I love that Ignatius watches television and goes to films he knows he'll hate just so he can be a condescending jerk. Every one of the characters in the book is hilarious and I love this book dearly.
Finally, a booktuber who doesn't treat books as a fashion accessory and actually has something meaningful to say about them. Great review, and I think your spot on about its appeal.
I think one of the most interesting aspects of Ignatius character, is that he eventually makes the people around him look as bad. This is seen in the final chapters, where his mother's integrity is called into question. It reminds me of the saying "Never argue with a fool... someone might arrive during the argument and not be able to tell who the fool is?" His faults become contagion.
I loved this book and the main character. It feels both timeless and of the time it was written (60’s). I feel so sad that toole died so young and didn’t get the opportunity to see his novel win a Pulitzer after being rejected for so many years-who knows what he could’ve achieved had he gotten help.
I think Nichole hit it right on the head. This book had me laughing out load absolutely hilarious. The book was written perfectly but what Pulitzer isn't. There was a couple times I had to pull out the dictionary but it never took away from the enjoyment I got from reading the book. Just to bad the people he was taking the book to never saw how brilliant he was. If he never committed suicide I believe he would have written many classics.
I felt like while Ignatious was condescending and yes, an asshole, he was also terrified of the world around him. A sad but truly engaging character, with Myrna Minkoff as his savior.
I agree; he could not survive in the world and was extremely vulnerable. I think that's part of what makes the book interesting, too - there is something really sad about him and his mother under the hilarious stuff.
Absolutely... I remember when it finally dawned on me how much his repulsion of the world was his response to and protection from further rejection by the world. His high school memory and his actions at the "kickoff rally" cemented that idea to me.
Greetings from New Orleans and I enjoyed your review. I've always described New Orleans as a constant one act play, while growing up in the big easy with many colorful characters at every turn. There was a lady named Ruthie the "Duck lady", who roamed in the French quarter by Jackson square. A fun town with many street hustlers.
Many years ago,my brother gave me this book,it is his favorite book. He considered giving me his personal copy,but it is tattered ,tape bound and falling apart. He sent me a new copy. I never have laugh at the written word as much as I have with this book. And(no spoiler),the end made me absolutely cry🥲
When I read it I thought it was more sad than funny, but I also just kind of read it, not really getting into what the book was about. I'll have to re read it because now I feel like I'll be in on the joke more.
Great review/commentary. But I do find it unsettling -- Jack Black would make a brilliant Ignacious if a movie could/would ever be made. Do you think the book lends itself to a movie? I do!
My favorite book. The most entertaining read ever. I highly recommend the audio book recording, done by Barrett Whitener, who gives distinct vocal portrayals to over 20 different characters. Be careful driving while listening, you may have to pull over a few times.
I'm wondering if Ignatius would have hate-watched the adaption of his own life... Hollywood tried and failed to make "A Confederacy of Dunces" into a movie dozens of times. I just finished reading Stephan Eicke's book "The Unfilmable Confederacy of Dunces - How Ignatius J. Reilly Defeated Hollywood", and it's crazy what went wrong with the proposed films... from lawsuits to killings to accidental deaths and backstabbing... highly recommended
Thank you, Pearl (?) You are so pleasant to listen to. One of my favorites is Walker Percy. I understand he helped get Dunces published. So now, I will get a copy. :-)
I loved this book. It is absolutely ridiculous and hilarious . Billy Connoly recommended it on a documentary I recently watched. Being a fellow Scotsman I took his advice and bought the book. Ignatius J Reilly, jeezo where do you start when describing this singular character. I suppose the books description sums him up perfectly : eloquent, flatulent and pretty much unemployable. For me, the greatest part of the book was the fiery correspondence between him and Myrna. The ideological and political jousting was so well written it had me in hysterics. Please do yourself a favour and read this book.
I dont feel like he was unaware of the world around him. Having read Boethius and other many books he musta asumed that he had known the Ins and Outs of the World and fair enough he did know.In my opinion I could connect to the character and his mother of course but that may be because I am deeply attached to my own.Remember a mention in the book that says while he was working in the library he managed to stick 4 name tags at the back of the book through a whole day and that the quality of his work was what he was proud of,now they can find another who would ruin those expensive Classiscs for all he cares.This book is a Great Tool for finding yourself and the people that you know in and among the characters.Ignatius is a character who as per me is shown to have a Second brain one that is highly developed and speaks not through his brain but his second brain i.e his guts and thus faces the problem in this world where everybody is onto something selfish and impure and thus have to think what comes out of their mouth while he being pure can say whatever first forms in his gut.
A worthy book. I discovered it via an article in the Wall Street Journal. Ends well, too. However, that it was written by such a genuinely disturbed person takes it from comic to a genuine exposition of despair. So, less happy. Amazing his mother believed in it so much and had the energy to get it published- to classic acclaim. Ignacious lacks faith. Enjoyable go-over.
Please urgent..I need someone to answer my question! I wanna know if there's any "scapegoating" theme in the Confederacy of dunces..you know the scapegoat mechanism by Renè Girardi.
"Ridiculous White Savior" could have even been the title Lol 2:25 I see what you did there lol You made some good analytical points that I appreciate! In particular, I really enjoyed the concept of Ignatius as the "funhouse mirror" reflection of all of us know-it-all, "The-book-was-better" folks lol
Reading it now. Came here for some perspective on it. Thanks for the review. As a side note and respectfully: Please try to be cognizant of and take a good look at how often you say, “uhnmm.” It detracts from your messaging.
I’m reading this book for school and I’m being asked to state the message of the book in one sentence, and I can’t quite figure it out. What would you say Toole is trying to tell the reader through this book?
Reading it just now. Ignatius is so horrible to everyone, more so his poor mother. Really enjoying getting to know the different characters. So sad the author took his own life.
I read the novel about 9 years ago (by chance - my boss's daughter claimed once that my person shows strong similarities to certain Ignacius from an American novel - I bought a Czech translation in the same day.) Now I am reading it again - so I am looking for other peoples opinions and experience. Thanks for your review of the novel. I would like to recommend you Chech humour novel from similar rank: www.amazon.com/Good-Soldier-Svejk-Fortunes-Classics/dp/0140449914 PS: You are so beautiful geek that my pyloric valve has hard tendency to be in the upper position.
Hi I love your channel! Most of the books you reviewed are also the books that I’m currently planning to read. Since you like standup comedy and funny books, you should check out Norm Macdonald’s Based on a True Story.
thepearlreview Oh yes, his standup and book are great! Although it’s quite marketed as a memoir, it really is a comedic novel. I think I read from an interview that he had to accommodate within the constraints so it would get published. He’s also very passionate about literature particularly with the Russian classics so you might see some influence in it. If you could check it out, I would love to hear your thoughts about it. Also looking forward to more of your reviews.
In the first one minute and 19 seconds I think you described woke Democrats. You forgot to mention that he won the Pulitzer prize as his first published novel. Also there are at least two biographies about John Kennedy Toole, plus another book called Managing Ignatius how about the real life manager's experience working at Lucky Dog, the hot dog vendor company in the French Quarter. *Of the two biographies I prefer the one written by two women.
I think you missed the note of sadness in the novel. Perhaps you are just not old enough to hear it. In a sense, Ignatius is right in his rebellion against the modern world, and his voice, his lonely voice, is disappearing forever. All of his fears about the corruption of the world are coming true.
Try "Breakfast Of Champions", by Kurt Vonnegut. If you liked "A Confederacy Of Dunces" you'll love it. It is more to the point and less wordy than the the lofty Ignatius J. Riley musings, and quite funny.
Look for the sequel to this wonderful work entitled A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES MARCHES ON! Follow Ignatius and his cohort, Myrna Minkoff as they fight the craziness in the Big Apple. LOOK FOR IT!!!
@@webrambler88 I'm assuming you have a brain. Sequels are written all the time. Gone With The Wind has a sequel. Wizard Of Oz has a sequel. NOW do you get it? Good.
@@austinteutsch I'm assuming you have a brain too... Do you really think another writer can come up with a sequel that will measure up to Toole's masterpiece? Very unlikely...
@@webrambler88 Maybe, maybe not. Sounds like you're one of those heady assholes who think if it's perfection, don't touch it. Tell that to Margaret Mitchell's heirs or L. Frank Baum's heirs. I'm sure they don't care when the mailbox money is coming in. BTW I'm a pretty good writer with a slanted sense of humor like Toole. I wouldn't attempt such a feat if I didn't think I could do it justice. My book will be out in spring of 2020 and we'll let the public decide. I'll send you a copy and see what you think. I take Ignatius and Myrna to New York City into a new army of idiots. When I talked to JKT"s mother in 1984, she said "It would be so fine for you to do a book like my boy did." So I'm gonna do like she said. Wish me luck!!
Ignatius in the theater, hate-watching the movies is basically internet culture condensed to one chapter.
I love that Ignatius watches television and goes to films he knows he'll hate just so he can be a condescending jerk. Every one of the characters in the book is hilarious and I love this book dearly.
Finally, a booktuber who doesn't treat books as a fashion accessory and actually has something meaningful to say about them. Great review, and I think your spot on about its appeal.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself laughing out loud nearly the whole way through. Its literary value is a nice bonus.
The Crusade for Moorish Dignity. 🤣
I think one of the most interesting aspects of Ignatius character, is that he eventually makes the people around him look as bad. This is seen in the final chapters, where his mother's integrity is called into question. It reminds me of the saying "Never argue with a fool... someone might arrive during the argument and not be able to tell who the fool is?" His faults become contagion.
I enjoyed the slow reveal regarding his mom.
Great point!
I loved this book and the main character. It feels both timeless and of the time it was written (60’s). I feel so sad that toole died so young and didn’t get the opportunity to see his novel win a Pulitzer after being rejected for so many years-who knows what he could’ve achieved had he gotten help.
Thank you - we can see how genuine you are, much appreciated. Keep it up!
I just bought this book in a shop in Limerick, Ireland. I heard a lot people talk about this book. I hope it's good what people say.
I think Nichole hit it right on the head. This book had me laughing out load absolutely hilarious. The book was written perfectly but what Pulitzer isn't. There was a couple times I had to pull out the dictionary but it never took away from the enjoyment I got from reading the book. Just to bad the people he was taking the book to never saw how brilliant he was. If he never committed suicide I believe he would have written many classics.
How have I not come across this channel? This is such a great review.
I felt like while Ignatious was condescending and yes, an asshole, he was also terrified of the world around him. A sad but truly engaging character, with Myrna Minkoff as his savior.
I agree; he could not survive in the world and was extremely vulnerable. I think that's part of what makes the book interesting, too - there is something really sad about him and his mother under the hilarious stuff.
Absolutely... I remember when it finally dawned on me how much his repulsion of the world was his response to and protection from further rejection by the world.
His high school memory and his actions at the "kickoff rally" cemented that idea to me.
Greetings from New Orleans and I enjoyed your review. I've always described New Orleans as a constant one act play, while growing up in the big easy with many colorful characters at every turn. There was a lady named Ruthie the "Duck lady", who roamed in the French quarter by Jackson square. A fun town with many street hustlers.
Well said. I just shared this with a friend to help the recommendation.
Well done!
Ignatious was my advisor who refused to give me my Masters Degree because I was too boring for the degree, not because my work was boring. :D
Many years ago,my brother gave me this book,it is his favorite book.
He considered giving me his personal copy,but it is tattered ,tape bound and falling apart.
He sent me a new copy.
I never have laugh at the written word as much as I have with this book.
And(no spoiler),the end made me absolutely cry🥲
When I read it I thought it was more sad than funny, but I also just kind of read it, not really getting into what the book was about. I'll have to re read it because now I feel like I'll be in on the joke more.
Great review/commentary. But I do find it unsettling -- Jack Black would make a brilliant Ignacious if a movie could/would ever be made. Do you think the book lends itself to a movie? I do!
I think Galifianakis would have been good: collider.com/confederacy-of-dunces-zach-galifianakis-james-bobin/
No, Artie Lange
I've also seen some stage productions of it with Nick Offerman, and he did a pretty good job as well.
While reading the book...I too thought of Jack Black as the main character.
I've just decided to start reading and this channel is a gem
Thank you!!
The book is hilarious.
I've read this book way more than once. I'm 66 yr and laugh all the way through every time, Highly reccommend
Concise review. The one I send with an audiobook share. Thanking you
Wonderful and spot on review. I just ordered Tristram Shandy based on your recommendation. Do you have a list of the greatest comedies of all time?
My favorite book. The most entertaining read ever. I highly recommend the audio book recording, done by Barrett Whitener, who gives distinct vocal portrayals to over 20 different characters. Be careful driving while listening, you may have to pull over a few times.
By far the best reader I have ever listened to---wait--to which I have listened. He didn't just read this book, he captured each character he voiced.
Thanks for reminding me to read this again!
it is also an excellent satire of the 60s and it's cultural mindset.I was a teenager then and the writer had it's spirit down to a tee.
I'm wondering if Ignatius would have hate-watched the adaption of his own life... Hollywood tried and failed to make "A Confederacy of Dunces" into a movie dozens of times. I just finished reading Stephan Eicke's book "The Unfilmable Confederacy of Dunces - How Ignatius J. Reilly Defeated Hollywood", and it's crazy what went wrong with the proposed films... from lawsuits to killings to accidental deaths and backstabbing... highly recommended
I'm sure Ignatius would have attended the movie, but he would also have stood up at some point early in the movie and called it an "ABORTION!!!!"
Thank you, Pearl (?) You are so pleasant to listen to. One of my favorites is Walker Percy. I understand he helped get Dunces published. So now, I will get a copy. :-)
This is a hilarious book. Laughs on every page. Thank you Billy Connolly for the recommendation.
I loved this book. It is absolutely ridiculous and hilarious . Billy Connoly recommended it on a documentary I recently watched. Being a fellow Scotsman I took his advice and bought the book.
Ignatius J Reilly, jeezo where do you start when describing this singular character. I suppose the books description sums him up perfectly : eloquent, flatulent and pretty much unemployable.
For me, the greatest part of the book was the fiery correspondence between him and Myrna. The ideological and political jousting was so well written it had me in hysterics.
Please do yourself a favour and read this book.
Nice review. I totally agree. I just finished it today and cannot recommend it enough. It's a masterpiece!
I'm glad you loved it, too! Thank you so much!
I dont feel like he was unaware of the world around him. Having read Boethius and other many books he musta asumed that he had known the Ins and Outs of the World and fair enough he did know.In my opinion I could connect to the character and his mother of course but that may be because I am deeply attached to my own.Remember a mention in the book that says while he was working in the library he managed to stick 4 name tags at the back of the book through a whole day and that the quality of his work was what he was proud of,now they can find another who would ruin those expensive Classiscs for all he cares.This book is a Great Tool for finding yourself and the people that you know in and among the characters.Ignatius is a character who as per me is shown to have a Second brain one that is highly developed and speaks not through his brain but his second brain i.e his guts and thus faces the problem in this world where everybody is onto something selfish and impure and thus have to think what comes out of their mouth while he being pure can say whatever first forms in his gut.
Please keep doing your videos. Excellent !
So much fun to read. Definitely one of the best though I just finished and wonder what happens next.
Great review! Thank you for posting! :)
Thank you!
A worthy book. I discovered it via an article in the Wall Street Journal. Ends well, too. However, that it was written by such a genuinely disturbed person takes it from comic to a genuine exposition of despair. So, less happy. Amazing his mother believed in it so much and had the energy to get it published- to classic acclaim. Ignacious lacks faith. Enjoyable go-over.
Well put!
Please urgent..I need someone to answer my question!
I wanna know if there's any "scapegoating" theme in the Confederacy of dunces..you know the scapegoat mechanism by Renè Girardi.
I got this book years ago because of a recommendation but never got around to reading it. I don't know what its about so thank you for posting.
I remember relating this book to Catcher in the Rye when I read it.
I have read that John bulshi and Richard Pryor were approached about being in the movie. This book is the funniest book I have ever read.
"Ridiculous White Savior" could have even been the title Lol
2:25 I see what you did there lol
You made some good analytical points that I appreciate! In particular, I really enjoyed the concept of Ignatius as the "funhouse mirror" reflection of all of us know-it-all, "The-book-was-better" folks lol
Just finished this book! Hated it. Didn’t think it was that clever. I guess I just don’t “get it”
My favorite part is the letter he writes to Abelman lmao.
A novel I wrote was published in January. It is an homage to CoD called Merlin of the Magnolias. Can I send you a copy?
I'll buy a copy! Just let me know where : )
Has good reviews! Local bookstore can get it for me if the library can't
Made me laugh out loud uncontrollably on the subway first time I read it... like shout level laughing...
It's a great read, funnest book I've ever read!
Just starting this after finishing a bit of Bukowski. And maybe it’s the Hank rubbing off but I have to say I find you wildly attractive.
Reading it now. Came here for some perspective on it. Thanks for the review. As a side note and respectfully: Please try to be cognizant of and take a good look at how often you say, “uhnmm.” It detracts from your messaging.
I’m reading this book for school and I’m being asked to state the message of the book in one sentence, and I can’t quite figure it out. What would you say Toole is trying to tell the reader through this book?
I'm not sure, but I think it's to do with Ignatius' behavior, maybe?
One of best books ever wrote.
I like Ignatius talking about "torn genitals" in the French Quarter, resulting from nights of hard partying.
I have a friend, actually a reincarniation of Ignatius who recommended me this book🤔😊
Reading it just now. Ignatius is so horrible to everyone, more so his poor mother. Really enjoying getting to know the different characters. So sad the author took his own life.
I read the novel about 9 years ago (by chance - my boss's daughter claimed once that my person shows strong similarities to certain Ignacius from an American novel - I bought a Czech translation in the same day.)
Now I am reading it again - so I am looking for other peoples opinions and experience. Thanks for your review of the novel.
I would like to recommend you Chech humour novel from similar rank: www.amazon.com/Good-Soldier-Svejk-Fortunes-Classics/dp/0140449914
PS: You are so beautiful geek that my pyloric valve has hard tendency to be in the upper position.
The best book ever…
Hi I love your channel! Most of the books you reviewed are also the books that I’m currently planning to read. Since you like standup comedy and funny books, you should check out Norm Macdonald’s Based on a True Story.
Thank you so much! I loved Norm Macdonald during his SNL days and he seems to be making a comeback, I will have to see what's up to.
thepearlreview Oh yes, his standup and book are great! Although it’s quite marketed as a memoir, it really is a comedic novel. I think I read from an interview that he had to accommodate within the constraints so it would get published. He’s also very passionate about literature particularly with the Russian classics so you might see some influence in it.
If you could check it out, I would love to hear your thoughts about it. Also looking forward to more of your reviews.
I know two people that are so much like Ignatius. They think they know everything, but can't hold a job or take care of themselves.
In the first one minute and 19 seconds I think you described woke Democrats. You forgot to mention that he won the Pulitzer prize as his first published novel. Also there are at least two biographies about John Kennedy Toole, plus another book called Managing Ignatius how about the real life manager's experience working at Lucky Dog, the hot dog vendor company in the French Quarter. *Of the two biographies I prefer the one written by two women.
Ignacious Reilly reminds me of someone on the autistic spectrum; the higher functioning parts. Maybe the dysfunctional parts...
I think you missed the note of sadness in the novel. Perhaps you are just not old enough to hear it. In a sense, Ignatius is right in his rebellion against the modern world, and his voice, his lonely voice, is disappearing forever. All of his fears about the corruption of the world are coming true.
Funniest book I ever read :-)
Try "Breakfast Of Champions", by Kurt Vonnegut. If you liked "A Confederacy Of Dunces" you'll love it. It is more to the point and less wordy than the the lofty Ignatius J. Riley musings, and quite funny.
good review for a great book
I keep burping....
You said, "asshole"! You cursed. What was that like for you?
Yeah I guess i don't get the hummor.
Mental health matter.
Look for the sequel to this wonderful work entitled A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES MARCHES ON! Follow Ignatius and his cohort, Myrna Minkoff as they fight the craziness in the Big Apple. LOOK FOR IT!!!
How come? The writer died long ago!
@@webrambler88 I'm assuming you have a brain. Sequels are written all the time. Gone With The Wind has a sequel. Wizard Of Oz has a sequel. NOW do you get it? Good.
@@austinteutsch I'm assuming you have a brain too... Do you really think another writer can come up with a sequel that will measure up to Toole's masterpiece? Very unlikely...
@@webrambler88 Maybe, maybe not. Sounds like you're one of those heady assholes who think if it's perfection, don't touch it. Tell that to Margaret Mitchell's heirs or L. Frank Baum's heirs. I'm sure they don't care when the mailbox money is coming in. BTW I'm a pretty good writer with a slanted sense of humor like Toole. I wouldn't attempt such a feat if I didn't think I could do it justice. My book will be out in spring of 2020 and we'll let the public decide. I'll send you a copy and see what you think. I take Ignatius and Myrna to New York City into a new army of idiots. When I talked to JKT"s mother in 1984, she said "It would be so fine for you to do a book like my boy did." So I'm gonna do like she said. Wish me luck!!
austin teutsch you genuinely sound like Ignatius J. Reilly.