Something Happened
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1974
576
Novel • Fiction
United States • 1970s
1974
Adult
18+ years
Set in 1960s Manhattan, Joseph Heller’s novel Something Happened centers on Bob Slocum, a mid-level marketing executive who outwardly has an ideal life but is secretly unhappy. As he struggles with his job, a strained marriage, and complex family dynamics, Bob reflects on his traumatic past and his inability to confront the realities around him. The novel features themes of mental disability and emotional neglect.
Dark
Mysterious
Melancholic
Unnerving
8,644 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Joseph Heller's Something Happened offers a deep dive into the mind of a troubled corporate executive. Critics applaud the novel's dark humor and insightful examination of modern life's anxieties. However, some find its lengthy monologues and slow pacing challenging. Despite mixed feelings on readability, the novel's introspective nature and unique style make it memorable.
Readers who appreciate dark humor, existential themes, and a critique of corporate life will enjoy Joseph Heller's Something Happened. Fans of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five and Don DeLillo's White Noise will find this novel's satirical tone and introspective narrative engaging.
8,644 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
576
Novel • Fiction
United States • 1970s
1974
Adult
18+ years
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