Hannah Dorries
8/11/11
Mr. Jennings
Summer Reading Essay
Heller and McCarthy: Writers of Literary Merit
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller provides the basics to literary merit. The book is
fantastic and disorientating with its non linear approach to describing the insanity of
World War II. Heller’s writing is sarcastic and entertaining, as well as almost overly
descriptive and really confusing. Likewise, The Road by McCarthy juggles a non-linear,
puzzling format while telling a story of a father and son in a post-apocalyptic world.
Both books contain well written stories, while juggling chaotic formats and confusing
flashbacks to represent important overall themes.
In Catch-22, each chapter singles in on a certain character on a certain day.
Although the book is big, not much time passes in the story because days are repeated
every chapter. Having such a confusing format makes Catch-22 a difficult read, but also
creates a deeper meaning, alike many books considered that of literary merit. The Road
has similar non-linear time adjustments. The father reminisces on his past and reveals
more about the setting and all over plot. Alike Catch-22, this book was difficult to read,
but for different reasons. The Road’s very dry, depressing atmosphere combined with it’s
very slow pace makes it a book for a person with a bit of an acquired taste.
Amongst all the confusion in both books, the authors still succeeded in creating a
coherent plot and portraying multiple themes. Catch-22 portrays the idea that in all the
insanities of a war, people with goodness and morality can conjure the strength to act
unselfishly. The Road focuses on life in a dying world. McCarthy’s book digs into father
son relationships and all aspects of life in a post apocalypse. Much of the book is made
in regards to how valuable life is, as well as human nature and selfishness in this dark
setting.
Both Catch-22 and The Road encompass requirements that are plausible to be
considered literary merit. The books have plots with multiple coherent themes and
contain creative writing styles that are non-linear and difficult to read, despite having
totally different plots. The Road isn’t as critically acclaimed as Catch-22, but is still an
excellent novel.