Closing Time: The Sequel to Catch-22

Average customer rating:

It was hard for me to be hard on this book

Past closing time for Heller

Closing Time on Catch-22

Not really a sequel.

Just Not the sAme ...

Closing Time: The Sequel to Catch-22
Joseph Heller
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Heller, Joseph | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0684804506

Book Description

A darkly comic and ambitious sequel to the American classic Catch-22.

In Closing Time, Joseph Heller returns to the characters of Catch-22, now coming to the end of their lives and the century, as is the entire generation that fought in World War II: Yossarian and Milo Minderbinder, the chaplain, and such newcomers as little Sammy Singer and giant Lew, all linked, in an uneasy peace and old age, fighting not the Germans this time, but The End. Closing Time deftly satirizes the realities and the myths of America in the half century since WWII: the absurdity of our politics, the decline of our society and our great cities, the greed and hypocrisy of our business and culture -- with the same ferocious humor as Catch-22.

Closing Time is outrageously funny and totally serious, and as brilliant and successful as Catch-22 itself, a fun-house mirror that captures, at once grotesquely and accurately, the truth about ourselves.

Customer Reviews:

It was hard for me to be hard on this book.......2007-06-02

I am a big Heller fan who has read most of his work and enjoyed almost every minute of it, but Closing Time was just a painful read.

The book is basically nothing more than a sub-par Catch-22. Heller attempts to catch some of the old magic, but Yossarian as a disappointed geriatric made me want to cry. I would much rather have kept Yossarian sitting naked in a tree inside of my imagination rather than ever see him as a feeble old man. I compare seeing him as a vulnerable old man to the feeling I had when, as a kid, I figured out my dad couldn't beat up everyone else's dad. I didn't want to see my dad as a mortal man nor did I want to see my favorite literary character as a mortal either.

Other than the disappointment of seeing my favorite characters as old timers, the book tries to read like its predecessor but falls very short. The humor is the same but the jokes have become as old and tired as the characters. Catch-22 had me rolling on the floor one minute and then crying a few minutes later, but this book had a few smirks and no tear jerkers. The conversation about where the water went (if you read the book you know what I am talking about) was a brief, shining moment among many lusterless ones.

I would advise anybody who is as big a fan of Catch-22 as I am not to even read this book, even if you get a free copy. I wish I hadn't. The image you want in your mind is Orr paddling away to freedom and Yossarian flying off into the sunset on his trail, but if you read this book that image will be gone forever.

Review from a huge fan of Catch-22 telling other fans do not read this book for your own good.

Past closing time for Heller.......2006-09-27

Joseph Heller's career path described a long slow decline. This book will be very depressing to anyone-- and I imagine this is every single one of its readers-- who reveled in the glorious transcendent wisdom/humor of "Catch-22." That's the only reason to read it and precisely why it will disappoint. "Another book about Yossarian? You know, I always did wonder whatever happened to him..." Man, what a bummer. Turns out he's more or less the same, just older and even more disillusioned and bitter. And the world hasn't changed much (and certainly not for the better.) As a young man, part of Yossarian's appeal was his lust and smugness-- he was smarter and cooler than everyone in the room and that's what made his situation, trapped as he was by the infernal Catch-22, so intriguing... how was he going to escape his purgatory? As an old man, he's (perhaps realistically, but that doesn't mean it's entertaining) become nothing so much as a pathetic nihilist.

You know how at the end of the long run of "MASH" on tv, Hawkeye had over time been so beaten-up he had become a pitiful shell of his former self and it just wasn't funny anymore? Did you find it painful to watch? "Closing Time" is the same way. My guess is most will prefer to remember Yossarian as he was in the first book, or as Alan Arkin's excellent portrayal of him in the movie.

(By the way-- if you transcribe this review and substitute Larry McMurtry, "Duane's Depressed" and "Last Picture Show / Texasville," you'll save yourself some time and a couple of bucks at the remainder rack there as well...)

Closing Time on Catch-22.......2005-12-14

Everyone remembers the famed Catch-22. (Almost as though being Murphey's Law on speed). The famed line of "Thats some catch". And everyone whom has ever read the origional novel first published in 1961 remembers how hard Yossarian struggled to be rid of the Catch, the island of Pianossa and the war itself. However whenever young Yossarian thought that he had found a loophole in the catch his hopes were rapidly crushed by the un-stopable and un-merciful catch. Catch-22.
Although Yossarian did finally find a way to overcome the catch and the island by running away altogether.
In the sequal to the famed Catch-22, Heller picks up with the old caracters from his original novel nearly sixty years after WWII. They are all aged with time and have familys and pasts of their own and are all still struggling with the immortal Catch-22. Only this time it effects their everyday lives in the world that we live in today. Dealing with love affairs, slums, poverty, wealth, political aspects, buisness, death, age and the end.
Joseph Heller uses the same intensity and feirce wit as in all of his writtings however this time his subect matter seems to deal very near to his heart and soul which makes for one of the most passionate and beautiful use of word play and vissuality. Even more so at times than Catch-22 itself.
This book to me is so strong that it could almost stand on its own without its predesesor. (No disrespect intended). I would reccomened it to anyone who would like to visualize our economy, society and life in general from the eyes of an author whom sees the world as it really is; One gigantic Catch-22.

Not really a sequel........2005-09-25

If you're looking for a zany follow-up to Catch-22, don't get your hopes up with this one.

Closing Time is a wonderful take on life. I was rarely bored while reading it, but some of Heller's stabs at politics (George Bush) felt a little forced and unnecessary. I first read samples from this book in Catch As Catch Can, a collection of Heller's short stories, and I was a little put-off at first.

This book is just exquisite; it really captures (what I perceive will be) old age with so many insightful passages. It's not laugh-out-loud funny like Catch-22, it's more philosophical and has different goals than that novel did. It is superbly constructed (as you would expect from any Heller novel), and has wonderful imagery, characters, metaphors, etc. Very high tier as far as fiction goes.

Just Not the sAme ..........2005-08-25

If you loved Catch-22, do yourself a favor, DON'T find out what happens to Yossarian! The book is boring, and drags on, and the worst part is ... there's no more catch! The only person from the first book that is with Yossarian is Milo, and it seems like Heller is trying to recapture the success of his first novel. I mean ... this book has no story line whatsoever. If you're really thAt curious, then I suggest you go to the library and borrow it, or go to Barnes&Noble, sit on the big sofas, sip your grande cappucino and read it for free ... you'll see I'm right, and it's NOT worth buying!

Average customer rating:

Closing Time. The Sequel to Catch-22
Joseph Heller
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IU2JOC

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Ring of Fire : The Guts and Glory of the Professional Bull Riding Tour

Average customer rating:

Ring of Fire - Last of the Rodeo Roots
Quality Lacking
Ring of Fire
Great Book
Beautiful

Ring of Fire : The Guts and Glory of the Professional Bull Riding Tour

Manufacturer: Triumph Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Rodeos | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1572434120

Customer Reviews:

Ring of Fire - Last of the Rodeo Roots.......2007-01-27

I enjoyed reading Ring of Fire. Having been in and followed Rodeo for a great many years, Ring of Fire, is a look into the World of the Bull Rider, before it became a slick, Madison Avenue packaged production. At that time, the Rodeo roots were still alive and well and Hollywood had not yet taken over. The Book is well worth the money if you have your roots in Rodeo.

Quality Lacking.......2004-12-02

Essentially a picture book w/ limited text. Printing and design are dated and of average quality at best. A few great pics but lots of filler. Some day they will come out with a book that does justice to this fantastic sport...

Ring of Fire.......2003-04-02

This is a great book. It shows that bullriding is one of the most thrilling and exciting sports that there is. Even though bullriding has long been overlooked by the sports world, thePBR organization has made this sport one of the most popular and this book shows you why. The pictures are a fan's dream come true and the book is beautifully put together. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes excitement.

Great Book.......2001-06-07

This is one of my all time favorite books! It has so many pictures of bulls like Dillinger, Red Wolf, and Promise Land.

Beautiful.......2001-01-05

If you like Pro Bull Riding, this book is a must, a very beautiful, moving edition. If you aren't a fan, you should check it out anyway. The photography is truly fantastic and makes the sport look even more dramatic, intense, and personal than it already is.

$Rider On Fire & When You Call My Name: Rider On Fire\When You Call My Name$
Average customer rating:

Rider On Fire & When You Call My Name: Rider On Fire\When You Call My Name
Sharon Sala
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0778324478

Rider on Fire (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No 1387)

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENTLY WRITTEN - GOOD PLOT
Everything you need in a book
Rider On Fire

Rider on Fire (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No 1387)
Sharon Sala
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0373274572

Download Description

With a hitman hot on her trail, undercover DEA agent Sonora Jordan decided to lie low--until ex-Army Ranger and local medicine man Adam Two Eagles convinced her to look for the father she'd never known--and offered her a love she'd never known she wanted.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENTLY WRITTEN - GOOD PLOT.......2006-08-11

DEA undercover agent Sonora Jordan was having flashes she didn't understand.

Adam Two Eagles calls upon the "Old Ones" to help Franklin Blue Cat to locate his child.
Wonderful mysticism runs throughout the book.
Poor Sonora turns out to be of the "alley cat" mentality with her many men.

Adam Two Eagles had left the Kiamichi Mountains to take up the white mans ways. He ended up joining the Army, becoming one of their elite - an Army Ranger. Eventually he returned to Oklahoma and his Kiowa roots becoming a healer.

Sonora Jordan took out a brother of the Cartel leader, now Miguel Garcia is on her trail. On boy, does he start trouble.

Jordan's boss, Gerald Mynton tells her to get lost until they can catch Garcia. She hops on her Harley and buzzes out of town.

She follows her sense of guidance that she can't explain even to herself. Things get complicated when she meets up with Adam. She even runs into a couple of good storms and a neat cat. And saves Franklin Blue Cats life.

There is a lot more to the good plot if only she weren't such a . . . . .
Excellent Tale with the Native American mysticism coloring it.
Would love to see a painting of the "Old Ones".

Definitely Recommended --M

Everything you need in a book.......2006-07-14

In this book you'll read the following:

A paranormal story; but not a spooky one.

A sorcerer's story without hexes.

A story of love; but not a love story.

A story of faith and joy for living.

A true story of forgiveness.

Rider On Fire.......2005-10-24

I love Ms Sala's work. I doubt if she has ever written a book I didn't enjoy. This book is no exception. Generally I don't like books that contain "mystic forces". S Sala does and I can still love the book. Enough Said

Night Riders of Reelfoot Lake (Fire Ant)

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Night Riders of Reelfoot Lake (Fire Ant)
Paul Vanderwood
Manufacturer: Fire Ant Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Fire in the Core: A SouthTown Riders Devotional

Average customer rating:

This is a beautiful book.

Fire in the Core: A SouthTown Riders Devotional

Manufacturer: Bride-Logos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Inspirational | Religions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Sports | School & Sports | Teens | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Religion & Spirituality | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0882700022
Release Date: 2005-07-11

Product Description

A teen devotional like no other. This book is a blend of lessons,sports tips,personal testimonies, and devotions.This book has over 140 great photos. Free 45 minute DVD of performance,testimony, and great music.

Customer Reviews:

This is a beautiful book........2006-07-23

This is a series of stories by teenagers who through hard work, dedication, and belief have become champion wakeboarders.
It's well written, interesting, and very inspirational.
It would make a good gift for young skateboarders particularly.

Captain America #4: Fire (Marvel Comic Book February 1997)

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Captain America #4: Fire (Marvel Comic Book February 1997)
Jeph Loeb
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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Sim, Dave | Authors, A-Z | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Loeb, Jeph | Authors, A-Z | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Antiquarian & Rare Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Ghost Rider No. 44 Dec 1993 (Siege of Darkness Part 2, Vol. 2)

Average customer rating:

Ghost Rider No. 44 Dec 1993 (Siege of Darkness Part 2, Vol. 2)
Howard Mackie
Manufacturer: Marvel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

Average customer rating:

Ghost Rider No. 72 Sept (Volume 1)
J.M. DeMatteis
Manufacturer: Marvel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000V9E4YS

Average customer rating:

Ghost Rider No. 73 Oct (Volume 1)
Roger Stern
Manufacturer: Marvel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

Ghosts & Haunted Houses | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000V20BJM

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