If Joseph Heller’s 'Catch-22' confused you to the point of frustration (or abandonment), you’re not alone.

BOOKS
‘Watchmen’ director Nicole Kassell is set to direct. Whether she’ll use digital fur technology for the Cowardly Lion remains to be seen.
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books are her biggest claim to fame—her relation to Franklin D. Roosevelt isn’t quite as well-known.
In 1921, Edith Wharton became the first woman ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel 'The Age of Innocence.'
Virginia Woolf’s books didn’t follow writing conventions, and her rules for reading are just as flexible.
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ author Maya Angelou has landed a well-earned a spot in Mattel’s most prestigious Barbie collection.
Celebrated author Patricia Highsmith, who was known for her psychological thrillers, believed that life "didn’t make sense without crime in it."
Some popular books—especially ones written by Barack and Michelle Obama—practically lived on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2020.
Born in Pasadena, California, on June 22, 1947, science fiction author Octavia E. Butler was one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century.
The celebrated author of 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' used music to inspire and influence his work. Now you can listen, too.
"The city’s most borrowed books reflect the historic challenges that have impacted New Yorkers during 2020," the New York Public Library said in a press release.
Anne Carroll Moore was an influential librarian in the world of children's books. That was bad news for 'Goodnight Moon,' since she refused to recommend it.
Shirley Jackson finished writing the story around 1944. It's been residing in a box at the Library of Congress since 1965.
Today, F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the most astute American novelists of the 20th century. But his best-known work, 'The Great Gatsby,' wasn't a bestseller.
From her groundbreaking essays to Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'The Color Purple,' Alice Walker's work explores Black American experiences.
'The Witcher'—the Netflix series based on Andrzej Sapkowski's fantasy book series, which spawned a popular video game franchise—became an immediate pop culture phenomenon when it debuted in December 2019.
The similarities between H.P. Lovecraft’s ideas and those of the people who produce 'Ancient Aliens' aren’t a coincidence; in fact, they’re connected.
Many of Jack Kerouac's novels drew details from his own life. Here's what you need to know about the author of 'On the Road.'
Before Vladimir Nabokov gained fame for ‘Lolita,’ he helped hone the writing skills of a future Supreme Court icon.
Mention Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca' to any bibliophile and they will no doubt share the many reasons why the novel has charmed and captivated so many generations of readers.
With its high arches and mirrored ceilings, Dujiangyan’s latest bookstore seems like it goes on forever.
There's no better time of year to crack open a new horror book, and if you're in need of recommendations, the Mental Floss staff has you covered.