Rating: 
Summary: The best character I have read but it drags a little.
Review: Ignatius F. Reilly is undoubtedly one of the finest comic creations I have ever encountered. As one reviewer all too accurately points out, the word "valve" will never quite seem the same. I found our anti-hero far from annoying, unlike everybody else it would seem, but I did have trouble sticking to the book. The characters are for the most part colourful, albeit fairly thin (except the rounded kook himself!), however for some reason I just didn't feel the impetus to keep on going. I did persevere but only because I didn't want to miss anything more from Ignatius, for example I skipped through most of his peace party launch - I just couldn't be bothered. I think that where the "plot" is advanced the characterisation has to take the back seat and it is the latter which makes the book. I would still recommend that you read this book, it would be a shame not to have acquainted yourself with the strangest protagonist in literature, you might even find a little piece of yourself in him.
Rating: 
Summary: Whenever it shows a real genius...
Review: I just want to say that, as all you can see in this reviewing site, if you look at all the rankings, there are a lot of possibilities you are goning to love this work. I can assure you that all of the people that not liked this work, are the kind of people that didn't like the Quixote or Ulysses.So, they have to hate it because they didn't get it, and have to hate the people that got the point of this book. It is about the Odyssey of a fighter against our absurd world. I think all the people that hate the book because of their mental poverty, are the Dunces still confederating against Toole, like we know the dunces confederated against him through his attempts to publish his book during his final years. So, thank all of you Dunces, maybe you not only helped him to die, but you helped him to give us this masterpiece. And, like someone below said, cancel your next three days appointments, you won't be available.
Rating:
Summary: Read it!
Review: Just for the pure enjoyment of the character and the genius of the writing, buy this book! You have to know New Orleans somewhat to appreciate some of the places, but you don't have to know New Orleans to recognize the characters!
Rating:
Summary: Don Quijote meets Tales of the City
Review: I finished this book with mixed emotions; it had me alternately laughing and annoyed. What makes this book brilliant is also its downfall: its nonstop (and sometimes tiresome) literary and cultural allusions. The protagonist's worldview is a mishmash of Roman philosophy, medieval literature, and a passionate contempt for the bourgeoisie. An unsuccessful hot dog vendor with an elite university education, Ignatius J. Reilly bumbles through New Orleans in a series of adventures and mishaps that put him squarely at odds with the authorities and mainstream society. The author asks a lot of the reader, however, by sharing Ignatius's every belch and moment of flatulence. If you are can get past the slow beginning, you'll probably enjoy the rest. It's a clever satire, and sometimes leaves you laughing out loud. Unlike anything else you'll read.
Rating:
Summary: Read between the lines; much more here than comedy
Review: Confederacy of Dunces is satire on a highly sophisticated level. Yes it's hilarious at times, mainly due to the contrast between the twisted genius of Ignatius Reilly, a character incredibly well developed, and the rest of the less developed ones in the book. It's possible to look behind the satire to see some important serious messages also. The new biography, Ignatius Rising, gives some insight into Ken Toole's mind and where he got all the stuff for the book. Though the main inspiration for Ignatius seems to be a Medievalist professor Toole knew, a lot more autobiography seeps into the character than perhaps his creator was conscious of. Ignatius's main motivation--to expose the flaws of the 20th century--is too well developed not to have come directly from Ken Toole's worldview, even if cloaked in Fortuna and Boethius references. By the way I happen to agree in general with Ignatius's critique of the 20th century. His war of wits with Myrna makes for some interesting political thoughts of the time....and politics really haven't changed at all since then. The book is not flawless, in particular the 2nd half seems to be somewhat redundant after the 1st half. The characters aside from Ignatius are relatively undeveloped. Was Gottlieb at Simon and Schuster justified in eventually rejecting the book? But this brilliant creation was the product of a brilliant creator. I hope the eventual movie does the book justice.
Rating:
Summary: Hillarious
Review: Short and sweet, this book is one of my favorites . If the Pulitzer Prize never leads me to another book I love, I'm still in it's debt.Read it!
Rating: 
Summary: Too strange to be good
Review: It won a Pulitzer? My only explanation for it is that the committee must have figured if *they* couldn't understand it, then it must be good. But I would disagree. I swear I wrote an assignment in 9th grade English that was remarkably like this book in style, and it got a 'D.' I'd have to say this book is different, sure, but ... It did have a few very wry and funny passages, but overall I didn't like the story or the style.
Rating:
Summary: Quite simply, the funniest book ever written
Review: Take this easy test: If you don't like this book, you have no sense of humor worth mentioning. If you love it, you can use this hilarious novel as a litmus for testing the sense of humor of potential spouses, mates, friends, classmates, employers, etc. (In general, anal types and neat-freaks will hate it.) Ignatius J. Reilly is one of the towering comic creations, right up there with Sancho Panza and Falstaff. Another source of delight is how Toole skewers the entire Sixties ethos that was just coming into being at the time of his writing.
Rating:
Summary: Tilting At Windmills
Review: What a same that John Kennedy Toole wont be providing any more wonderful novels. This book rates as one of my new favorites and certainly deserves the praise it has been given. This book is very refreshing in that it deals with psychologically complex characters without giving into modern judgments of their actions. Confederacy also manages to portray a very small character with a very small life in an epic manner which is a challenge that most novels do not rise to.
Rating:
Summary: You'll never think of the word, valve, the same way again!
Review: This is my favorite book! I've read it numerous times and it never fails to make me laugh aloud. The main character, Ignatius J. Reilly, is unforgettable: his "valve", piety, and visions of a canine while masturbating and various other appalling/hilarious peccadilloes will be forever committed to memory. John Kennedy Toole gives us a penetrative view of the world of the airy intellectual and the natives of downtown New Orleans. The book was published posthumously and my only sense of disappointment is that the author is not around to entertain us with more unique characters and tales. An absolute must read!
|
