A Confederacy of Dunces (John Kennedy Toole)

"A confederacy of Dunces" is the funniest book I have ever read. It had me in full belly laughs, almost near tears at times. So why am I so sad after reading it? I guess it largely has to do with the story of the author, John Kennedy Toole. A common attack on this book - indeed the original attack which caused its initial rejection - is that it "isn't about anything." But when viewed within the context of Toole's life and death, the book gains enormous meaning. I think that there is more than just a little of John Kenndy Toole in the character of Ignatius J. Reilly. Ignatius ranks up there with the greatest literary characters in history. He is vivid, bright, alive, and unique. His motivations are complex, and he constantly lies to himself, and therefore to the reader. On the surface, he appears incredibly obtuse and dense (and he is!) but yet other times, notably when he needs to save his own rear, he is incredibly cunning and insightful. One my favorite moments in the book is when... Read more

Every now and again a book comes along - a rarity in its happening - that introduces you to a world of goofy characters and takes you through such absurb situations that you remember them forever. "A Confederacy of Dunces" is such a book ! If you don't find this book both magnificently written and exceptionally funny then I truly recommend you admit up front (maybe secretly too) that you are just not into wit in its grandest form. J.K. Toole left us a masterpiece, may he forever make the angels of heaven laugh as he did me and will do the majority of readers who are fortunate enough to experience this absolute gem.

this is not a good read/story. i'm sorry but i simply don't comprehend how others thought highly of it. story about a loser who thinks he's above evryone else just doesn't appeal to me. i stuck through the end of the book to see if there's going to be a twist or some poetic justification of what the loser has done / did not do, but it never came.

The book A Confederacy of Dunces is wonderful, yet terrible. Its main character, Ignatius J Reilly, is a learned yet pompous jerk. Though there are many other characters that are as annoying as Mr. Reilly, he is by far the most heard of in the book. I happen to have had the not so wonderful pleasure of meeting someone quite similar to Mr. Reilly, and trust me it's not as "interesting" as one would think. Ignatius waltzes around everywhere he goes thinking that he is wonderful and that despite the great odds, he is right and everyone else is wrong. His sole ability is to instill a passionate anger and deep resentment in people. For me, throughout the book, Ignatius is not so much the character you love to hate, just the character you hate. He is rude, a slob, and stuck-up. Mr. Reilly speaks down to all, except of course the only person he obeys, his one-and-only pyloric valve, which is constantly closing and opening giving him great trouble. He floats around from one job t... Read more

What a weird and silly book. The writing is flawless, the characters vivid but not necessarily appealing, particularly the manic and obnoxious protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly. I wonder if Mr. Toole personally knew his way around mania as Mr. Reilly's flights of fancy, while bizarre, ring true. I wish I could remember who recommended this book; I would like to ask her why. I finished it, and I'm not sure why.