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/lit/ - Literature

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5099799 No.5099799[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

I just read this on a whim after someone on Omegle recommended it to me. It was fantastic. I'm really curious as to what everybody else thought of it. It amazes me that it was written in the early 60's because it's way ahead of its time, considering a lot of the ideas expressed seem modern, and people like Ignatius and Myrna are ubiquitous in today's society. But for the most part Toole doesn't go out of his way to get you to approve or disapprove of any of the characters. For example, Irene, Santa, Jones, Gus Levy, etc. are portrayed in a pretty straightforward and unbiased manner. I thought this book pretty much had everything.

>dat New Orleans
>dat comedy
>dat decent writing

And also the ending. Like with most of the characters, Toole just sets it down in front of you and it's up to you to decide how you feel about it. I thought it was awesome -- the reader finally gets to see Ignatius and Myrna meet up in person after sending letters (reminds me of the age of the Internet, and Myrna is actually wearing fucking non-prescription hipster glasses), there's the swell of urgency built up when you're wondering whether Ignatius will get out of his house in time to avoid the Charity Hospital people, and dat surprising catharsis when he actually does, and is on the road to New York City. And you wonder if he's on the way to actually doing something worthwhile and having worthwhile experiences.

I don't know, I just loved it. Thoughts?

>> No.5099854

>>5099799
It was great, it was all about the comedy, and the comedy was ahead of its time. I read the whole thing picturing Will Ferrell as Ignatius; his dialogue is almost exactly like Ferrell's anchorman persona. Probably the only book I've ever read that made me laugh out loud.

>> No.5099908

>>5099799
I liked the book, it was classic, but I just don't think it's the right genre for any laugh out loud humour.

>> No.5100111

>>5099799
Loved it. I'm reading it for a second time, and I agree that the commentary is spot on. Oblivious, self-important do-gooders are loathsome, and I thought Toole did a good job of showing their problems without ranting.

I like the portrayal of the tyrannical approaches Myrna, Mrs. Levy, and Ignatius take towards their objects. I think a lot of "liberals" are guilty of having an inflexible attitude towards alternative ideas, and are unwittingly guilty of constantly and unapologetically imposing their own ways on others, as shown by Mrs. Levy and Myrna. I especially like Ignatius for the self-awareness he shows by longing for a king and a return to a reign of absolute moral values, although his attempts at reform are just as inept as anybody else's.

>> No.5100164

>>5099854
I imagine David Huddleston's act as "the millionaire" Lebowski. I heard that Nick Offerman might play Ignatius, and I'll be upset if he does his usual snarky character acting: he seems to always be "in" on the joke. I think the part needs to be played as straight as possible, since Ignatius doesn't betray an ounce of self-flagellative instinct.

>> No.5100900
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5100900

>> No.5101031

I found the book hilarious because Ignatius made me think of /lit/ as a person in real life.

>> No.5101038

>>5099799
Rationalwiki said it described the rise of the reactionary movement of today. What does it have to do with reactionary politics?

>> No.5101039

>>5100111
You thought Ignatius showed self-awareness?

>> No.5101065

>>5099799
Yes, it is midly interesting that Iggy and Myrna could perfectly fit into any hipster-cliché environment, what with all the lute playing and so on.

>> No.5103082

bump

>> No.5103088

>>5101065
I love that about it. Just imagine them in the village having drinks with Allen Ginsberg or Bob Dylan.

>> No.5103363

Don Quixote did it better and five hundred years before.

>> No.5103384

>>5100111
The Ignatius / Myrna doubling thing was really cool because it showed how you have the same kind of idiots on both sides of the political spectrum.

>> No.5103397

>>5100900
Terry Gilliam would make it too goofy and Hollywood. He's incredibly overrated as a director, he has literally one good film (brazil) and a whole load of rambling toneless pieces of crap made all the more frustrating because they have good ideas executed so poorly (12 monkeys, parnassus, fisher king)

>> No.5103402

>>5103397
Then who?

>> No.5103411

>live near New Orleans
>still haven't read this

is it really that great?

>> No.5103418

>>5103411
Yes, but I've never been to New Orleans. Maybe your experience will make it better or worse.

>> No.5103431

>>5103411
I've been to New Orleans. You simply must read this book.

>> No.5103446

>>5103431
>>5103418
I'm going next week. I'll buy a copy at one of those great crowded-ass used book shops in the French Quarter

>> No.5103460
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5103460

I want to read this but damn all the covers are shit. Is this the only good cover of this book?

>> No.5103464
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5103464

>>5099799
Pretty good, I did the audio book a couple of times while I was at 'work'.

I have heard so many similar philosophies I didn't find it that revolutionary, like listening to a more refined Carlin.

We like to think of ourselves, the independent self as extremely enlightened and intelligent but this ignores entirely the social spectrum in which we all live, the horde is ignorant and always will be in comparison but this doesn't really mean anything in itself other than monkey see monkey do.

I can suggest you look up Bullshit and the art of bullshit, there are several good reads on that topic.

>> No.5103868
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5103868

>>5103460
I also like this one. It's got a nostalgic old children's book kind of vibe to it.

>> No.5104225

>>5103397
hes a visual director, what do you expect? and also the fisher king is good

>> No.5104234

>>5099799
Ignatius is the OG Neckbeard. I could see him on /pol/ and /r9k/.

>> No.5104241

Am I the only one that thinks the books is supposed to be funny and fun and have zero social commentary? All the satirical parts of it are really everyday occurrences that are made funny (sassy black people! Douchy liberals!) no deep meaning, just one hilarious book.

>> No.5104593

bump

>> No.5104737

>>5104241

Books can be entertaining anon, now that you know it try to explain it to /lit/.

>> No.5104786

>>5103397
>Terry Gilliam
>Too Hollywood
What the fuck? You only seen that Brothers Grimm thing or something?

>has literally one good film
Brazil (Not "brazil")
Time Bandits
12 Monkeys
Fisher King
Baron Munchausen
Fear and Loathing

Snobs!

>> No.5104800

>>5104786
W-what about Life of Brian?

>> No.5104809

>>5104786

bless you for defending a wonderful mind

>> No.5104831

>>5104800
YEAH.

And I liked Tideland. Creepy-sweet

And he made an italian short
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUEy6R5RAQE
>>5104809
>Salutes

>> No.5104839

>>5104786
>Brazil (Not "brazil")

you realise that that's the same word?
or do you have one of those brain disorders or something?

>> No.5104850

>>5104839
Gentleman, please calm down.

>> No.5104855

>>5104850
i can't, i am permanently angry at everything i read on account of a different brain disorder

>> No.5104870

>>5104855

Sounds like a brain disorder to me.