Final Impressions: A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole - March 2021

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Comments on this board are made with the assumption that readers have finished the book and may include spoilers.
This book has been read and discussed multiple times by the group. You can read other people’s thoughts on the book here.

[Brian]

This was my first time reading this novel and I have to say.... I LOVED it. So well written, so much packed into these simple characters and so much can be drawn out of each of them.

The major connection I drew from these characters to our modern society is that each character, while seemingly caring about others, was ultimately only concerned with themselves and their own welfare. They all played the roll of either victim, villain, or hero. The problem is that each of those positions needs the other, so their actions are geared towards perpetuating the other two rolls. This creates a completely selfish cycle in which people can’t think outsider themselves. I think it’s easy for us to “look down” on these confederacy of dunces, but is our society any better?

Would love to re-read again soon!

BW

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

You have lots of company on the love side Brian. Thanks for contributing. It's a different take on this book, but interesting to think about.