Rating: 
Summary: A sublime intersection of comedy, satire and burlesque
Review: It may very well be the funniest novel in American literature. One thing is for certain: it is unique. I've wracked my brains to think of a parallel to it, and the closest I can come is P. G. Wodehouse with his Bertie and Jeeves characters. But this really doesn't come that close, except for the zaniness of the characters. Ignatius Reilly stands alone. He is repulsive, yes...but not in an evil sense. His self-deluded, self absorbed worldview leads him into some of the most preposterous statements regarding the people and social conventions of his native New Orleans that you are likely ever to read. His fulminations are at once breathtaking in their verve and linguistic acrobatics, while at the same time so absurd as to pass beyond lunacy. How in the world the author came up with some of these dialogues is a wonder and you must read this book if only to experience the world according to Ignatius Reilly. There is an undertone of sadness to this work, and I can't quite figure it out. There is nothing overtly tragic or sad here, and yet somehow or other, a gray fog seeps out of the text and at the end of a particularly funny episode, you stop laughing long enough to feel the tug of poignant humanity. Where does it come from? It's hard to explain. But reading this book was an experience well worth the effort.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but Ignatius is gross.
Review: How could anyone say that this book is about nothing? Toole incorporates so many social, political, and personal issues. In an era of social change, he writes liberally of the Civil Rights movement, gay rights, and political activism. Toole's offcolor humor is not always well understood (especially by me), but the humor I did understand made the book worth the read. Toole's grotesque descriptions of Ignatius and his overly active valve were hilarious. The ending of the book did seem a little rushed, which is why I only gave the book 3 stars. For all of the odd happenings that occurred, everything wrapped up too nicely in the end. I enjoy a happy ending, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't even classify it as happy because Ignatius was still really weird in the end, maybe even more so than in the beginning. Overall though, I really enjoyed the book. Read it for a good laugh, but prepare yourself for Ignatius' appalling antics.
Rating:
Summary: One of the funniest books ever written!
Review: I had to read this novel for my American Literature class and all I can say is that....THIS IS THE MOST WICKED TIGHT BOOK I'VE EVER BEEN FORCED TO READ. Don't judge this book by the cover (or by the title at that matter) this is a very good read. This is the funniest book I've read since The Grandissimes. For those who don't know what this story is about, think if Oliver Hardy (from the classic Laurel and Hardy film shorts) ate Don Quixote and you get the books "hero," Ignatius J Reilly. Ignatius is a big fat slob who lives still lives with his mother despite the fact that he is in his thirty's and is a college grad. As I learned in my Lit. class, this is a picaresque story, it focuses on the main characters interior human psyche. Since the entire book follows Ignatius's episodic adventures there is no itinerary. The entire novel is full of parody's of social norms. But it's not just about stuff I learned in class, this book is all about laughter. Throughout all of the chapters I was laughing my head off, the library literally had to throw me out because of scene I was making. This book has it all; a fat person who eats and complains all the time, New Orleans, a policeman who dresses in funny outfits and hangs out in a mens room, flaming gay people, hot dogs, everything! It's a rollercoaster of a ride that will make your valve open and your moustache smile and your eyes water with tears of joy. So stop waisting your time reading what other people thought of this book, go out and read it. Develope your own opinon for crying out loud!
Rating: 
Summary: A Confederacy of Dunces
Review: A Confederacy of Dunces is a book that you will love or hate; there is no middle ground. The excellent use of dark humor will leave you rolling on the floor for quite some time if you are one that enjoys such humor. On the other hand, if you do not care for subtle ironic and dark humor then you will most likely find this to be one of the most painful reads in your life.
The book revolves mainly around Ignatus. Ignatus is an obese man who lives with his mother in his thirties and has many strange ventures throughout the book. These ventures are absurd and he will basically leave turmoil wherever he goes. The people he meets then enter the story and you hear the outcome of what becomes of them after Ignatus has encountered them. Not all of the people he meets will come to a sticky end, but the book will touch on some issues using the characters to convey a message through some of the characters realizations.
The book does not only hold excellent entertainment value but it is also a great piece of modernism that offers some of the characters as metaphors for issues or problems in our country that where apparent then, and some even today.
I personally enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a dark outlook, and is able to laugh at dismal things. Also I believe that it is a good read because of all that it brings to light, and one should read it critically to see the points the book touches on.
Rating:
Summary: English 14 Review of Confederacy of Dunces
Review: I think that Confederacy of Dunces was a very interesting book. I had to read this book for one of my classes and I went into reading it thinking that I would not like the book. After a few chapters my mind had not changed- it was simply not a book that I was interested in. The main character, Ignatius, was disgusting and completely vulgar. I think that this is what John Kennedy Toole was trying to portray to the reader. In this case Kennedy did a great job of getting his main character across to the reader. I became less and less interested in Ignatius as the book continued. I fequently became fusterated with his antics. In my personal opinion I think that C of D could have been about 100 pages shorter- the middle dragged and then the ending was extremely rushed. I think that the author should have given up on the book the first time it was rejected- but then again it is a great story for English classes across the US. I almost felt inspired by Kennedy's personal story- but as for his story about Ignatius I was left with questions.
Rating:
Summary: MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER
Review: To me, someone who doesn't like this book, is like someone who doesn't like chocolate--just plain weird. This book makes me laugh out loud, and I read it every year. I love everything about it--the dialogue, descriptions, characters (who are total caricatures)and story line. I can't say enough good things about this book. I wish it was 300 pages longer!
Rating:
Summary: A Confederacy of Dunces (An Appropriate Title)
Review: A satirical anecdote of the decay of lower-class New Orleans, John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces presents a 30 year old, overweight and highly educated ape of a man living at home with his poor, driven-to-drink mother. The two make a pair of human beings (if one would consider the former a human being) operating at polar ends of the morality spectrum. Neither understand the other, and as each day passes, the frustration and trapped feeling rises more and more in the mother of Ignatius J. Reilly: Blundering Fool.
The story begins with Ignatius and his mother running into a desperate patrolman, Mancuso, whose only aspiration in life is to bring down his first criminal. When Mancuso targets Ignatius, all hell breaks loose and the 30 year old man becomes four, and screams for his mother's assistance. Ignatius' outrageous attempt to remain unemployed and sunken into the depths of his bedroom with pen and notepad in hand, constantly scribbling ideas and random thoughts proves his laziness and carelessness of his mother's well being. His mother, widowed Mrs. Reilly, is relentlessly struggling to get her inactive lump of a son out into the world to seek employment. After a minor car accident, Mrs. Reilly finally convinces her son to get a job in order to pay for damages caused by the accident. Levy Pants to the rescue! Ignatius receives, to some degree, employment at an office, which manages a trouser-producing factory. After a few weeks working for the easily confusable, and deceived Mr. Gonzalez, Ignatius becomes reluctantly comfortable as a filer. Ms. Trixie, an old, should have been retired 10 years ago, senile employee is trapped at Levy Pants by the owner's psychotically devoted to saving the world from any kind of sociological sufferingwife. Mrs. Levy believes that what miss Trixie needs is to be notified of how much she is actually needed. In the end of his career as a Levy Pants Associate, Ignatius certainly goes out with a bang! In a ridiculous attempt to lead the factory workers to revolt against the management for underpayment and mistreatment, Ignatius fails quite explosively and is immediately fired. In endeavoring to prove to his mother that this is fate, or "Fortuna" telling him that he is unfit for employment and is left with no other choice but to lay in his room writing, and vigorously attacking the various self pleasing materials which he has kept since his adolescent days, he is once again forced to find another job.
While Ignatius is between jobs, we are introduced to Myrna Minkoff via a letter written to Ignatius to inform him of her success of becoming an activist in up-state New York. He writes back with a loathsome and offensive attitude claiming that she is obsessed with [love]and politics. Finally, Ignatius stumbles upon his final job. Meanwhile, Mrs. Reilly is making friends (one of which happens to be the policeman who tried to arrest her son). The new-found acquaintances are continuously warning her that her son is to be locked up in a mental hospital, but she just can't find it in her poor soul to make the call.
As a hot dog vendor, Ignatius has once again found refuge in a plush job and wastes his time sitting on street corners and eating the merchandise. An encounter with one, Doriane Greene proves to be a rather ointless part of the story, other than emphasizing even more Igantius' insanity. The two decide to throw a party, which Ignatius takes as an opportunity to lecture to the participants about peace on Earth, while Doriane simply wants to make fun of him in a gathering of friends. Ignatius is persistently thinking of ways he can show Myrna Minkoff how he can outdo her, but upon arriving at this party, he finds he is the laughing stock of the house.
Ignatius runs to the nearest bar, "Night of Joy" where is depending on the showing of a [dancer] whose picture he cam across during one of his escapades as a vendor. Lana Lee, the owner of the bar notices this familiar, fat face, and immediately panics for fear of running off the good customers. All goes wrong within the first few minutes of the act, and the [dancers] aid in show (a cockatoo) flies off and attacks Ignatius. He tumbles out to the street in a wild attempt to release himself from the bird and ends up in the papers for creating such a scene. Finally, Ignatius' mother calls Charity Hospital to come and take her son away. Speaking to soon, she gives her idea away to Ignatius bye saying goodbye and leaving the house. Myrna Minkoff randomly shows up at his house and takes him back to New York with her, rescuing him from the Psycho Ward before they arrive to carry him off.
The novel is basically a cluster of characters, which are all troubled in some way. I really enjoyed reading the book, because of the comedic content. However, a plot was difficult to locate. All of the characters wound together in a way that was quite fascinating and logical. However, like I said, what is the point? I can't say that I recommend this book to anyone, unless they are simply bored and are looking for an autobiography of an irrational, and sad man who has nothing to live for but himself.
Rating: 
Summary: not nearly
Review: I chose this book because of it's "humor" and the intrigue of a work by someone who later commit suicide, sick yes but the truth. i didn't enjoy it. The main character really got under my skin and when i'm quick to laugh, i seldom did and was disappointed. Strangely it wasn't the counter-culture themes, the transvestites or the racial issues that bothered me, it really was Ignatius who repelled me at every turn. Maybe that's the point and that makes this a really good book.. maybe, but good book i want to read again, and i almost wish i'd never read this in the first place.
Rating:
Summary: A Confederacy of Dunces
Review: I'm truly surprised that I've ran across a person or two who didn't like this novel. It is easily my favorite book of all time. It fulfills all the cliches.....original, likeable characters, intertwined stories....The first few pages will have you hooked. If it doesn't...another genre is probably in order.....I'm going to go read it again now.
Rating:
Summary: Now I know why Toole kills himself
Review: As some have reviewed, I was one of those captivated by the prologue. The story of how the book was published is far better than the story itself. I too, found it difficult to pick up this book once it was put down. A mish-mash of vignettes, dream states, and letters by the 'hero' created a mood of boredom and disappointment. The boredom came from this book just not being funny. The disappointment mainly at how much time I was wasting in continuing to read it. I believe in finishing what I started and was determined to the end to give this a chance. The joke was on me. I was the true dunce. In reflection, maybe that's the irony here?
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