A Confederacy of Dunces

This is a book about a stupid smart person and lots of stupid stupid people. That cast of characters is bound to be funny, but also to bring out every cynical tendency you have ever had. I didn't dislike it because it's bad. A Confederacy of Dunces is, as every other review points out, pretty brilliant. I disliked it because it left me with the same apathetic and jaded feeling I had after reading Catch 22.

This is either a staggering work of genius or the mad scribblings of someone who...well, is a mad scribbler.

Enjoyable enough, but not really my cup of tea. Glad I finally got around to reading it, though.

Short review: This is the second time I have tried to read this book. I got further this time. But honestly, I just don't care about these people.

Ugh. So annoying. So depressing. So full of stupid, obnoxious, bumbling, prejudiced characters. I stuck it out through the whole book hoping anyone was going to get what they deserved. I needn't have bothered.

Yes, OK, I get it. It's a farce that brilliantly illustrates the inherent absurdity of humanity and the tragic unfairness of the world. Blech.

Ignatius J. Reilly ist ein pseudo-intelektueller fetter Riese ohne die geringsten Manieren. Er lebt in New Orleans zusammen mit seiner Mutter, die ihn schliesslich zwingt einen Job anzunehmen. Zuerst landet er bei Levy Pants und zettelt eine Revolte an. Danach versucht er sein Glück als Hot-Dog Verkäufer, wird allerdings selbst sein bester Kunde. Am Ende zwingen die Konsequenzen dieser Erlebnisse ihn dazu zusammen mit seiner College-Romanze Myrna - einer sex-besessenen Radikalen - aus New Orleans zu fliehen.

I read this in the 1980's and loved it. I don't remember more than that, so I'm not sure how I'd see it today, but it was recommended by someone special so...