Comments Off on Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller


2012
08.28

“OK so it’s not exactly Modern Fiction but it is a 20C classic, and how many other book titles have entered the English speaking language as a common phrase?
I’m not going to waste time telling you what I think, other than I sort of enjoyed it but it did go on a bit too! But read it yourself it is definitely worth the time.
Here is a quote to think about…
‘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 were 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’
This was a spectacular debut novel, in 1994 he wrote a sequel to Catch 22 called Closing Time, if you have read this please post a comment of your opinion.

Score 5.5/10

Date read August 2012

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.”

Comments Off on The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore

The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore


2012
08.15

“Mmmm where to start with this one? Helen Dunmore is a very well considered literary novelist and her novels The Siege and The Betrayal are absolutely worth the read. This is a departure to a ghost story.
The time is 1952 and a young married couple move to a Yorkshire village where he busies himself as the new doctor leaving his new wife to be just that. They rent rooms in a house with an odd landlady. When a Greatcoat is found it unlocks a ghostly visitor and the story develops from there.
Where I have a problem is that it isn’t sure if it’s a suspense or a romance, it’s intending to be both which doesn’t work for me, I’d signed up to have the shit scared out of me not worry if the husband will discover his wife’s upto something (or is she?)!

Score 3.5/10

Date read August 2012

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.”

Comments Off on The Lighthouse by Alison Moore

The Lighthouse by Alison Moore


2012
08.06

“Of all the books I’ve read recently this is the one I’m keenest to hear what other people think of it.
Longlisted for the 2012 Booker longlist…hope it makes it to the short list
A short 200 page debut novel by a tiny independent pubublish (Salt… well done to you guys by the way), Alison Moore has delivered a very readable but somewhat complex story of a middle aged man who goes away and walks and thinks, do I like him, am I supposed to? Is he a wimp or is he a loner?
I finished this with more questions… it will make an excellent readers group book.

Score 7.5/10

Date read August 2012

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.”