Well, first of all let me just say this: It wasn't what I was expecting. I wanted to find out about Orr, did he survive his paddle across the ocean? I wanted to find out about Major Major Major etc did he get the recognition he felt he deserved for his service? And so on. Well the short answer is no. What we get is something waaaaay more bizarre! We do revisit some of the events in Catch-22 through the reminiscences of the central characters and these monologues are, to be honest, the best parts of the book. I found myself smiling wistfully as Sam Singer remembered Yossarian during the war and his antics. I also laughed a few times and felt sadness as these characters recalled their lives when faced with Death, be it their own or that of a loved one. I say Death, rather than death because Death certainly has a major part in this book. It is how we face our demise which makes for an interesting study of the Human condition. Do we give in to it or fight with all we have? Some characters seem to be oblivious to their fate and perhaps that is the best way to meet one's end. We meet some wonderful characters once again, the Chaplain, Milo Minderbinder and so on. Some great new characters, but I don't really think I felt engaged by them. Even Yossarian. It's a shame because I really loved the first book and I so wanted to feel the same way about this one. I struggled with how many stars to award this book for the simple reason that the main body of the story is just too bizarre. I get the symbolism, for example: G C Tilyou and his theme park are clearly representative of the Devil, and Dante's Inferno and its rings leading to one's eternal fate in Purgatory. Decadence and hedonism drawing in the punters in the face of shortage and despair elsewhere in the World. The 'Little P*ick' is obviously a World leader often considered buffoonish and lacking in intelligence but still one who has the finger on THE button. His playing of his game 'Triage' is analogous to his controlling the World and not really understanding the consequences of his actions in doing so. Consequences which bring about the closing time of the title. As for Yossarian his viewing the wedding that has yet to happen and his awareness of being followed by who knows, and indeed these followers also being followed, all apparently controlled by an all-knowing private detective is representative of Yossarian's lack of control over his life and his fate. His impotence to change things because the people at the top have more control and power than he will ever have. Some parts of the main story are very funny. It's just that it's too haphazard, and frankly it was a chore to read. I kept thinking surely it must get better? But no, it just of kept on in this painfully unfunny way for the most part until the end, literally! As for the jokes, hmnnn, well there's a rule in comedy...............................know when to stop! Would I recommend it to those who have read Catch-22? Probably not.