This is one of the books read by the Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons book club. Picked it up at a library used book sale.

From the back cover: "Ignatius J. Reilly is a 30-year-old, self-proclaimed genius out to reform the entire 20th century, which doesn't leave him much time for an ordinary 9-5 job! Then one day, Mrs. Reilly pushes her reluctant son out of the nest and into the working world -- a decision with unforeseeably hilarious results. The born-to-clash Ignatius takes on a colorful cast of characters as he roams through the city of New Orleans, leaving chaos in his wake."

This was billed as one of the funniest books ever written, a "gross farce," "a blustering satire," "superbly mad." Although there were some funny moments and ridiculous situations, it wasn't the kind of book I enjoy.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize
An American Library Association (ALA) Notable Book and on the list of 1001 books to read before you die.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to rainflower as part of a trade she requested.

Caught in a trade from Pinklady60. Thank you! I look forward to reading this.

I really didn't find this that funny. I finished it because I wanted to know what happened.

Passing on to Sistermadilou.

I put this book on my wish list because a former colleague, a real bookhead, said it was among his favorite books ever. Thank you rainflower for passing it along.
While not my top fave book ever, I found Ignatius C. Reilly, the main character, darkly funny in his pomposity and hypochondria, his gluttony and sloth, and the fixations of his virginal yet twisted sexuality. The author's brilliance is that he gets you cheering on the exploits of this grotesque, self-important underdog.
Particularly fascinating for me were the richly imagined-- or reported-- scenes within the gay subculture of early 1960s New Orleans.
The vaudevillian plot devices generally worked for me, as did some of the rather broadly drawn minor characters.
I was uncomfortable with the way Jones, the one substantial black charater, is drawn. I got it that he was smarter than half the characters but the Stepin Fechit dialect often made me wince.
About 2/3 of the way through reading someone told me that Ignatius was based on the author, who killed himself before the book found a publisher. I googled up more info on Toole, which greatly enriched the remainder of my reading.

Thanks so much for the RABCK Sistermadilou!

My first impression was that this book was a real "hoot". However, after reading the previous journal entries, I'm not sure what I'll make of it. Needless to say, I'm going to give it a "go" and then let everyone know!

Thanks again!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:


I'm cleaning off my bookshelf and giving this book to the library for the book sale in May.