Opening and Closing quotes

"If I am out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog."

This quote is the opening line of Herzog by Saul Bellow, and it follows a jewish man named Moses as he goes through a midlife crisis in the 60's.  The book was published on September 21st, 1964, and it has won some awards and titles.  I would probably not read this book because it seems like it would be really dry, if it is just about a guy writing letters after his second divorce.

"The knife came down, missing him by inches, and he took off."

This quote is from the book Catch 22 by Joseph Heller.  Published on November 11, 1961, the book takes place in World War II and follows the airmen of the fictional 256th squadron.  The book is considered one of the best books written in the 20th century and is famous for it's obscure timeline and chronology.  I would probably read this book because I enjoy reading famous books, and it seems like it would be pretty good.