One Hundred and Thirty-five, A Masterpiece

I read a lot. But I don't read a lot. I delve into strange, amazing worlds whether they involve magic or spacelanes. I don't read much "normal" fiction mainly because it doesn't hold my attention as well as the well-described worlds in the science-fiction and fantasy novels. Still, sometimes when I read a regular novel, I can appreciate its importance in the fabric of people's lives.

Catch-22 is Joseph Heller's Magnum Opus.

Everyone I've talked to who has read it has only good things to say. Even I feel something different when I read this book. Not just the emotion stirred up but the feeling of being on an immense ride through the author's psyche to experience the same mental climax that he must have experienced. It is such a primal sense of satisfaction when you finish that novel. I loved the book when I read it first some half a decade ago but I'd forgotten why I loved it. Today, I remembered, if only for the last couple chapters of the book, why and I reveled in it. As an escapist, I'm proud to say that I did realize while reading Catch-22 how well-written and powerful this book is. Catch-22 helps define why sometimes people change their lives because of novels.