A Confederacy of Dunces

This is a story about Ignatius J. Reilly and his (mis)adventures through New Orleans during the 1960s. He is self-absorbed, pompous, odd, condescending, egocentric, lazy, farts shamelessly in public, deluded, a behemoth with "paws", and who, at 30, still lives with his mother. He is repulsive in every way but is also very articulate and well-educated. The reader follows Ignatius as he stumbles from one ridiculous situation after another -- organizing a workers riot, selling hotdogs, etc. He could very well be the biggest literary buffoon ever conceived and yet, you cannot help but love him. Even the supporting characters are also enjoyable, especially the floor-mopping Jones (Whoa!).

There is a lot to be said about this novel as it is without a doubt a work of comedic genius, but I'll just say this -- PICK UP A COPY AND READ IT. It's hilarious!

PS: John Kennedy Toole commited suicide partially perhaps as a result of failing to get this book published. After his death, his mother provided a copy of the manuscript to the great southern classic writer, Walker Percy (The Moviegoer, The Message in a Bottle). The book was published, became a cult classic, and 11 years later, won a Pulitzer. Great story.

One of the funnier novels you could ever read.

John Kennedy Toole never saw the publication of this rollicking adventure that went on to capture the Pulitzer Prize in 1981, having committed suicide twelve years before.

How it got into print was only due the the relentless efforts of his mother, who took the manuscript to dozens and dozens of publishers over a number of years, before showing it to another writer, Mr. Walker Percy, who finally gave it the attention it deserved.

While you laugh out loud at the many misadventures of the pompous and loquacious 300-pound Ignatius J. Reilly as he rumbles around the city of New Orleans, it's hard to imagine how so much hilarity could have been produced by a mind that was clearly in a such a dark place.
Here's how it begins:

"A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs."

Ironically, my first exposure to this book also came during a dark time, as I read the entire novel over two days while in the hospital recovering from exploratory surgery to determine if I had throat cancer (didn't!).

The recovery/waiting area was a large room containing approximately thirty beds and we were divided from each other only by curtains. How bizarre my chortles of laughter must have sounded as they mixed with the moans and groans of the other patients!

I read this book upon reading on a magazine that it is the one book that Augusten Burroughs always recommends to people. I have to admit that with all the hype on the back of the book, I was a bit leary. The first few pages of the book did not grab me as much as I thought it would. However, as I continued reading, the character of Ignatius Reilly just unfolded for me like a great Christmas present. I think the people who hated the book/Ignatius missed the point of the whole novel. Ignatius' absurdity is what made him lovable to me. And how can anyone not love the "planned riot in the Levy Pants"?!?!?!
As much as this book is hilarious, I also found it to be tragic, especially in the last few chapters.
Anyway, I think this book deserved the Pulitzer, and I'm greatly saddened that Kennedy Toole is not around to write more books like this.

The story told is original, evocative and imaginative. Mr Toole gives us Ignatius Reilly, who superbly engrosses the reader with his views of philosophy, and the "complete corruption of the 20th century". At the ripe age of 30, I. R. realizes he must enter the workforce. A funny, brilliant work, and the ending is ingenious and as it should be. Enjoy!