When Walker Percy penned these prophetic words in his foreword to the first edition of A Confederacy of Dunces, he could not have known just how wide Toole's "world of readers" would become. Released by Louisiana State University Press in April 1980, A Confederacy of Dunces is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon. Turned down by countless publishers and submitted by the author's mother years after his suicide, the book won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Today, there are over 1,500,000 copies in print worldwide in eighteen languages.
Toole's lunatic and sage novel introduces one of the most memorable characters in American literature, Ignatius Reilly, whom Percy dubs "slob extraordinary, a mad Oliver Hardy, a fate Don Quixote, a perverse Thomas Aquinas rolled into one--who is in violet revolt against the entire modern age." Ignatius' ire explodes when his mother backs her car into another automobile. The owner of …
When Walker Percy penned these prophetic words in his foreword to the first edition of A Confederacy of Dunces, he could not have known just how wide Toole's "world of readers" would become. Released by Louisiana State University Press in April 1980, A Confederacy of Dunces is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon. Turned down by countless publishers and submitted by the author's mother years after his suicide, the book won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Today, there are over 1,500,000 copies in print worldwide in eighteen languages.
Toole's lunatic and sage novel introduces one of the most memorable characters in American literature, Ignatius Reilly, whom Percy dubs "slob extraordinary, a mad Oliver Hardy, a fate Don Quixote, a perverse Thomas Aquinas rolled into one--who is in violet revolt against the entire modern age." Ignatius' ire explodes when his mother backs her car into another automobile. The owner of the damaged vehicle insists on payment; Mrs. Reilly demands that her son cease watching television and writign in his Big Chief tablet and get a job.
Set in New Orleans, A confederacy of Dunces outswifts Swift, one of whose essays gives the book its title. As its characters burst into life, they leave the region and literature forever changed by their presences--Ignatius and his mother; Miss Trixie, the octogenarian assistant accountatnt at Levy Pants; inept, wan Patrolman Mancuso; Darlene, the Bourbon Street stripper with a penchant for poultry; Jones, the jivecat in space-age dark glasses. Satire and farce animate A Confederacy of Dunces; tragic awareness ennobles it.
To celebrate the book's twentieth anniversary in 2000, the writer and New Orleans resident Andrei Codrescu composed a new introduction that examines the relationship of this modern-day classic to the city whose pulse it brilliantly captures.
--jacket description
Il y a du burlesque dans ce roman posthume de John Kennedy Toole. J'ai plusieurs fois eu l'impression de m'immerger dans une pièce de théâtre du genre, notamment lors d'une scène avec « le vieux », la mère, Santa et ce pauvre policier. Bien que le personnage d'Ignatius soit insupportable, exaspérant, son côté Don Quichotte (seul contre tous) n'est pas sans nous émouvoir. J'ai beaucoup ri – j'avais choisi ce livre pour cette raison – mais j'ai trouvé quelques longueurs, signe que certains passages auraient sans doute mérité quelques coupures.
Review of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Interesting read with an overall very amusing story. Much of the book is intentionally weird or uncomfortable, which I can appreciate, but some of it doesn't add any value or thoughtfulness. I think it's good to read a compelling and bizarre book sometimes, but I don't think this is a must-read for anyone.
Review of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
"Oh, my valve!"
It took me around 50 pages to get my bearings but as soon as I did, humor and brilliance burst forth exponentially. This is the funniest book I have ever read.
Ignatius Reilly's overly dramatic turns of phrase are so good I need to make a reference list so I can incorporate them into my own habits. Gems like: "they are an affront to theology and geometry;" "Apparently I lack some particular perversion which today's employer is seeking;" and "Canned food is a perversion. I suspect that it is ultimately very damaging to the soul."
There are so many more but turns of phrase are only one reason I loved this book. The plotting is the other. Toole seamlessly plotted a small community of storylines in a way I haven't seen before. It was inspiring!
Not only do I highly recommend anyone read this but this one …
"Oh, my valve!"
It took me around 50 pages to get my bearings but as soon as I did, humor and brilliance burst forth exponentially. This is the funniest book I have ever read.
Ignatius Reilly's overly dramatic turns of phrase are so good I need to make a reference list so I can incorporate them into my own habits. Gems like: "they are an affront to theology and geometry;" "Apparently I lack some particular perversion which today's employer is seeking;" and "Canned food is a perversion. I suspect that it is ultimately very damaging to the soul."
There are so many more but turns of phrase are only one reason I loved this book. The plotting is the other. Toole seamlessly plotted a small community of storylines in a way I haven't seen before. It was inspiring!
Not only do I highly recommend anyone read this but this one is going into my "books to re-read over and over again" list.
Review of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
This superb novel combines a wacky yet tight plot, a dialogue-driven narrative, a Twain-caliber ear for dialect, and an economy of unique characters and settings in such a way that it reads like a stage production or maybe a Wes Anderson movie. The absurd adventures of Ignatius Reilly are truly funny, yet kind of depressing at the same time. Indeed, through the colossally pathetic presence of the anti-protagonist and his supporting cast, we are treated to a series of episodes that, in addition to entertaining us, entreat us to consider the futility of existence, and the possibility that we're overthinking it.
Review of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Oh dear! This book has been recommended to me so many times by my goodreads friends, more than any other book. Alas I found it dull, I really couldn't see what the fuss was, most of the book is dull with a few funny bits. I think even the author found it hard going too as the last chapter is called "The final chapter" maybe he was relieved to get to the end.
I can see what was attempted here, a modern day take on Don Quixote. Ignatious certainly comes across as a super arrogant version. He is a brilliant character, some wonderful delusional lines, and as with Don Quixote I felt a tad guilty laughing at him as it is obvious he has issues.
The rest of the characters suck, Mrs Levy, the Mum and Santa are so whiney, I started to get sick of them each time they …
Oh dear! This book has been recommended to me so many times by my goodreads friends, more than any other book. Alas I found it dull, I really couldn't see what the fuss was, most of the book is dull with a few funny bits. I think even the author found it hard going too as the last chapter is called "The final chapter" maybe he was relieved to get to the end.
I can see what was attempted here, a modern day take on Don Quixote. Ignatious certainly comes across as a super arrogant version. He is a brilliant character, some wonderful delusional lines, and as with Don Quixote I felt a tad guilty laughing at him as it is obvious he has issues.
The rest of the characters suck, Mrs Levy, the Mum and Santa are so whiney, I started to get sick of them each time they appeared on the page. Even harder to tolerate was Jones and Angelo, such weak characters. It might have been how I read, the characters develop a voice in my head and the voices in this book grated on me.
If this book had a better plot and at least one more strong character I would have been more into it.....still it is a million times better than "to the lighthouse".
Review of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
For a book written in 1963, the Confederacy of Dunces has aged surprisingly little. Sure, the references to life in New Orleans are dated, but the characters are timeless. While a modern version of Ignatious J. Reilly would be more comfortable with blogging than writing tablets, he could as well be a highly-paid political commentator, searching for the next thing to be offended by. And while there are plenty of other dunces in the book, none of them are as entertainingly venomous as him.
Review of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Another NoLa theme read. I have to say that I didn't find it as hilarious as advertised. But I did do quite of bit of amused smiling. The main character has no redeeming qualities, but you find yourself rooting for him anyway. Most of the characters are pretty awful people, although I think the men come off a bit better than the women. And the author probably should have steered clear of trying to depict the gay community. But he clearly hung out with some anarchist/radical/activist types. Cause he skewers us pretty good.
