A Confederacy of Dunces
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- Create Date：2021-12-25 04:51:36
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：John Kennedy Toole
- ISBN：0141045647
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Summary
Meet Ignatius J。 Reilly: flatulent， eloquent and pretty much unemployable 。 。 。
The ordinary folk of New Orleans seem to think he is unhinged as well。 Ignatius ignores them as he heaves his vast bulk through the city's fleshpots in a noble crusade against vice， modernity and ignorance。 But his momma has a nasty surprise in store for him。 Ignatius must get a job。 Undaunted， he uses his new-found employment to further his mission – and now he has a pirate costume and a hot-dog cart to do it with 。 。 。
The ordinary folk of New Orleans seem to think he is unhinged as well。 Ignatius ignores them as he heaves his vast bulk through the city's fleshpots in a noble crusade against vice， modernity and ignorance。 But his momma has a nasty surprise in store for him。 Ignatius must get a job。 Undaunted， he uses his new-found employment to further his mission – and now he has a pirate costume and a hot-dog cart to do it with 。 。 。
Reviews
Catsafrass Kate
，
Such a quirky story！！ Set in New Orleans。 The main character is a strange loner who is not very bright but is certain he is a genius。 He speaks in elevated prose， and is oblivious to how he is perceived by others。 The manuscript was submitted by the writer's mother after his death by suicide。 I can't help thinking this was a self-insert story。 Such a quirky story！！ Set in New Orleans。 The main character is a strange loner who is not very bright but is certain he is a genius。 He speaks in elevated prose， and is oblivious to how he is perceived by others。 The manuscript was submitted by the writer's mother after his death by suicide。 I can't help thinking this was a self-insert story。 。。。more
AJ
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The absurd characters and interactions between them make this novel one of the funniest I've ever read。 I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so much reading a book。 The laughs sneak up on you， too！ The absurd characters and interactions between them make this novel one of the funniest I've ever read。 I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so much reading a book。 The laughs sneak up on you， too！ 。。。more
PaminKokomo
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The genius writing and gross factor of Stephen King + the Southern “charm” of Flannery O’Conner + the hilarity of P。 G。 Wodehouse = so much laughing out loud and a lot of cringing
Ana
，
There were some moments in this book that were individually funny， but I really couldn't get into it。 Maybe I missed something everyone else is getting， but。。。 It's just not that entertaining， even if it's well-written。 Ignatius is insufferable and I cannot find it in myself to laugh at him。 There were some moments in this book that were individually funny， but I really couldn't get into it。 Maybe I missed something everyone else is getting， but。。。 It's just not that entertaining， even if it's well-written。 Ignatius is insufferable and I cannot find it in myself to laugh at him。 。。。more
Holly
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What。 Did。 I。 Just。 Read…。。
Drtaxsacto
，
It is a shame that this is only one of two novels by John Kennedy Toole - although some readers have suggested his earlier work is not as good。 A Confederacy of Dunces is a carefully crafted satire involving well developed characters of odd characteristics。 The "hero" is one Ignatius Riley， a self absorbed bloat of a man with lofty pretensions and an expectation that he should be constantly served。 Were he the only character the novel would be good - but Toole pastes around Ignatius a melange of It is a shame that this is only one of two novels by John Kennedy Toole - although some readers have suggested his earlier work is not as good。 A Confederacy of Dunces is a carefully crafted satire involving well developed characters of odd characteristics。 The "hero" is one Ignatius Riley， a self absorbed bloat of a man with lofty pretensions and an expectation that he should be constantly served。 Were he the only character the novel would be good - but Toole pastes around Ignatius a melange of characters each with their own gifts。 The novel is ultimately both about redemption and insanity （in some cases the motifs are for the same character！）。 Toole's descriptive eloquence and his sense of the absurd is monumental。I was genuinely glad to encounter this title on an NYT list of the 100 best books of the last century which also （to my appreciation） failed to include anything from Hemingway or Faulkner。 This is well worth your time。 。。。more
Arthur Jaray
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I have mixed feelings after finishing reading that book。Yes， the book is written in a very particular style which is sometimes just too much。 Some parts are almost unreadable， for example， the ones involving Ignatius J。 Reilly - which is a shame because he is the main character。 I know it is done on purpose but still。However， it is very easy to be immersed in New Orleans， where the action occurs， because of the way it is described and the sheer over-the-topness of the characters involved。 It jus I have mixed feelings after finishing reading that book。Yes， the book is written in a very particular style which is sometimes just too much。 Some parts are almost unreadable， for example， the ones involving Ignatius J。 Reilly - which is a shame because he is the main character。 I know it is done on purpose but still。However， it is very easy to be immersed in New Orleans， where the action occurs， because of the way it is described and the sheer over-the-topness of the characters involved。 It just adds to this strange， exhilarating feeling one might have while reading "A Confederacy of Dunces"。And according to Goodreads' reviews， everyone has a different opinion on this book。 。。。more
J。A。 Wilson
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Ooo-Wee。
Clay
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Lol literally
Jonathan H。
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Absolutely brilliant and hilarious （brilliantly hilarious？）I’ve seen this book on a list of ‘did not finish’ books recently and this a shame。 I believe the story builds and only gets better as the novel progresses and you become truly invested in this ridiculous story。 This book is an instant all-timer for me （as if a Pulitzer were not enough of a stamp of approval）。 The characters， the dialogue， the absurdity of the whole narrative; just phenomenally done。 It deeply saddens me to know of the au Absolutely brilliant and hilarious （brilliantly hilarious？）I’ve seen this book on a list of ‘did not finish’ books recently and this a shame。 I believe the story builds and only gets better as the novel progresses and you become truly invested in this ridiculous story。 This book is an instant all-timer for me （as if a Pulitzer were not enough of a stamp of approval）。 The characters， the dialogue， the absurdity of the whole narrative; just phenomenally done。 It deeply saddens me to know of the author’s passing and his never being able to revel in his masterpiece。 I selfishly feel robbed that he will never be able to further contribute to literature， but leaving us with this book is a consolation。 Reading of his own inspiration for the characters and situations in the book make it all the more entertaining and sad， in a way。 There really isn’t a likable character in the book， though there are some sympathetic ones。 Overall， if you like absurdist and dark humor as well as books about nothing （I mean that as a component）， this book will not disappoint。 。。。more
Ben
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Entertaining and insane characters。 Also excellent descriptions and New Orleans accents。 Not a traditional novel in the sense that all of the characters are incredibly unlikeable but still a relatively fun and quick read。
Richard Monteverde
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 It was meh。 I don't understand the laugh out loud reviews。 No part had me laughing。 Ignatius is a mix of Homer Simpson， Rock Sanchez， and an internet troll， but only the worst of each。 I just couldn't stop loathing him and how he brought everyone down with him。 I know that is the point but after a while I just get tired of loathing him。 There are some good lessons in here but those can be learned in the first couple of chapters。 The idea of picking and choosing what you want to hear instead of w It was meh。 I don't understand the laugh out loud reviews。 No part had me laughing。 Ignatius is a mix of Homer Simpson， Rock Sanchez， and an internet troll， but only the worst of each。 I just couldn't stop loathing him and how he brought everyone down with him。 I know that is the point but after a while I just get tired of loathing him。 There are some good lessons in here but those can be learned in the first couple of chapters。 The idea of picking and choosing what you want to hear instead of what is being told is a good lesson to learn at anytime but it just beaten to death in this book。 Ignatius picks and chooses what from the books of his education to fit his worldview。 Mrs。 Levy picks and chooses what to hear from her husband and Trixie to fit her worldview。 The Cop looks at only the "good，" he is doing and ignored all the wrong his fellow cops do to him and others。 It's honestly just a bleak book。 。。。more
Jim Zacharias
，
How is it even possible that I have been on this planet for 54 years without ever knowing about this book！ Thank God that two individuals sharing my same worldview reversed that cruel vissisitude of fate and I have now been given the opportunity to mentally devour its magnificent contents。 I blame my lack of exposure to this grand tome on the fact that pre-pubescent degenerates have occupied my living space and drained my faculties for many years。 True， I carry much of the blame for the process How is it even possible that I have been on this planet for 54 years without ever knowing about this book！ Thank God that two individuals sharing my same worldview reversed that cruel vissisitude of fate and I have now been given the opportunity to mentally devour its magnificent contents。 I blame my lack of exposure to this grand tome on the fact that pre-pubescent degenerates have occupied my living space and drained my faculties for many years。 True， I carry much of the blame for the process which introduced these noisey degenerates into my sanctuary of peace and intellectual pursuit， but I still view it as a cruel twist of the fates。 Do not suffer my same misfortune dear reader。 Read this book now！ You must！ It is imperative that you do so in order to laugh aloud at it's meticulously frantic dialogue。 It will do wonders for your physical health and constitution。 Hurry！ Do not delay！ 。。。more
Chris Everson
，
I got this book because I was attracted by the sticker on the front that contained a quote by Billy Connolly stating "My favourite book of all time"。 I thought he might know what he was talking about， even though I'm not a great Billy Connolly fan。 S should have trusted my instinct。This book is dire。 A complete mess。 The foreward paints a tragic story of a writer who could not get published and ultimately committed suicide in 1969。 His mother becomes obsessed with getting it published and ultima I got this book because I was attracted by the sticker on the front that contained a quote by Billy Connolly stating "My favourite book of all time"。 I thought he might know what he was talking about， even though I'm not a great Billy Connolly fan。 S should have trusted my instinct。This book is dire。 A complete mess。 The foreward paints a tragic story of a writer who could not get published and ultimately committed suicide in 1969。 His mother becomes obsessed with getting it published and ultimately succeeded， and it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1981。To me this is a case of a mother thinking her son's wrk is great。 In much the same way as parents pun their kids' artistic 'masterpieces' on the fridge and other people pretend they are good。 I can only think that sympathy is the only way it was published and that it won any awards。 Anyway。。。 I'll be steering away from any Pulitzer Prize winning stuff from now on。To the book itself。。。 It's just a stream of consciousness。 The punctuation hardly exists and the characters are entirely unlikable and unbelievable。 The speech is almost unreadable as the author tries （and fails） to try and show accents。 The situations are absurd， and how no-one ever tells the insufferable Ignatious J Rielly of New Orleans to go forth and multiply and how he escapes serious bodily harm I don't know。 This isn't the worst book I've ever read （That is Vampire Umpire）， but it could well be the most over-rated。Hated it。 。。。more
Luna Claire
，
Since we're going to New Orleans in February I decided to read this now。。 Exaggerated， Sarcastic and Witty， Confederacy of Dunces might fall into something like Gonzo。 Maybe it's the era it was written 。。。 characters are off the charts hilarious。 Sad story about the author。 Definitely autobiographical fiction Since we're going to New Orleans in February I decided to read this now。。 Exaggerated， Sarcastic and Witty， Confederacy of Dunces might fall into something like Gonzo。 Maybe it's the era it was written 。。。 characters are off the charts hilarious。 Sad story about the author。 Definitely autobiographical fiction 。。。more
Danielle
，
3 stars acknowledging that there is some good writing in this book but my experience of it was more like 2 stars。 The only factors that made it palatable were 1） listening on audio with a reader who did a great job on all the different characters’ voices and 2） listening to the accompanying Close Reads podcast episodes。 This seems to be primarily a comedic novel without a clear “understory” of anything more profound （potentially a flaw related to the fact that the author committed suicide and it 3 stars acknowledging that there is some good writing in this book but my experience of it was more like 2 stars。 The only factors that made it palatable were 1） listening on audio with a reader who did a great job on all the different characters’ voices and 2） listening to the accompanying Close Reads podcast episodes。 This seems to be primarily a comedic novel without a clear “understory” of anything more profound （potentially a flaw related to the fact that the author committed suicide and it was published posthumously without a normal editorial process）。 My sense of humor is not tuned to the type of comedy in this book at all。 I generally found Ignatius too grotesque and the overall situation （his buffoonery， his mother’s drinking） too disturbing to be funny。 The side plots in the book were bizarre and never obvious in their purpose （Jones， Lana， the Levys， etc）。 Weird book。 。。。more
Justin Phillips
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I thought this was supposed to be funny。 Made it about halfway before giving up
Andrew
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This is funniest book I have ever read in my life。 The writing is brilliant and Ignatius J。 Reilly is going down as my favorite literary character of all time。 He's so awful and gross with little to no redeemable qualities， but his diatribes and rants are side splitting。 I have never laughed out loud with a book so much。 This is funniest book I have ever read in my life。 The writing is brilliant and Ignatius J。 Reilly is going down as my favorite literary character of all time。 He's so awful and gross with little to no redeemable qualities， but his diatribes and rants are side splitting。 I have never laughed out loud with a book so much。 。。。more
Michael
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It is a funny book。 It would be more funny， if this type of logic wasn't so prevalent in society today。 It won't be one of my favorites。 It is a funny book。 It would be more funny， if this type of logic wasn't so prevalent in society today。 It won't be one of my favorites。 。。。more
Elena DK
，
Creo que esta es una de esas novelas que amas u odias， en mi caso， adoración absoluta。 Se dice que es una novela cómica con plenitud de desventuras pero a mí me parece un trágica historia de alguien inconexo con la realidad， lo cual siempre es funesto de sentir。 Es la segunda vez que leo este libro después de probablemente más de una década， la he disfrutado tanto como la primera vez pero en esta lectura he podido percibir claramente la desgracia humana relatada entre líneas。El suicidio del auto Creo que esta es una de esas novelas que amas u odias， en mi caso， adoración absoluta。 Se dice que es una novela cómica con plenitud de desventuras pero a mí me parece un trágica historia de alguien inconexo con la realidad， lo cual siempre es funesto de sentir。 Es la segunda vez que leo este libro después de probablemente más de una década， la he disfrutado tanto como la primera vez pero en esta lectura he podido percibir claramente la desgracia humana relatada entre líneas。El suicidio del autor se entiende mejor leyendo esta novela en la adultez。 。。。more
Kiana Caranto
，
Enjoyable during the read but terrible ending。
Lauren Pope
，
This book is nuts， but I liked it。 Why？ I was laughing out loud so often。 The rest of the time I was pretty grossed out。
Dries
，
It's American P。 G。 Wodehouse！In all seriousness: "masterpiece" doesn't even begin to describe this book。 It's quite possibly one of the funniest books I've ever read， but it's also so， so much more than just "funny"。 It's one of those books that has left such a deep impression on me that I'm at a loss for words to describe my thoughts on it。。。 The only word that comes to mind （other than "funny"， and various synonyms such as "hilarious"） is "endearing"; even though he is quite explicitly not po It's American P。 G。 Wodehouse！In all seriousness: "masterpiece" doesn't even begin to describe this book。 It's quite possibly one of the funniest books I've ever read， but it's also so， so much more than just "funny"。 It's one of those books that has left such a deep impression on me that I'm at a loss for words to describe my thoughts on it。。。 The only word that comes to mind （other than "funny"， and various synonyms such as "hilarious"） is "endearing"; even though he is quite explicitly not portrayed as a sympathetic character， I feel a strong attachment to Ignatius J。 Reilly; it's hard not to feel any sort of empathy towards a book character that can make you laugh out loud。 When I finished the last page of the novel， I almost didn't want to put the book down， because I didn't want it to be over—I wanted Reilly's exploits to continue & continue & continue， and when I finally accepted that they wouldn't， I closed the book and felt something akin to sadness。 Saying goodbye to Ignatius felt like saying goodbye to someone I had gotten to know intimately—someone I would most certainly not get along with if I ever met him in real life， mind you—but someone whom， in a weird way， I had grown to care about in a manner you generally don't expect from what I'm sure a lot of people would call "just a funny book"。 I have always maintained that most great art is ultimately comedic in nature， and very few books make me feel as vindicated in that belief as A Confederacy of Dunces。 。。。more
Rob
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Absolutely brilliant！
Stefek
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I didn’t read the book because my valve started acting up。 But also because I am a degenerate who can never finish anything in life。 The book was very funny， and I don’t usually find books funny。 Please stop giving bad reviews because you don’t like the character。 Classic ignoramus reviewers！ Ignatius is not your friend in real life， you do not have to deal with his temper tantrums。 Please just admit that you relate to this book at the level of your own medieval， grandiose， self proclaimed geniu I didn’t read the book because my valve started acting up。 But also because I am a degenerate who can never finish anything in life。 The book was very funny， and I don’t usually find books funny。 Please stop giving bad reviews because you don’t like the character。 Classic ignoramus reviewers！ Ignatius is not your friend in real life， you do not have to deal with his temper tantrums。 Please just admit that you relate to this book at the level of your own medieval， grandiose， self proclaimed genius， but really a multimillionaire dunce achiever of the 21st century。 This review is not satire， it is the truth of our shared realities。 。。。more
Kyle Erickson
，
If the last quarter of the book was as amazing as the first 3/4， this would rank in my all-time top ten list。
Dan
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I think I met Reilly in the 1980s。 He'd become a perpetual Columbia grad student after moving to New York， grown a luxuriant beard and raised his eccentricity level。 One star deducted for the Peace Party idea -- it doesn't seem like the sort of thing Reilly would have espoused， more like an effort at maximum zaniness designed to provoke a slapstick climax。 Aside from that， I agree with everything everone's ever said about this book。 I think I met Reilly in the 1980s。 He'd become a perpetual Columbia grad student after moving to New York， grown a luxuriant beard and raised his eccentricity level。 One star deducted for the Peace Party idea -- it doesn't seem like the sort of thing Reilly would have espoused， more like an effort at maximum zaniness designed to provoke a slapstick climax。 Aside from that， I agree with everything everone's ever said about this book。 。。。more
Dario DallaLasta
，
Um， can someone please explain why this book is considered a "classic"？ Because I thought it was horribly written （the sheer number of adjectives piled into every other sentence was ridiculous） and I wouldn't want to spend a single day in the company of Ignatius J。 Reilly。 Was that the point？ Um， can someone please explain why this book is considered a "classic"？ Because I thought it was horribly written （the sheer number of adjectives piled into every other sentence was ridiculous） and I wouldn't want to spend a single day in the company of Ignatius J。 Reilly。 Was that the point？ 。。。more
Angela
，
I'm glad I read the introduction by Walker Percy as it gave me the impetus to push through the difficult first few chapters。 Why was it difficult？ I've never read a book with so many annoying characters！ The not so annoying ones were being walked all over and allowed themselves to be， making them annoying as well。 This however， gives it its hilarity。It is， as Percy says， so much more than a comedy。 Ignatius is perhaps an extreme commentary on the modern American of that time。 So secure in his se I'm glad I read the introduction by Walker Percy as it gave me the impetus to push through the difficult first few chapters。 Why was it difficult？ I've never read a book with so many annoying characters！ The not so annoying ones were being walked all over and allowed themselves to be， making them annoying as well。 This however， gives it its hilarity。It is， as Percy says， so much more than a comedy。 Ignatius is perhaps an extreme commentary on the modern American of that time。 So secure in his self-worth to the point of delusion， often contradictory and insular， thinking himself self-sufficient and not wanting to leave New Orleans。 He is single-minded to the detriment of those around him and purposefully ignorant of others。 At the same time， he is somewhat a product of his environment。 Being a parent I recognise when a child has been spoiled and so didn't really sympathise with his mother。 This book， like Ignatius causes such contrary feelings。 I really wanted to slap some of the characters。 Well， most of them， at the same time I got really involved in the plot purely because I wanted to see Ignatius and the other horrible people， particularly the odious Mrs Levy， being brought down。 I convinced myself it would happen and this drove me on。 （view spoiler）[Thankfully， like a well-written comedic movie， everything got wrapped up nicely and everybody got what they deserved！（view spoiler）[ （hide spoiler）] （hide spoiler）] 。。。more
Shiva nikseresht
，
اگر حوصله خواندن ناطوردشت را داشتید این کتاب را هم میتوانید بخوانید。 شخصیت اصلی اتحادیه ابلهان قرار است کلی حرصتان را در بیارد و به صورت خیلی پر رنگ حماقتهایمان را یادآوری کند。کتاب به شدت چاق هراسانه بود و مدام از هیکل و اندازهی شخصیت صحبت میکرد و این مورد را دستمایهای برای خنده و تحقیر کرده بود。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=A Confederacy of Dunces
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=A Confederacy of Dunces&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft