Catch-22

 This is one of those rare books that introduced a concept that is used in common parlance. A "catch-22" is, according to Wikipedia "paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations". 

Without giving much away, this book relishes in amping up the tickling sensation you get from grinding your brain on the edge of a paradox. One may think that it will run out of ways to make use of the concept, it only get better as one reads on. 

While there is so much fun to be had of the many absurd paradoxes the characters of the book bring up (and usually accept in resignation), the true joy of reading Catch-22 comes from its highly memorable characters roster of varying questionable sanity, the names of which make up the titles of most chapters. So much hilarity ensues from their absurd and whimsical existences. I don't think I will ever forget Milo, Major Major (his introduction was one of the funniest things I've ever read), the chaplain, and definitely not Yossarian, who is the heart of an otherwise purely absurd exercice in trying -and intentionally failing- to make sense of the toils and trappings of war. 

While the tone-perfect humor is the biggest selling point of this little novel, what elevates it to a Classic are the little moments where Heller chooses not to be funny: the stark contrast making so strong a point that it rivals other serious anti-war novels in depth and impact. This is book is also infinitely quotable, and what it lacks in "character development" more than makes up for in deftness of narration, description, dialog, and characterization. 

5/5. Perfect, absolute madness.