Random Find of the day (or maybe the week/month/year)

From movie cliche archive

"You can always tell which nationality the United States and the popular media are currently most unhappy with because that nation sends all their villains to star in Hollywood movies during those times (e.g. Germans in the late 40's and 50's, Asians in the 60's and 70's, Soviets in the 70's and 80's and Middle Easterners in the 90's)"

Book Review: Something Happened

Something Happened (1974) is Joseph Heller's second novel after his seminal debut work Catch 22. Heller will always be remembered for Catch 22, which has overshadowed his other works, which is rather sad considering that Something happened is an as good, if not better Novel than Catch 22.
Heller dealt with the trauma of World war II with his scathing satire, and he now shifts his aim towards the great American Dream in Something Happened. A first person narration by a certain Bob Slocum, a middle aged, middle class American who glosses over the inadequacies of his life. Indeed, on first appearance, the novel appears to be a pseudo sequal to Catch 22 (The narrator even claims to have served in the army), but delve deeper into the world of Slocum and you realize its a much darker place inhabited not by the staccato of artillary fire, but the insecurities of the work place.

The protagonist is revealed, by his own admissions to be riddled with both perceived and actual shortcomings, as well as fallacies which he simply opts to overlook. He has a crumbling family made of an alcoholic wife, a rebellious teenaged daughter, an insecure younger son and mentally challanged son whom he can't wait to get rid off. He commits adultry without any remorse, and considers his wife inferior (and is sometimes thankful of the fact) for not doing the same and for not asking for divorce. He has intermittent quarell with his daughter, and takes great relish in destroying her by winning these petty arguments. Perhaps the only person in the family he sympathizes with is his son, but even he leaves him exasperated with certain 'tendencies' ( Which handing away his money to others, morbid fear of his Physical trainer, and the overwhelming insecurities, just like his father).


There is not much in the way of a plot, as the narration meanders its way as Bob glosses over his failures and events that transpire at his Home and office. His regret over not having bedded his hot co - worker at his first work place, and of not being allowed to make a speech at the convention of his company seem to aggrieve him more than others, since these incidents are brought up multiple times during the course of narration.

Although i am not an authority in this field, the narration reminds me of "The stream of consciousness" technique, given how it incessantly and spontaneously jumps from one event to the other. This, along with the narrators tendency to express the same thought multiple time makes the novel a challenging read, but this should not put one off, because Heller's brand of satire is sprinkled all over the place. Particularly incisive and sarcastic comments of the narrator are followed by a mocking "(Ha, ha)", even as the futility, unviability and ultimately, the falseness of the American Dream is brutally unleashed in this Master Piece

The Bottom line: Difficult but rewarding piece of satire, Must read for those who have read and liked Catch 22

The test Post

Every story has an Origin.

Just to set the tone of this blog, i start with a ripped of line. For the post itself, let me try something more creative (and hopefully original):


"Peace is temporary, war is permanent"