Closing Time: The Sequel to Catch-22

Good condition. I never knew there was a sequel. Have read the original. Very nice hardback with dust jacket.

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?

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!

Great! thank you!

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.

This review is not related to the book material. This is related to the audiobook. The audio book is an ABRIDGED version of Closing Time. For this reason, would recommend NOT getting.

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...

Catch-22 was a book that helped me get through the Army when I was in during the Vietnam Era. Heller should have stopped there. I couldn't wait to get to the end of this word monster that was blather. I felt the same way with another Heller book titled "The Day They Bombed New Haven." I thin he was a one hit wonder.

A friend had recently read “Catch 22” at my recommendation. She enjoyed it so much I bought her “Closing Time”A good clean copy delivered within the time scale”Pleased with the service

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.

I myself found this book hard going. Ok it had several references to 'Catch 22' in it .However there were chapters that I didn't like at all hence the lowish rating.

Where did all the characters from Catch 22 go? Some didn't make it, but many survived in post-war USA. Here they are! Enjoy this nicely written sequel!

fab read, better than Catch 22 even