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Product Description
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
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format: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).
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.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format: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
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
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format: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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
book something happened
After reading catch 22 by the same author i was looking forward to reading this book, what a disappointment 600 pages of as bloke complaining about his job, kids and his wife,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by jon-mos
Flawed classic
Having owned this book for around 20 years I have just completed reading it for a second time. Very far removed in terms of subject matter from the acknowledged classic that is... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Keith M
Great book - great seller
I had a problem with the initial order (I didn't receive it) and contacted the seller. They were very prompt coming back to me and sent a replacement copy out straight away.
Published 22 months ago by Toddybrow
Nothing Happened
Dull, boring, painful read. A story in which `nothing` happened and the reader is forced to read through so many pages, in expectation of a shocking discovery or gaining a deep... Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2010 by P. Perhac
The collective meninges.
One is inevitably going to make comparisons with this and `Catch 22' and `Something Happened' is not a classic but it is very good. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2007 by Mark Dickens
Relentless and honest
There are a lot of reviews here saying that nothing happens, which I can't understand because something does definitely happen. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2007 by K. M. Taylor
A serious waste of time and effort
This novel is atrocious.
Seriously, don't do it. Unless you're writing a thesis on Heller or are a sadist, don't do it. Read more
Seriously, don't do it. Unless you're writing a thesis on Heller or are a sadist, don't do it. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2006 by The Godfather!
Funny in parts
Has the Heller humour and yes, something does happen. It is not a surprise and it did not make me suddenly appreciate what I had read before. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2004 by Happy Mummy
You wouldn't want to take it on holiday.
Other reviewers will tell you what it's about. I found it quite long, it's very boring, nothing does acually happen (how clever!)and it's quite depressing. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2004
As good as Catch-22
I have never empathised with a book as much as I did with Something Happened - the brutal honesty of Bob Slocum's life resonates with how I feel living in society. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2004
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