories. FUNNY STORIES. Not depressing, not emotional, not serious.

What is probably the most entertaining is how I am able to believe all these characters could exist. Whether it is someone such as Yossarian who is just trying to get by and get home with his life, or the drill sergeant lacking a life that is Lieutenant Scheisskopf the characters are satirical but I also see where they are coming from.

I personally, as previously stated, feel the most for Yossarian who is really just a boy thrust into a world of men. He would rather not be at war, trying to escape by medical means and by completing the tour initially promised, but while there he makes the best of it. While at boot camp he survives and enjoys himself along the way as he becomes quite close with Scheisskopf’s wife. Then when in service Yossarrian survives by screwing with people. Rather than flying for very long in dangerous airspace Yossarian drops all of his bombs as quickly as possible before getting out with his life. This seems to a great extent to be the way Yossarian lives his life as he gets into trouble, but then finds a way to escape, usually by bending the truth in half.


First impressions second and third will come. I apologize for the lateness but it will all be done.
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