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Book Description
Considered by some to be a finer achievement than Catch-22, this is Heller's funny, honest and tragic tale of a failed American dream.
Product Description
Bob Slocum was a promising executive. He had an attractive wife, three children, a nice house, and as many mistresses as he desired. His life was settled and ordered; he had conformed and society demanded he be happy - or at least pretend to be, But the pretence was becoming more and more difficult, as Slocum's discontent grew into an overwhelming sense of desolation, frustration and fear. And then something happened. . . .
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Scarily Good,
By A Customer
This review is from: Something Happened (Paperback)
This book is absolutely amazing! It tells the story of Bob Slocum who has lived the life that most people hope for, yet daily contemplates ending it.Granted, after a gripping beginning it becomes a bit taxing in the section about his son, and it is absolutely elbow chewingly depressing, as it challenges and shows disgust for everything that is taken for granted in suburban life, however it is incredibly moving, wise, provocative and sometimes even funny.Also, I don't understand how people claim that nothing happens in this book. As the pages go on there is a subtle build of tension in all of Bob's relationships, and the stage is set for the most heart breaking ending to any book I've ever read (the paragraph on Bob's mother's last words is so , I don't know, emotional that I had to reread it several times before I could really take it in). Read it soon if you know what's good for you
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excruciatingly good.,
By
This review is from: Something Happened (Paperback)
Yes, it's one guy ranting about his life, and his dreadful relationships with his wife, his daughter, his son, and his other son, and his work colleagues, and yes nothing happens (except that it does), but what is astonishing is the way in which he is able to maintain the interest, varying the ranting, contradicting himself, illuminating the terrors of family life afresh on every page. What happens? If you were skimming it, you'd miss it, and I think some of the reviewers here did just that. Just two paragraphs very close to the end, the content of the first shockingly, unbearably sad, the content of the second making the first explode with a grim tragedy (I missed this before I reread it a few hours later). I read Catch 22 years ago, and enjoyed it, but it was nowhere near as technically skilled as this. But not one to read if you're feeling a bit low.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Highly Under-appreciated Work,
By A Customer
This review is from: Something Happened (Paperback)
It is easy to only judge this book against Catch-22, but can any book worthily be judged against Catch-22? Something Happened is quite simply a moving novel which delves deeper into the culture of twentieth century despair than any other. In years to come it will be appreciated as an even finer work than its predecessor. Someone on this page has commented that 'nothing happens' in the novel. Well, that's the joy of the book. Heller doesn't need to barrage us with action or incident, he lets his beautifully languid style guide to what has to be one of the most tragically depressing climaxes ever written, a climax which can only be fully appreciated against the background which Heller creates. This book simply must be read, and savoured. I envy those who are still to read it.
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