Rating: 
Summary: Prodigious bona fide farcical masterpiece!
Review: The late John Kennedy Toole penned a veritably irrefutable masterpiece in the ingenious A Confederacy of Dunces. Although inestimably depressing that he committed suicide due to Simon Schuster's publication refusal, Toole and his incomparable genius live on vicariously through this resounding work of undeniable merit.I find it seemingly impossible and self-defeating to sum up this great work so as not to be redundant or spoil it for others. Suffice it to say, I tore through this book in two days and reveled in its farcical and satirical ingenuity as I laughed out loud early and often, as it were, that I actively yearned for it not to come to a close. The anachronistic, bombastic, and verbose rhetoric of our intrepid & endearing protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly, riotously pervades A Confederacy of Dunces and makes for the most incredibly vital and overtly comical character I have encountered since Shakespeare's Falstaff himself in Henrvy IV I&II. John Kennedy Toole's amazingly vivid characterization and unparalleled cynicism emanate throughout this bona fide tour de force with an unmistakably resonant subtlety. As the irrepressible Ignatius would note, it would be absolutely shameless effrontery and an utterly unspeakable abomination for A Confederacy of Dunces NOT to be mentioned among the top 10 American novels of all-time - this goes without saying. 5 Shining Stars! "I dust a bit...in addition, I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip."
Rating:
Summary: Warning to the reader
Review: Ignatius Reilly is an over-educated medievalist philosopher who lives with his mom and can't seem to hold a job. He is also quite possibly the most entertainingly original character in all of American literature. His misadventurous exploits are unlike anything you can possibly imagine, and if you aren't careful you'll laugh so hard that you'll hurt yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious and completely original
Review: John Kennedy Toole's masterpiece of a novel
owes its genius tothe protagonist: Ignatius J. Reilly,
a character without parallel in fiction.He is totally original and literally lareger than life and so realistic I keep
wondering why I haven't met him yet. Hisover the top morality and his medeival"world view" color everything he does. This novel revolves around the daily misadventures
of Ignatius as he tries to find work in
New Orleans and the people
he comes in contact with.
These encounters are incredibly funny andbizarre yet the author never lets the scenes collapse into absurdity.Each episode of hilarity rapidly falls apart in stupendous specatcle
as Ignatius tries his hand at secretarial work, as a hot dog vendor etc. The supporting characters are also fully realised and bursting with life-the hipster Jones trying to sabotage
his pathetic job, Ignatius's mother and her friends, and especailly Myrna Minkoff our hero's improbable
former girlfriend. Anyone who enjoys a good long laugh or a revealing look into New Orleans
and the 60's will love this extraordinary book.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: This is the best book ever written in my opinion. As simple as that.
Rating:
Summary: Funniest book I've ever read
Review: I don't chase after books squarely labeled "Humorous". This brilliant piece of work elevates the genre into world class quality. I approach books with humor as the predominate theme with less reluctance having read A Confederacy of Dunces. I wonder how many other books I've dismissed because I thought it wouldn't be my cup of tea? It's just one heck of a great read! Toole's characters are perfectly filled out and I'm able to see the action taking place as I read. Treat yourself. Read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Why they misunderstand
Review: This is truly a great book. Humor is much underrated in our lives. The ability to laugh at our selves is important. This is not a book of flowery words. This is a humorously philosophical look at our selves and our condition not a didactic diatribe. For that it deserves serious consideration and respect. Ignatius J. Reilly is not a hero. He is an exaggeration. He is both rigorously, uncompromisingly correct and absurdly tragic at the same time. We have met the enemy and he is us. This book, with its protagonist so heroically intellectual and pathetically tragic, is an exaggerated mirror of our own situation in life. In addition Ignatius is so extremely and precisely developed in his own philosophy, no one could possibly understand him. In truth we are all just as unique as Ignatius J. Riley is but we rarely notice our uniqueness or come to grips with our isolation. We are all misunderstood and frustrated with our inability to express ourselves and our inability to pursuade others of what we know is right. This is not a book about heroes with a happy ending. There is no didactic, simple message here about good vs. evil. Those people, who read this book and reject it because they don't like the characters, fail to see the point, that we are all a crazy mixed up mess of good and bad. There can be no simple message in the mess. We are after all... human, we are fallible. We are stupid about some things, smart about others. We succeed and we fail. We are all industrious and lazy to some degree. We are locked into this absurd existence, but to be human and aware and alive is to endure our absurdity with glee and joy of life wherever we can get it even if it's just a guilty hotdog, to laugh at it all. Because we are all part of it, and if we could stand back and look at it from the outside, we would see it is wonderful. This is a book for beatniks during the rightwing, conformist '50s. A book for anyone who has ever known they were right about something despite being a minority of one in a crowd of thousands of idiots. A book for flawed people who can still be amused by their flaws. A book for outsiders who have retained their dignity in dirty clothes. So just read it and take it for what it is. Enjoy the crazies and clowns while you still can.
Rating:
Summary: Clearly the greatest novel ever written
Review: This book surpasses all other as the greatest novel ever. Hilariously entertaining, A Confederacy of Dunces describes the life of Ignatius J. Reilly, a slob of a man, a rebel against society and a spellbinding character. In no other book have I ever been so pleased by the author. John Kennedy Toole deserves to be placed among the greatest authors of all time.
Rating:
Summary: Absolute joy
Review: As I neared the end of the book I was extremely disaappointed...not by the book...but by the fact that it was almost over. Amazing use of the English language makes this book an absolute joy to read.
Rating:
Summary: Indescribable
Review: Ignatius J. Reilly is a corpulent thirty-year-old who lives with his mother in New Orleans. He deems himself the intellectual master of nearly all those with whom he comes in contact. He has no job as the story commences, but is coerced into finding work by his fed-up mother. The zaniness that follows can only be appreciated first-hand, so further attempt at a depiction of the plot line is neither necessary nor actually possible. John Kennedy Toole demonstrates a touch of genius in this indescribable satire, a genius that never got a chance to flower, as he was already dead when this book was published. His social commentary, although almost always hilarious, carries an undercurrent of despair. The multiple sub-plots and the incredible cast of characters give this novel such a rich and layered texture that a re-reading (or two or three) is almost a must. Truly one of the most unique books I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: Well whats the making of a great novel? Well I laughed out loud many times I got mad many times,and even felt sympathy. In my mind thats the making of a great novel. The preachings and philosophies of Ignatius are out of this world,and the reactions he creates from bosses,people on the streets,friends,and anybody he comes in contact with are madcap hilarious.Its a shame Toole let life get the best of him,He would have been stupendously funny.
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