Don't miss this, 13 Oct 2008
Fantastic - evocative, inspiring and engaging. Great writing about a fantastic city - it puts me in mind of that great NOLA title by Richard Katrovas - Mystic Pig. Definitely get it - you won't regret it.

Erupting with laughter, 28 Jul 2008
John Kennedy O'Toole penned this book in the early 1960s and killed himself before that decade was out in despair at being unable to get it published.

There ought to be a statue erected and a holiday named for the author's sainted mother, whose tenacity finally resulted in her son's wonderful gift being published and his genius deservedly recognized with the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Thank you, Thelma.

In his short life O'Toole managed to create one of the great classic characters of literature in Ignatius J. Reilly, a misanthropic, corpulent misfit more comfortable with the writings of mideval philosophy than the modern age horrors he finds daily assaulting his senses in New Orleans. To make matters worse, his mother is making him get a job.

This book had me erupting with laughter. It is a work I will certainly enjoy reading again and again.

Over-Rated: A Confederacy of Dunces, 14 Jan 2008
Some of the characters and locations seem promising at first, but the book quickly establishes a laboured, unfunny style of intended humour. It raises a weary smile or two, but what is there to learn or be inspired by in all this? It is a long book and didn't seem worth the time just to find out what happens. I quit halfway through and gave it away.

wacky silly stuff, plus some wistfulness, 02 Dec 2007
A classic story that makes me a bit sad to think about considering that the author died young and by his own hand. Given American culture, that may be part of the appeal of the book to many. By any standard, however, this is a great book, with highly memorable, vividly described characters, none more so than the central figure Ignatius, a likeable, eccentric oaf. His part-time sidekick, Myrna Minkoff, is also a hoot, and I like it when the two of them gang up. Although it's in many ways a timeless story, the manner of speaking of the characters is probably representative of the times (1950s?). Given the short life of the author, the book has a bit of a tragic backdrop that affected my feelings for it, and the New Orleans setting with Katrina occuring a few years ago may now also affect my memories of it. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.

One of the truly great southern American classics, 08 Nov 2007
This book made its way into my hands low some twenty years ago, and I've been touting it to my friends ever since. It is by no means a perfect book--what is? But it is extremely well crafted, funny, and also sad. One cannot but help see Ignatius as a sad Toole, with his failure or "perceived failure" that Toole must have experience, knowing he'd written such a great work of art, yet being rejected over and over by a publishing industry that was too busy making money. I only wonder what those who rejected him feel like now that the money is steadily rolling in. And stead it is and has been because this book just keeps on going, like the Energizer Bunny.

CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES made a splash when it first appeared on the scene, and still has a strong following. I'd put it in the same category as the novels ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, KATZENJAMMER (by Mccrae), and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP.

Probably the centerpiece in this great work is Ignatius. We're giving just about every detail possibly on this guy, from what he's wearing to how he bathes himself, or not. His antics are endless and he is pathetic and funny at the same time. Were it not for his complete lack of self awareness, he'd truly be a tragic figure. His pith and wit make him comic and likable and we're drawn to him, if for no other fact than to find out what will happen.

This novel is on my list of great Southern literatre, right up there with Faulkner's AS I LAY DYING or Flagg's FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. Truly a great work of art. Thank God it finally made it to a publisher.

Don't miss this, 13 Oct 2008
Fantastic - evocative, inspiring and engaging. Great writing about a fantastic city - it puts me in mind of that great NOLA title by Richard Katrovas - Mystic Pig. Definitely get it - you won't regret it.

Erupting with laughter, 28 Jul 2008
John Kennedy O'Toole penned this book in the early 1960s and killed himself before that decade was out in despair at being unable to get it published.

There ought to be a statue erected and a holiday named for the author's sainted mother, whose tenacity finally resulted in her son's wonderful gift being published and his genius deservedly recognized with the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Thank you, Thelma.

In his short life O'Toole managed to create one of the great classic characters of literature in Ignatius J. Reilly, a misanthropic, corpulent misfit more comfortable with the writings of mideval philosophy than the modern age horrors he finds daily assaulting his senses in New Orleans. To make matters worse, his mother is making him get a job.

This book had me erupting with laughter. It is a work I will certainly enjoy reading again and again.

Over-Rated: A Confederacy of Dunces, 14 Jan 2008
Some of the characters and locations seem promising at first, but the book quickly establishes a laboured, unfunny style of intended humour. It raises a weary smile or two, but what is there to learn or be inspired by in all this? It is a long book and didn't seem worth the time just to find out what happens. I quit halfway through and gave it away.

wacky silly stuff, plus some wistfulness, 02 Dec 2007
A classic story that makes me a bit sad to think about considering that the author died young and by his own hand. Given American culture, that may be part of the appeal of the book to many. By any standard, however, this is a great book, with highly memorable, vividly described characters, none more so than the central figure Ignatius, a likeable, eccentric oaf. His part-time sidekick, Myrna Minkoff, is also a hoot, and I like it when the two of them gang up. Although it's in many ways a timeless story, the manner of speaking of the characters is probably representative of the times (1950s?). Given the short life of the author, the book has a bit of a tragic backdrop that affected my feelings for it, and the New Orleans setting with Katrina occuring a few years ago may now also affect my memories of it. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.

One of the truly great southern American classics, 08 Nov 2007
This book made its way into my hands low some twenty years ago, and I've been touting it to my friends ever since. It is by no means a perfect book--what is? But it is extremely well crafted, funny, and also sad. One cannot but help see Ignatius as a sad Toole, with his failure or "perceived failure" that Toole must have experience, knowing he'd written such a great work of art, yet being rejected over and over by a publishing industry that was too busy making money. I only wonder what those who rejected him feel like now that the money is steadily rolling in. And stead it is and has been because this book just keeps on going, like the Energizer Bunny.

CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES made a splash when it first appeared on the scene, and still has a strong following. I'd put it in the same category as the novels ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, KATZENJAMMER (by Mccrae), and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP.

Probably the centerpiece in this great work is Ignatius. We're giving just about every detail possibly on this guy, from what he's wearing to how he bathes himself, or not. His antics are endless and he is pathetic and funny at the same time. Were it not for his complete lack of self awareness, he'd truly be a tragic figure. His pith and wit make him comic and likable and we're drawn to him, if for no other fact than to find out what will happen.

This novel is on my list of great Southern literatre, right up there with Faulkner's AS I LAY DYING or Flagg's FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. Truly a great work of art. Thank God it finally made it to a publisher.

A cast of grotesques make a compulsive tale, 14 Oct 2008
This is a brilliant novel, but one I found it difficult to enjoy. The author has assembled such a cast of grotesques, that you keep reading just to see what horrors will come out of their mouths, or what stupid things they'll do next. This is humour of the blackest kind, with scarcely anyone except the black guy Jones to have any sympathy for whatsoever.

But overshadowing all of the others is the gargantuan 30 year old figure of Ignatius J. Reilly - the most foul, flatulent, obese, workshy, total snob, and yet strangely eloquent anti-hero I've ever met. Together with his overprotective, dipso mother Irene, who never stops talking, they make a right pair.

The problems really start when Ignatius' mother backs into a balcony bringing a bill for damage that means her boy will have to go out to work. Ignatius' idea of work is rather different to anyone else's though, and very soon he's causing mayhem wherever he goes with his personal work ethic of doing as little as possible - he just carries on with his projects and tries to ignore or get rid of anything that might make him do any graft for anyone else at all if it doesn't fit in with his personal ends..

What makes this book doubly black is that the author committed suicide in 1969 after he couldn't get the book published. His mother kept up the campaign and it was finally published in 1980 going on to win the Pulitzer prize posthumously.

In summary, CoD is an influential book that I'm glad I've read, but will probably not pick up again.

Unique!, 05 Feb 2007
I love Ignatius! I love Walker Percy! AND I love this book!!!
I think it is unlike anything I have read before. I bought it on the recommendation of my brother (who has rarely steered me wrong) and it is now on my "keep for second read" shelf.
I could practically smell those hot dogs!!

Unlike Anything You've Ever Read Before, 23 Nov 2006
I'll admit, I usually don't read 'Pulitzer Prize' winning books, which are usually literary and often academic and 'nuanced' (which is another word for 'boring') -- so it came as some surprise for me to pick up a copy of this book and get sucked right in.

Frankly, this novel is like nothing I've ever read before; Ignatius, the main character, is described as a beast, with 'paws' and elephantine thighs, a misanthropic psuedo-intellectual loser who doesn't have a clue -- and who is finally forced to get a job by his doting but fed-up mom.

This is truly an outrageous book, full of broad strokes and over-the-top characters. Just a great hilarious slapstick riot. You'll laugh! It's really fun and subversive. And it's strange to come across a protagonist this strange. Talk about a misfit. You're both disgusted by Ignatius and morbidly fascinated by him. Really, it's a courageous novel. Don't let it scare you that some call this "literature." Kick back and have a good laugh. Call it a farce, call it satire, it's enjoyable once you give it a chance.





Unlike Anything You've Ever Read Before, 17 Aug 2005
I usually don't read 'Pulitzer Prize' winning books, which are usually literary and often academic and 'nuanced' (which is another word for 'boring') -- so it came as some surprise for me to pick up a copy of this book and get sucked right in. Frankly, this novel is like NOTHING I've ever read before; Ignatius, the main character, is described as a beast, with 'paws' and elephantine thighs, a misanthropic psuedo-intellectual loser who doesn't have a clue -- and who is finally forced to get a job by his doting but fed-up mum. This is truly an outrageous book, full of broad strokes and over-the-top characters. Just a great hilarious slapstick riot. You'll laugh! It's really fun! Other related, amusing books off Amazon I recommend: "The Fan Man" by William Kotzwinkle, and "The Losers Club" by Richard Perez

Hear me talkin' to ya!, 27 Sep 2004
Quite simply one of the funniest works of art ever, with one of the greatest and most grotesque central characters in all literature. Comes across like Proust writing a Monty Python film; absurd, absurdly clever and with its own rules and logic that seem somehow plausible after a few pages have been read, such is the compelling way this parallel dimension is described. Embarassingly, it will make you laugh out loud in public places weeks after you've finished it. Pan-genre satire of modern society or surreal laughathon of no fixed redress? Buy the one book and enjoy the best of both!

Don't miss this, 13 Oct 2008
Fantastic - evocative, inspiring and engaging. Great writing about a fantastic city - it puts me in mind of that great NOLA title by Richard Katrovas - Mystic Pig. Definitely get it - you won't regret it.

Erupting with laughter, 28 Jul 2008
John Kennedy O'Toole penned this book in the early 1960s and killed himself before that decade was out in despair at being unable to get it published.

There ought to be a statue erected and a holiday named for the author's sainted mother, whose tenacity finally resulted in her son's wonderful gift being published and his genius deservedly recognized with the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Thank you, Thelma.

In his short life O'Toole managed to create one of the great classic characters of literature in Ignatius J. Reilly, a misanthropic, corpulent misfit more comfortable with the writings of mideval philosophy than the modern age horrors he finds daily assaulting his senses in New Orleans. To make matters worse, his mother is making him get a job.

This book had me erupting with laughter. It is a work I will certainly enjoy reading again and again.

Over-Rated: A Confederacy of Dunces, 14 Jan 2008
Some of the characters and locations seem promising at first, but the book quickly establishes a laboured, unfunny style of intended humour. It raises a weary smile or two, but what is there to learn or be inspired by in all this? It is a long book and didn't seem worth the time just to find out what happens. I quit halfway through and gave it away.

wacky silly stuff, plus some wistfulness, 02 Dec 2007
A classic story that makes me a bit sad to think about considering that the author died young and by his own hand. Given American culture, that may be part of the appeal of the book to many. By any standard, however, this is a great book, with highly memorable, vividly described characters, none more so than the central figure Ignatius, a likeable, eccentric oaf. His part-time sidekick, Myrna Minkoff, is also a hoot, and I like it when the two of them gang up. Although it's in many ways a timeless story, the manner of speaking of the characters is probably representative of the times (1950s?). Given the short life of the author, the book has a bit of a tragic backdrop that affected my feelings for it, and the New Orleans setting with Katrina occuring a few years ago may now also affect my memories of it. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.

One of the truly great southern American classics, 08 Nov 2007
This book made its way into my hands low some twenty years ago, and I've been touting it to my friends ever since. It is by no means a perfect book--what is? But it is extremely well crafted, funny, and also sad. One cannot but help see Ignatius as a sad Toole, with his failure or "perceived failure" that Toole must have experience, knowing he'd written such a great work of art, yet being rejected over and over by a publishing industry that was too busy making money. I only wonder what those who rejected him feel like now that the money is steadily rolling in. And stead it is and has been because this book just keeps on going, like the Energizer Bunny.

CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES made a splash when it first appeared on the scene, and still has a strong following. I'd put it in the same category as the novels ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, KATZENJAMMER (by Mccrae), and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP.

Probably the centerpiece in this great work is Ignatius. We're giving just about every detail possibly on this guy, from what he's wearing to how he bathes himself, or not. His antics are endless and he is pathetic and funny at the same time. Were it not for his complete lack of self awareness, he'd truly be a tragic figure. His pith and wit make him comic and likable and we're drawn to him, if for no other fact than to find out what will happen.

This novel is on my list of great Southern literatre, right up there with Faulkner's AS I LAY DYING or Flagg's FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. Truly a great work of art. Thank God it finally made it to a publisher.

A cast of grotesques make a compulsive tale, 14 Oct 2008
This is a brilliant novel, but one I found it difficult to enjoy. The author has assembled such a cast of grotesques, that you keep reading just to see what horrors will come out of their mouths, or what stupid things they'll do next. This is humour of the blackest kind, with scarcely anyone except the black guy Jones to have any sympathy for whatsoever.

But overshadowing all of the others is the gargantuan 30 year old figure of Ignatius J. Reilly - the most foul, flatulent, obese, workshy, total snob, and yet strangely eloquent anti-hero I've ever met. Together with his overprotective, dipso mother Irene, who never stops talking, they make a right pair.

The problems really start when Ignatius' mother backs into a balcony bringing a bill for damage that means her boy will have to go out to work. Ignatius' idea of work is rather different to anyone else's though, and very soon he's causing mayhem wherever he goes with his personal work ethic of doing as little as possible - he just carries on with his projects and tries to ignore or get rid of anything that might make him do any graft for anyone else at all if it doesn't fit in with his personal ends..

What makes this book doubly black is that the author committed suicide in 1969 after he couldn't get the book published. His mother kept up the campaign and it was finally published in 1980 going on to win the Pulitzer prize posthumously.

In summary, CoD is an influential book that I'm glad I've read, but will probably not pick up again.

Unique!, 05 Feb 2007
I love Ignatius! I love Walker Percy! AND I love this book!!!
I think it is unlike anything I have read before. I bought it on the recommendation of my brother (who has rarely steered me wrong) and it is now on my "keep for second read" shelf.
I could practically smell those hot dogs!!

Unlike Anything You've Ever Read Before, 23 Nov 2006
I'll admit, I usually don't read 'Pulitzer Prize' winning books, which are usually literary and often academic and 'nuanced' (which is another word for 'boring') -- so it came as some surprise for me to pick up a copy of this book and get sucked right in.

Frankly, this novel is like nothing I've ever read before; Ignatius, the main character, is described as a beast, with 'paws' and elephantine thighs, a misanthropic psuedo-intellectual loser who doesn't have a clue -- and who is finally forced to get a job by his doting but fed-up mom.

This is truly an outrageous book, full of broad strokes and over-the-top characters. Just a great hilarious slapstick riot. You'll laugh! It's really fun and subversive. And it's strange to come across a protagonist this strange. Talk about a misfit. You're both disgusted by Ignatius and morbidly fascinated by him. Really, it's a courageous novel. Don't let it scare you that some call this "literature." Kick back and have a good laugh. Call it a farce, call it satire, it's enjoyable once you give it a chance.





Unlike Anything You've Ever Read Before, 17 Aug 2005
I usually don't read 'Pulitzer Prize' winning books, which are usually literary and often academic and 'nuanced' (which is another word for 'boring') -- so it came as some surprise for me to pick up a copy of this book and get sucked right in. Frankly, this novel is like NOTHING I've ever read before; Ignatius, the main character, is described as a beast, with 'paws' and elephantine thighs, a misanthropic psuedo-intellectual loser who doesn't have a clue -- and who is finally forced to get a job by his doting but fed-up mum. This is truly an outrageous book, full of broad strokes and over-the-top characters. Just a great hilarious slapstick riot. You'll laugh! It's really fun! Other related, amusing books off Amazon I recommend: "The Fan Man" by William Kotzwinkle, and "The Losers Club" by Richard Perez

Hear me talkin' to ya!, 27 Sep 2004
Quite simply one of the funniest works of art ever, with one of the greatest and most grotesque central characters in all literature. Comes across like Proust writing a Monty Python film; absurd, absurdly clever and with its own rules and logic that seem somehow plausible after a few pages have been read, such is the compelling way this parallel dimension is described. Embarassingly, it will make you laugh out loud in public places weeks after you've finished it. Pan-genre satire of modern society or surreal laughathon of no fixed redress? Buy the one book and enjoy the best of both!

Great, 21 Apr 2008
A very funny novel that perhaps was let dowbn in the last third when it went off tangent slightly. But all the same Igantius is a classic character that stays in the mind. There is talk of a film being made of this starring Jack Black. I don't know what to make of that but if if brings more people to the book that is good. Just a shame the author killed himself.

John Kennedy Toole was a literary genuis!, 04 Oct 2007
This is one of the best books I have ever read - it made me laugh out loud from page to page. I cannot understand how anyone could fail to be enthralled by the late John Kennedy Toole's wonderful story of very imperfect humanity. Readers will not end up liking the characters in the book, but will love the book itself.

Raw, brilliant and excoriatingly funny...a true work of genius, 02 Mar 2007
One-book authors are rare. Harper Lee with "To Kill a Mockingbird" is probably the most famous. John Kennedy Toole deserves just as much recognition and fame for his one-book wonder.

Like Harper Lee this is a unique portrait of the Deep South, specifically the customs, culture and history of New Orleans, a city that often appears to be so removed from the vastness of America. Sure, this book is not perfect...some scenes and characters appear flawed and jar with the flow of the book. But who cares when the writing is so energetic, kinetic and heart-stoppingly funny.

It's a book which will have you wanting to re-read the rants of one of the greatest comic creations (in Ignatius J. Reilly) over and over again. His mad ravings on the history of race relations in the South after speaking to the workers of Levy Pants and his subsequent efforts to lead them out of "slavery" is probably one of the greatest comic passages in modern literature. His later efforts to conquer the world with an army of homosexuals is just as brilliant.

In fact, scene after scene will have you stunned with the verve of his writing. What a shame he commited suicide after this book...a sequel is what this book deserves.


The best book I've ever read, 06 Dec 2006
I came upon this book through my geeky ways. I am a huge fan of Bill Hicks (American comedian). I read somewhere that this was his favourite book. I couldn't put the damn thing down. And, rather alarmingly, I noticed Ignatius is rather like my boyfriend. I have seen lent him the book and he agrees the comparison isn't very flattering. Cancel everything for a couple of days (and nights) and warn people you may laugh out loud uncontrollably.


A real comedy masterpiece, 14 Jul 2005
Having picked up numerous books over the years that have been dubbed 'comic masterpieces' and been disappointed, I was initially wary of 'A Confederacy...'
However, this scepticism had vanished within minutes.
Bawdy and gastronomical, this puts all other visions of the grotesque to shame (Money by Amis; Filth by Welsh; to name but two).
To an extent it falls into the category of disaffected American classic, alongside 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'Herzog', but Toole's wit and ear for dialogue make 'A Confederacy...' the greatest American, and possibly greatest ever, novel.