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marina_ofthesea's review against another edition
3.0
So the plot came together in the end and all the weird loose ends made sense (mostly, not Dr. Talc, however) but I must agree with others who said that they didn't like ANY of the characters in this book. And maybe that was the point? I also didn't really find this book funny at all. Perhaps it went over my head.
billygene's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
outcolder's review against another edition
4.0
The plot is amazing, like a classic comedy, like Shakespeare or Moliere or something... there are all these crazy units, like Levy Pants and the Night of Joy, that are settings but also groups of characters... but then it isn't just that the protagonist wrecks havoc in one after the other... it all comes together. And it doesn't all come together in a Blues Brothers way, like, hey, everybody whose had anything to do with this guy is in a big pie fight at the end... no... it comes together in a strange pattern that somehow makes sense and has a kind of justice about it. So that really blew me away, like how does a writer have that all mapped out? Did Toole just keep adding new units and then going back in the re-writes to plant the seeds? Or did he have it all mapped out in advance?
Well, it's been nearly 40 years since it was published and probably a lot longer since a lot of it was written and... well... Toole is doing this thing that happens in Southern (USA) humor that is a good thing, you know, addressing the legacy of slavery and other social issues with humor and he does it I think with a lot of sensitivity... I mean, for example, the "hero" writes this journal entry about how he is trying to help the African American workers at Levy Pants and he does this kind of patronizing racism thing that is funny and then there are African American characters in the book who are smart and funny... and even though I think 99% of the race stuff in here is good stuff, I suspect that a lot of people would find it offensive... Whoa... and then when Toole does something similar with the French Quarter homosexual scene... well... it ain't exactly [b:Tales of the City|16255|Tales of the City (Tales of the City, #1)|Armistead Maupin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1483075229s/16255.jpg|815206]. And I suspect that that kind of humor has an expiration date, you know? There's a thing in here where the main character doesn't like Mark Twain... and that in itself would make people laugh in 1980 probably... like what a buffoon... who doesn't like Mark Twain... meanwhile, in 2018, people are like, yeah, take Mark Twain off the reading list...
So maybe in ten years this review will make me wince a little, but I laughed the whole time I was reading this, and I was reading this in a hospital, in pain, and all that kind of crap, so...
I did have the feeling that Toole was getting close to the bone for me personally a couple of times. I'm also some kind of asshole who thinks very highly of his own worldview. I just haven't developed an anxiety disorder with extreme psychosomatic symptoms yet.
Well, it's been nearly 40 years since it was published and probably a lot longer since a lot of it was written and... well... Toole is doing this thing that happens in Southern (USA) humor that is a good thing, you know, addressing the legacy of slavery and other social issues with humor and he does it I think with a lot of sensitivity... I mean, for example, the "hero" writes this journal entry about how he is trying to help the African American workers at Levy Pants and he does this kind of patronizing racism thing that is funny and then there are African American characters in the book who are smart and funny... and even though I think 99% of the race stuff in here is good stuff, I suspect that a lot of people would find it offensive... Whoa... and then when Toole does something similar with the French Quarter homosexual scene... well... it ain't exactly [b:Tales of the City|16255|Tales of the City (Tales of the City, #1)|Armistead Maupin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1483075229s/16255.jpg|815206]. And I suspect that that kind of humor has an expiration date, you know? There's a thing in here where the main character doesn't like Mark Twain... and that in itself would make people laugh in 1980 probably... like what a buffoon... who doesn't like Mark Twain... meanwhile, in 2018, people are like, yeah, take Mark Twain off the reading list...
So maybe in ten years this review will make me wince a little, but I laughed the whole time I was reading this, and I was reading this in a hospital, in pain, and all that kind of crap, so...
I did have the feeling that Toole was getting close to the bone for me personally a couple of times. I'm also some kind of asshole who thinks very highly of his own worldview. I just haven't developed an anxiety disorder with extreme psychosomatic symptoms yet.
mischagal's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Smart & funny!
aoiyeyo's review against another edition
4.75
I’ve never read a book that made me laugh every time I opened it up. It’s a really unique and exciting book. Great storytelling, fun plot. Weird yet realistic insane characters. It did make me slightly depressed, but it was a good book.
issyt's review against another edition
3.5
I really enjoyed it but it wasn't as funny as i thought it was going to be. The main character Ignatius got on my nerves, and despite his high level of education was extremely stupid and child like, i did feel bad for him towards the end. The only tolerable character was Jones as all he wanted was a decent wage