Set in mid-20th Century New Orleans, John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces" follows its protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly, in his battle against reality. Ignatius is a blimp-sized slobbering weirdo whose appetite for junk food is impossible to fulfill. An early archetype of the neckbeard, Ignatius sees his bloated form as massive and powerful - he has a "big man" complex despite being mostly revolting to those who behold him. He also considers himself intellectually superior to everyone around him.
A man-child of 30 years, Ignatius is outraged that his mother expects him to find a job. He considers himself a scholar of philosophy and believes that an ascetic life of contemplation is the most valuable of pursuits - on his mother's dime, of course. Ignatius' prodigious appetite hinders his ability to find or keep a job, as does his refusal to change his clothes.
The most amusing device in the book is Ignatius' cundishun - his sensitive pyloric valve. That's the valve that separates your stomach from your intestines. When Ignatius gets stressed out or reality is forced upon him, his valve seals and he enters an agitated state of gastrointestinal distress, full of burping and farting.
J.K. Toole was a visionary, creating basically a male Tumblrina back when very few Americans were even overweight at all. I'd recommend it to any shitlord who wants a good laugh. One caveat: I've met people who can't get into the book because Ignatius is really such an insufferable asshole. If you like that kind of thing (Larry David, Kenny Powers et. al.) you'll love "A Confederacy of Dunces."
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[–] HAESisalie 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
Great book. Way ahead of its time. This guy is the twitter generation personified, as he spends all of his time being hyper critical of everyone else and never turns a reflective glance upon himself. He can barely walk and he spends his time watching dance shows so he can make fun of all the lithe healthy dancers.
Sadly the author committed suicide before its publication.
Spoiler alert:
I loved how after his mother forced him to get a job, he finds work selling hot dogs from a cart. First day on the job gets fired for eating all of the hot dogs himself.
[–] KikiCat 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
XD I'm sure life has imitated art several time. xD
[–] IggyReilly ago
One of my favorites :)
[–] Blacklightning ago
Toole was a misunderstood genius who was way ahead of his time. Yes, his mother was instrumental in having his magnum opus published, but she was also a domineering cunt.
[–] TSlim ago
Couldn't get through it for exactly the reason you mentioned: he's just such a giant piece of shit. I bet it was funnier before figures like Ignatius could be found everywhere in real life.
[–] HAESisalie ago (edited ago)
That is a fair point.
I read the book around 25 years ago, while in college, well before the rise of the neckbeard and tumblrtard being on full display. It probably would have a different feel reading it today for the first time. You might feel like you see this shit everywhere and don't want to read about it even more.
Amazing that he wrote the book in 1963.