Anybody read "A Confederacy of Dunces?"?

Question

I am reading the book, almost done with it. I dont understand the whole historical point of it, but it is funny at times. I dont see why it won some award. What did you think of the book?

Answer 1

Well, it is a classic of the American Novel, and the characters are drawn so well, so large, so disgustingly, palpably, human, and the plot is one greatest farces since Shakespeare, and really, it is an impressive book to read compared to any novel.

The Pulitzer Prize was awarded posthumously for this book, perhaps the only time that has happened.

Walker Percy, who helped to get it published (Toole was dead before that), called it "this gargantuan tumultuous human tragicomedy."

But in the end, you perhaps should compare this more to the sagas of Huck Finn, Holden Caulfield, and perhaps George Milton from Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men.

Here is an antihero of course, but one whose every disgusting action actually enhances the lives of others (accidentally, and never intentionally).

It is also excellent writing, powerful and illuminating prose that sustains a narrative for almost 400 pages. And some of the sentences are pure poetry, such as the very first: "A green hunting cap squeezed the large, fleshy balloon of a head."

It is good farce, and certainly it gives us a greater understanding of pre-Katrina New Orleans, if nothing else.

I don't know if it has a historical point, other than to show New Orleans as a seedy little backwater, peopled with the superstitious culture of the gulf coast underclass.

Anyway, I enjoyed it immensely.

Answer 2

No question, it's an uncomfortable story. It's the perspective of an introvert in the most extrovert of cities. Not to mention the tension of sexual orientiation in the 1960s.

I think the book did do well because it was published to a more appreciative audience some 15 or so years after it was written. H

Answer 3

It was a real laugh! It went off a bit at the end though.
I was sorry the guy offed himself after getting it rejected so many times, but the world of publishing is full of whores and you just have to accept it.

Answer 4

I thought it was funny, although I didn't understand why it won the Pulitzer either. It seemed to lose its plot towards the end.

I did feel bad for the poor mother, though!

Answer 5

Dude it quite is the terrific e book I even have EVER examine in my total total existence. have you ever examine New Moon, or Eclispe. i won't be ready to attend til the subsequent e book comes out next 12 months. I completely could commerce places with Bella. Edward.........he's in order that suited. I completely love him. are you able to belive they are making a action picture out of that e book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

It's brilliant. I've read it several times and it always made me laugh out loud.

Answer 7

I didn't get the purpose.