Catch-22 Redux

I first read Catch-22 in 1966. I was a sophomore in college, a fellow student put the book in my hands. I am proud to say after devouring the book, the first time, I put that same copy into another student's hands. 

For about a decade in the late 60s and early 70s, Catch-22 was my bedtime reading. I would just open the book anywhere and read several or many pages each night. By then, the Vietnam War was raging and the book took on darker and deeper meanings for my generation.

Right now I am reading Catch-22 once again. It has been at least 25 years since Yossarian and I have had a conversation. Though he and Joseph Heller's insanity are often near my mind.

I recognize while reading the book in order, front to back, that the theme is the same. Every page, every scene, every chapter. 

War is insane. The people who wage war are insane. Societies that participate are insane. Therefore, all humankind is insane. But if you attempt to escape war you are sane and you have to stay.

Being able to weave that singular message into a novel over and over again without ever actually saying it, is genius.

For any youngsters, who might come upon this blog without a full grasp of what a Catch-22 is, I offer you two explanations.

NOUN

1. a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.

More specifically -"There was only once catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and he could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to."

You might think that being told the same story, metaphor, life lesson, rant, rage, scream repeatedly over 500 pages would be mind-numbing. Trust me, it is not. Trust the Modern Library list of the 100 best novels, which puts Catch-22 in the top ten.

Catch-22 has become a linguistic trope in our vocabulary. How many times have you labeled some quandary a Catch-22? I asked myself that question and realized I have been writing this blog since 2007, I wondered how often I had invoked Joseph Heller's famous number.

100 Things About Me [2009]

Momentarily Memorable Books [2009]

Shared Marginalia [2011]

Online Information [2013]

The Ultimate Catch-22 [2015]

Chocolate [2016]

100 Best Novels [2010 & 2020]

Art & Literature Through Our Ages [2011 & 2020]

The Bone People

The Bibliophile's Devotional tells us "this unusual novel is woven through with dreams, myth, magic, the world of the dead, and the traditions of ancient cultures." My kindle tells me I read this book back in 2005, I may need to reinvestigate. I'm sure it was a recommendation from a friend, anyone wish to take credit?

What struck me about the write-up in The Devotional are these words of inspiration and motivation to all struggling novelists.

The author "spent twelve years writing this novel and then was unable to find a mainstream press to publish it. Published by a small feminist New Zealand publishing collective, it sold out its initial print run in six weeks and went on to become the most successful novel in New Zealand publishing history."

Silent Spring

In these times, particularly in these times, it is reflective to remember we were warned over 50 years ago that we were/are in conflict with nature. Rachel Carson published Silent Spring on September 27, 1962. It was shocking and groundbreaking then and worth rereading today.

The Bibliophile's Devotional chose Earth Day (April 22) as the day to celebrate Carson's historic observations about humankind and nature.

"Silent Spring came as a cry in the wilderness, a deeply felt, thoroughly researched, and brilliantly written argument that changed the course of history. Without this book the environmental movement might have been long delayed or never developed at all."  

-Al Gore, Introduction to the 1994 edition

Inner Peace

In these times, I'm okay if you get your philosophical counsel from Dilbert, Charlie Brown or even Marmaduke. 

I, however, always seek dandelion solitude with Opus.

Grey Angel Again

The Bibliophile's Devotional

I have a dear friend with whom I periodically exchange books, articles and academic ephemera. Today in the midst of deliveries of food, hand sanitizer and catnip, came this book. With this thoughtful gift a long-standing personal dilemma has been resolved.

I have been looking to keep this little grey blog focused my quest to publish Grey Angel, my novel. Pandemic reflection and quarantine news are not serving that quest. But a daily dose of selective literature will surely spark something resembling literary at least once or twice a week.

I hope you will look forward to my meanderings sparked by The Bibliophile's Devotional.

Today's bon mot from Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.

"At the first gesture of morning, flies began stirring."

"Inman, a confederate soldier wounded at the battle of Petersburg, wakes up in a hospital ward. Flies buzz around the long wound in his neck that after months has finally started to heal."

Thank-you, Don. 

. . . and a grateful bow to the book's author Hallie Ephron "the best, friendliest, hippest librarian you ever met."

Testing in La-La Land

Yes that is a photograph of someone being tested for the corona virus in a golf cart. Here in The Villages, Florida we have drive-thru testing in all forms of recreational vehicles. Being that this is the largest retirement community in the country with more golf holes (648) than any property on the planet, it makes sense that nearly everything is accessible by golf cart.

Now to the dreaded virus. University of Florida Health has taken the opportunity of this unusual population density to offer not only clinical testing but also a general testing protocol to collect ongoing data on the virus within this high risk population. The average age here is over 70.

The testing slots are limited and they usually run out of tests before the week is over but UF Health practitioners are out there every day while supplies last. The website for appointments often fills up early each day of testing but there are random slots open at times.

There were appointments open three days ago, so my sister-in-law and I decided to do our part. We set up appointments for the following morning and headed for the very efficient set-up at The Villages Polo Fields. Check-in, ID verification, recheck and a quick medical history were all done while we sat, masks in place, in our golf cart. Test was quick and only mildly irritating.

Yes, I know I buried the lede - We got our results today and we both tested negative.

Mark Twain May Have Said It

Twain might have said it, but odds are he didn't. The quote I've been mulling for a few days, which is attributed to him goes like this:

"History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes."

Actually, there are several versions on that theme, all attached to absolutely no one in particular. So I get to build this post off the wording I find most evocative.

"History never repeats itself, but if often rhymes."

I've been pondering an eye-opening response I received to a group email sent out a few weeks ago. That email was about the virus. Part of what I said was:

"Hoping you and yours can avoid the scourge of these times. Also hoping we all understand this is in all likelihood the most significant historical event any of us will experience. Until now our war was Vietnam. JFK. MLK and RFK were assassinated. The Twin Towers fell. But this is worldwide, life will forever be altered if and when this is behind us."

One response from my email list of family & friends reminded me that my historical recollections might have been a bit short-sighted. While most of my contacts are in their 50s-60s-70s, there are several family members younger and one older, dear friend. I had forgotten that Vietnam might not be the conflict that compares to Covid-19.

My wiser friend wrote: "World War II stands out in my memory as a better comparison."


Which reminded me of another quote:

"Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it."

or perhaps

"Those who do not look back beyond their own history are simply observing not learning."