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Catch 22 and its ilk

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  • 28-03-2009 1:01am
    #1
    Denerick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,488 ✭✭✭


    Can someone reccomend to me a book to follow up from Catch 22? I'm halfway through it and its unlike anything I've ever read before,a fantastic novel! Something from a similar vein. I'm not well acquainted with these black comedies/satires so any advice would be welcome.


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    #2
    Red Hand
    Registered Users Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭Red Hand


    Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut is one that springs to mind. I think it is vastly superior to Catch 22. It's a weird mix of WW2, post war experience, sci-fi, time travel, mental illness and hallucination told in pretty black humour.

    The thing that sticks in my mind is the Dresden firebombing, which was based on Vonnegut's actual experience as a POW in Dresden during the firestorm.

    You cannot ignore this book if you like Catch 22.


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    #3
    shotgun mike
    Registered Users Posts: 111 ✭✭shotgun mike


    Jeremiah 16:1 wrote: »
    Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut is one that springs to mind. I think it is vastly superior to Catch 22. It's a weird mix of WW2, post war experience, sci-fi, time travel, mental illness and hallucination told in pretty black humour.

    The thing that sticks in my mind is the Dresden firebombing, which was based on Vonnegut's actual experience as a POW in Dresden during the firestorm.

    You cannot ignore this book if you like Catch 22.


    Breakfast of champions, also by vonnegut


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    #4
    Locamon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 363 ✭✭Locamon


    Denerick wrote: »
    Can someone reccomend to me a book to follow up from Catch 22? I'm halfway through it and its unlike anything I've ever read before,a fantastic novel! Something from a similar vein. I'm not well acquainted with these black comedies/satires so any advice would be welcome.

    When I read something saying I've not done anything as good as "Catch-22" I'm tempted to reply, "Who has?" - Joseph Heller.

    Have to say I agree, I have never come across anything similar that is as good:)


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    #5
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    Jeremiah 16:1 wrote: »
    Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut is one that springs to mind. I think it is vastly superior to Catch 22. It's a weird mix of WW2, post war experience, sci-fi, time travel, mental illness and hallucination told in pretty black humour.

    The thing that sticks in my mind is the Dresden firebombing, which was based on Vonnegut's actual experience as a POW in Dresden during the firestorm.

    You cannot ignore this book if you like Catch 22.

    I read Breakfast of Champions and really didn't like it. Is the above book similar in style?


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    #6
    Red Hand
    Registered Users Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭Red Hand


    breadmonkey wrote: »
    I read Breakfast of Champions and really didn't like it. Is the above book similar in style?

    I haven't read Breakfast of champions, so I can't really comment.

    If someone else did, please tell us.


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    #7
    Gerry81
    Closed Accounts Posts: 79 ✭✭Gerry81


    a confederacy of dunces - john kennedy toole


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    #8
    LostinKildare
    Registered Users Posts: 990 ✭✭✭LostinKildare


    RIP Kurt Vonnegut.

    Try Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre


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    #9
    sceptre
    Registered Users Posts: 19,608 ✭✭✭✭sceptre


    There's a sequel to Catch 22 called Closing Time. I haven't read it so don't know if it's in the same style but I reckon it's the most logical thing to read as a follow-up.


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    #10
    Locamon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 363 ✭✭Locamon


    sceptre wrote: »
    There's a sequel to Catch 22 called Closing Time. I haven't read it so don't know if it's in the same style but I reckon it's the most logical thing to read as a follow-up.

    not a bad book but disappointing in the context of Catch 22


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    #11
    eZe^
    Registered Users Posts: 7,046 ✭✭✭eZe^


    Try The Magus!


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    #12
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,156 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    i started to read catch 22 when i was younger, maybe 20, but couldnt seem to get into it at all and stopped. My sister was the same.

    i must have a go at it again and see how i get on.

    i just wikipedia'd slaughter house 5, sounds good.


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    #13
    jbree
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14 ✭jbree


    sceptre wrote: »
    There's a sequel to Catch 22 called Closing Time. I haven't read it so don't know if it's in the same style but I reckon it's the most logical thing to read as a follow-up.

    I've just finished Closing Time, was looking forward to it for a long time but was extremely disappointed, it's a pity because if it was Heller's first it would be a great read, but how do you follow up Cather 22? Probably impossible. Closing Time takes a lot of perseverance and is extremely difficult to read. It had a lot of funny Hellerisms, in fact the whole thing doesn't have a serious line in it, but it is hard, hard work.
    Would def reccommend Slaughterhouse 5, an exceptional novel, or anything by Vonnegut


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