David Griver

Catch-22 is almost unequivocally the best work of fiction I've ever read. It's definitely a grower, but boy when it does, you're in for a wild ride. Reading this book you are bombarded with a slew of hilarious stories about an insane cast of characters. Slowly but surely there comes into focus a tragic tale of a bunch of officers trying to make it through a horrible war with their mind and body in one piece. This novel manages to capture with perfect clarity the absurdism of war and the (funny) craziness of bureaucracy and hierarchy. Never has a book managed to be so funny and sad at the same time. Not to mention the fact that it's endlessly quotable:

“They're trying to kill me,” Yossarian told him calmly.
No one's trying to kill you,” Clevinger cried.
Then why are they shooting at me?” Yossarian asked.
They're shooting at everyone,” Clevinger answered. “They're trying to kill everyone.”
And what difference does that make?”

Stop what you're doing, and go and read this book right now, force yourself to read the first 150 pages no matter what, it takes a while to “get it” but once you do, boy will you be glad.

Shogun is the story of an english sailor that shipwrecks on the coast of japan. Really though its a story about the clash of radically different cultures. James Clavell manages to pull of a bit of a magic trick with this book. You start the book feeling like a foreigner to the story, the english sailor is lost and confused, and so are you. Slowly but surely though, you learn to understand and love the japanese way. By the end of the book it feels like you've been culturally assimilated! The scope is huge without sacrificing the intricate details and the character development is very well done.

Historical Accuracy aside, Shogun is a masterpiece of historical fiction. Be warned though, this book will make you really really want to visit Japan.