I’m about 200 pages into this book and those pages were a struggle. I’ve wanted to quit a few times, but once I start a book, I have this weird rule that I must finish it. I’ve invested time into it and if I quit now it would be time wasted. John Kennedy Toole’s biography is what attracted me to the book. I was intrigued that it was published after Toole killed himself because he couldn’t get published. That Walker Percy decided to publish it intrigued me further. It won a Pulitzer. It’s set in New Orleans, one of my favorite cities. I was certain it would instantly become one of my favorite books. Not the case. Ignatius J. Reilly kind of pisses me off and there isn’t another character in there that I like. I question why I’m spending so much time with them. It is funny. I’ll give it that The hot dog vending scene had me laughing. But I can’t find any way to connect with Reilly. I don’t empathize with him. I’ve got 200 pages left and maybe I’ll “get it” when I finish. Maybe the greatness of this book becomes clear at the end. Has anyone else had this response while reading A Confederacy of Dunces?
Nic Schuck 
No, I loves the moron from the first page 🙂
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I feel bad for not liking him.
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Why? He’s a terrible person, it’s totally in your right. I just loved watching the mess…
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I feel bad for the dude. Maybe it’s because I know the author’s story prior to reading this and I’m projecting him into the character. Something I fear people will do to me with my characters.
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I adored this book and feel terrible you aren’t having the same experience. I found the satire so amusing and caught myself laughing out loud throughout. I do believe you have to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. It’s not a shitty romantic comedy you can breeze through in any mood. Maybe put it down and revisit it.
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I’m afraid that I’m holding back laughing of the ridiculousness of it. I feel it’s almost like making fun of the drunk guy. While funny, there is more sadness than humor.
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Oh it’s certainly sad. He’s an awfully pathetic character, but the satire is well done and I feel as though the author would want us to chuckle our way through the read – it was so cleverly written.
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