one annoying aspect is the fact that the chaplains name has changed from Catch-22 (as i'm only half way through this book, so that might be explained later, so forgive me if it is) from Shipman to Tappman. and no Orr so far either! But apart from that it is still a great book!Kurt Vonnegut-like Satire of Modern Mores -- Not Catch 23 The subtitle for this book is -- The Sequel to Catch 22. That's the catch, for sure. Only in the loosest sense could this be viewed as a sequel. Change the names of a few of the characters, and you have another Kurt Vonnegut spoof of modern society. I graded the book down one star for partial misrepresentation.
So, forget Catch 22 when you read this book. Otherwise, you'll just get frustrated. Although some of the broad themes are the same, the connection is pretty small between the two books. Yossarian and Milo are the main connections between the two stories, but decades later. Their characters remain familiar, though.
What, then, is the book about? It's primarily a complaint about modern society and its lack of a moral center and purpose. If you like outrageous humor put in modern times, you have the potential for a lot of good laughs. If you want a tight, believeable plot, you've come to the wrong place.
Humor is always somewhat relative, and Heller's humor in this book is an acquired taste. He does go on to get his points across. Edit the humor down, and it would have worked better.
Still, I found the book to be an interesting novel, and am glad I read it. Just be sure you know what this book really is before reading it. Read it for what it is, or avoid it for what it is not.
Personally, I think Heller is very good at making fun of the bureaucracy stall in this book. That is what made me interested in reading it, and rewarded me for my patience.
