Topic started by kannan (@ cache-blr.ernet.in) on Sun Jul 16 16:07:32 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

He started his literary life with Catch -22 which took him 8 years to complete and has been regarded as one of the best fiction works in modern literature. He went on to pen great novels like 'God Knows', 'Something Happened' and others. I'm looking for others' views on his works. Be forthcoming.

Responses:

• From: godamnheller (@ adsl-216-63-55-59.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net) on: Tue Nov 7 22:01:52
  
  Joseph Heller is the hardest person to do a paper on. I'm doing a critical biography and I can't find shit. I hate Joseph Heller and my english teacher.
  
  
• From: alexander alex (@ 202.86.172.220) on: Mon Jan 1 12:08:18 EST 2001
  
  i have read catch 22......one of the most mesmerising novels i have ever read....absolutely crazy and at the same time thought provoking.....a great work indeed!
  
  
• From: pablo the little mexican savage (@ c76148-c.bdfrd1.tx.home.com) on: Sun Nov 11 01:38:29
  
  yes, fog heller and my english teacher. i have to write something over this piece of crap and it foging sucks. i want to kill myself and i hope this doesnt help anyone at all. maybe if it helped them feel bad. if it didnt than fog them
  
  
• From: Pizza Man (@ 207.165.135.69) on: Mon Dec 17 14:01:48
  
  I like to eat Pizza
  
  
• From: Thoughtprovoking (@ 1cust85.tnt23.chi15.da.uu.net) on: Thu Jan 31 21:28:59
  
  I am reading catch 22 right now, good luck on your f-in paper and don't die please
  
  
• From: Kay-Kay (@ ptldme-cmt23-24-198-19-236.maine.rr.com) on: Mon Mar 11 17:17:18
  
  I'm reading it now. I can't find any Biography info on this man! Also critical papers.....damn!!
  
  
• From: observor (@ proxy.newnanutilities.org) on: Mon Apr 29 12:25:39
  
  haha this is funny....whoever created this site was hoping that there would be thought provoking discussion....instead it's filled with a bunch of whining high school students who can't finish papers...it's sad that such an amazing book can be hated so much simply because these students are under so much stress from their schools...possibly the educational system needs reform...a good satire should do the job
  
  
• From: Minh (@ h-82.elrca.adelphia.net) on: Tue May 7 21:44:33
  
  i'm doing papers on Joseph Heller! i'm not stressing....but i want to say....i can't find much on joseph heller also!
  
  
• From: jiminycricket (@ spider-wb072.proxy.aol.com) on: Fri May 24 00:06:13
  
  Something Happened is a damn good book. I had to read it for school. Reading it isn't a pain, and neither is enjoying, but having to write is. For my paper I have to read three novels of his (I chose C22, SomethingHappened, and Portrait), and then construct a 15-20 page analysis and comparison of the novels. ARGH! Oh well, school is almost over!
  
  
  
  PS I chose quotes from each novel to include in my paper that have cursewords (F*ck, t*ts, sh*t, d*mn, and also blow job are in my paper).
  
  
• From: vengayam (@ 203.200.84.66) on: Wed Jun 12 01:26:38
  
  kannan, you might also try picture this & as good as gold.picture this is especially exasperating at times you feel like tearing the book at others u burst out laughing with all its rough edges it is good.
  Heller also wrote a sequel to catch 22 before his death.i forgot the name. ihaven't read it. i couldn't think of an aged Yossarian.
  Does anybody have info on that novel.
  
  
• From: Jay Rao (@ dsc05.dai-tx-5-191.rasserver.net) on: Fri Jul 19 05:10:29
  
  I thought the book was good----not great....and since people try to label it as great, i think it is overrated. It has some message, and it is pretty funny, but it's not as good as critics claim it is....at least not in my opinion. I thought the funniest thing about it (i read it three years ago) was that Milo bombed his own bases. I know this didn't help anyone, but i figured i'd write anyways.
  
  
• From: Jay Rao (@ dsc05.dai-tx-5-191.rasserver.net) on: Fri Jul 19 05:33:05
  
  VENGAYAM,
  OH YEAH, THE SEQUEL......yes, the book is okay, but not as good as Catch 22. The name of the book is Closing Time. Yossarian is older in this one, in his 60's....and it is set in New York. It's pretty funny, and I think if you like Catch 22, you'd like this too. It's not as good, but sequels rarely are. It basically is on the same lines as Catch 22, so anyways I hope I've helped you out somewhat. Later. Jay.
  
  
• From: Annemieke (@ nchobo03.telenet-ops.be) on: Sun Sep 8 07:16:53
  
  I found a lot about him on this site: www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Authors/about_joseph_heller.html
  
  good luck!
  I don't like it either, but it has to be done :-(
  
  
• From: Michele (@ ) on: Mon Dec 16 23:43:51
  
  What does this statement mean?
  "Like all great leaders in democracies proudest of freedom of expression, Percles was intolerant of written criticism. Had there been a press, he would have excoriated it."
  
  This is a quote from Joseph Heller's book Picture This. I cannot find this. Please help
  
  
• From: Michele (@ ) on: Mon Dec 16 23:43:59
  
  What does this statement mean?
  "Like all great leaders in democracies proudest of freedom of expression, Percles was intolerant of written criticism. Had there been a press, he would have excoriated it."
  
  This is a quote from Joseph Heller's book Picture This. I cannot find this. Please help
  
  
• From: Janus (@ lsanca1-ar21-4-63-028-203.lsanca1.dsl-verizon.net) on: Thu Dec 19 00:23:48
  
  """
  
  
• From: John (@ denchristian2.denver-christian.org) on: Thu Nov 13 13:19:03
  
  umm.... Heller has an autobiography out, dude.
  
  "Portait of an Artist as an Old Man"
  
  
• From: shay shay (@ adsl-66-72-243-110.dsl.milwwi.ameritech.net) on: Thu Feb 19 18:20:39
  
  I cant find any information on this guy..just the basics..it totally sucks because i have this huge paper to do on him and catch-222..erg help
  
  
• From: dave (@ pcp08364827pcs.lndsd201.pa.comcast.net) on: Sun Mar 7 23:47:32 EST 2004
  
  john, portrait of an artist as an old man is hardly a biography of heller's life. i just read it and it is more a semi-ficticious version of his older life. it has nothing to do with the bulk of his life. I think people could find more information in "Now and Then: From Coney Island to Here". That is more his autobiography. Or just search his name and the word biography on the internet, since there's like 800 sites that say his backround info.
  
  
• From: english hater (@ 12.40.254.178) on: Thu Mar 25 11:27:18 EST 2004
  
  I'm writing a annotated biography for english class and i think heller is a lesbian
  
  
• From: Some dude (@ 12.40.254.178) on: Thu Mar 25 11:30:04 EST 2004
  
  f*ck school dude, this sh*t sucks bad....
  
  
• From: Cal West (@ ip68-7-194-236.sd.sd.cox.net) on: Fri Apr 2 05:05:32 EST 2004
  
  Im writing a canon on Heller, and I can't even find adequate criticism on any of his novels other than "Catch-22". It's 1:28 a.m. and i have about 4 more pages to write on this talentless cynic. I thuroughly enjoyed Catch-22, but his other books make my blood boil. Listless in San Diego my friends.
  
  
• From: alexis (@ hse-toronto-ppp178631.sympatico.ca) on: Thu Apr 29 20:50:49 EDT 2004
  
  Wow. If you guys hate the book that much then just dont do the assignment. No one is holding a knife to your throat. So you'll loose some marks, so what, at least it'll save you (and us) all this angst on public boards. That or maybe you can try a little harder, say going to a "library" instead of spending one measely evening on your paper or whatever you're doing. Personally i find Catch-22 to be one of the most thought provoking books i've ever read, it manages to be horriflying and hilarious all at the same time. His writing is so realistic often to the point of being grotestque, especially in his character descriptions. If you can't appreciate his writing then put down the book or suck it up and just DO the assignment, it only gets harder.
  
  
• From: bobo (@ pcp02933651pcs.catonv01.md.comcast.net) on: Thu May 6 21:02:53 EDT 2004
  
  I also have to do a autobiographical analysis comparing Joseph Heller's life to his novel, Catch-22. I can find plenty of criticism on the novel, and info on Heller's life, but am having trouble linking the two. Any good websites would be appreciated. I found the novel confusing because the evetns were out of sequence and it seemed as if all the characters had the same personality, ehich was frusterating and made the book less interesting, althoguh there were always crazy things happening to keep me awake
  
  
• From: ken (@ pcp04563372pcs.brdgtn01.nj.comcast.net) on: Mon May 10 22:14:19 EDT 2004
  
  do you people go to the library? do you know google.com? there is quite a bit of heller bios and other stuff written about him out there.
  
  
• From: Pinkertin (@ 1cust113.tnt1.frederick.md.da.uu.net) on: Fri May 28 00:15:38 EDT 2004
  
  I have to do an author project on J. Heller. 3 essays, 1 bio, 1 critical analysis, 1 universal theme. it really sux a fatty. the book is awesome but when you have to analyze it to death it just takes something away from it. Donchya think??
  
  
• From: notgiven (@ dialup-4.245.212.149.dial1.stamford1.level3.net) on: Fri Jun 18 11:19:35 EDT 2004
  
  NO NO NO TO PERVERTED QUEERS! NO QUEER MARRIAGES TO CORRUPT OUR SOCIETY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  THIS MAN IS EITHER A QUEER OR SUPPORTS QUEERS AS THAT IS WHERE THE LINKS LEAD.
  
  
• From: john (@ cs242244-88.houston.rr.com) on: Tue Aug 17 22:47:28
  
  Dudes, i don't know what u guys are whining bout, all you have to do to find info bout him is go to google type in Joseph Heller+Biography and alot of good links pop up. one is <http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/heller.htm>
  so ya i hope this'll help out some of the mindless masses out there.
  
  
• From: Jimbo Jones (@ 81-86-98-134.dsl.pipex.com) on: Sun Aug 29 12:43:41 EDT 2004
  
  ur all stupid hahahahaha. i couldnt find anything on C22 either so i just said fuk it and didnt hand nething to the teacher - they give up tryin to get it off u after a while.
  
  
• From: Steve (@ ) on: Wed Oct 13 22:13:32
  
  Hey, y'all. This is my first time on this site, so maybe I'm a little behind on the information. I was just wondering if anyone has any information on Orr in Catch-22. I'm writing a paper about Orr being the hero and how he breaks the archetype of the hero. Any ideas?
  
  
• From: Renita (@ cache-rtc-aa09.proxy.aol.com) on: Wed Nov 24 21:37:13
  
  Omg...This is the worst thing ever...I also have to write a paper on this book...It has to be a major theme in the book... I have some ideas but I just cant put them together that well...I d rather be tested on the book in detail then spend my weekend writing about this book..SOmeonE do SOmeThing...English teachers are killin US!! So dont feel bad we are all in this together...
  
  
• From: the messiah (@ 147-72-116-72.isp.comcastbusiness.net) on: Fri Dec 3 10:32:53 EST 2004
  
  get a life losers
  
  
• From: Bethany (@ 12.110.70.38) on: Thu Dec 23 02:42:31 EST 2004
  
  Orr the hero...maybe you could say something like instead of fighting his battles, he runs away from them. It sounds cowardly, but maybe the picture of corwardice Americans have painted isn't supposed to be bad. Maybe cowardice can be good; you don't get hurt. Besides, getting away from war is what Catch-22 is all about! Whether it be by escape or by fufilling your expected "duties". I know I was kind of late, but maybe it offered a little belated insight.
  
  

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