ha ha ha ha haI don't know what I thought this book was going to be about, especially as it was a Pulitzer Prize winner for Fiction in 1981. Often, award winning books are, important or precious. This was more of Seinfeld meets Abbot and Costello. How have I never heard of Ignatius J Reilly before? Because he is a character like no other in popular fiction and hopefully not in real life either. I was feeling a little of the eccentricity of Kramer crossed with the boorishness of George Costanza. So I laughed. A lot.
The story behind the novel is quite tragic. Toole wrote the book and tried to get it published for years. After his suicide, his mother persevered and the book was eventually published, but this is the only book by Toole. Full of interesting characters, Ignatius spreads havoc wherever he goes. A thirty year old still living home in one of the most dysfunctional mother-son relationships, Ignatius is educated, and delusional. His adventures begin when his mother insists he needs to get a job to help out with money.
As Ignatius goes through several jobs he meets more interesting characters. (Quite honestly, all these southern books are scaring me a little. I know there are stereotypes at play, but are southerners truly this strange? I remember the old Burt Reynolds comedy with oddballs wandering around and thinking, how strange. Does nobody work? How many eccentrics can be in one small town?) All the characters and their seemingly disparate lives will eventually be connected, just like the best of the Seinfeld episodes. New Orleans is a character itself, but I couldn't help thinking how different the city is probably now after Hurricane Katrina.
I loved all the minor characters, especially Patrolman Mancuso and his undercover assignments, and the sub story involving the homosexual community on Bourbon Street, not that there is anything wrong with that. I seemed unusual for a book written in the sixties to include such references; it felt more modern.
This counts for my third Southern Reading Challenge book and it is also an Award Winning Book for that challenge. Well worth the read and a nice diversion in the summer.
It's been a long time since I read A Confederacy of Dunces, but it is such a unique read. There are images that have stuck with me. I've always thought it's so sad that the author didn't live to write more.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favourite books ever. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI laughed a lot when reading this. But at the same time the self-depreciative humour made me sad at times, especially when one considers Toole's life. And I agree - the characters are definitely memorable.
Thanks for the excellent review! I am definitely going to add this to my list! How did I miss that one??
ReplyDeleteI am also interested to read your review of "Pope Joan". I have had that in my TBR list for AGES and have never gotten around to it. After reading some of the non fiction books on the topic, it should be an interesting read!
Hi again! Thanks for the link to your review. I am definitely moving it up in my book queue!!! I think it could quite possibly be true as well. I think it is going to be a movie!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd read the Helene Hanff book! It can be read in an afternoon and was very enjoyable!!
Cheers! Kate
RaiderGirl, I'm so sorry, I missed most of your selections! Now, I see this is the last one! I know what happen, there is another member with adventure in their blog title and I confused the two. Please, forgive me!
ReplyDeleteI see you have read some really fun books, almost like you have spent your summer laughing in the South. Thanks so much for participating and talking about all the wonderful books.
I'm currently conducting a "Sense of Place" contest if you are interested.
Southerners scare you, huh-well, boo! :D