On the prow of the wagon,

On the prow of the wagon, in an attempt to attract business among the Quarterites, Ignatius taped a sheet of Big Chief paper on which he had printed in crayon: TWELVE INCHES (12”) OF PARADISE. So far no one had responded to its message.

The Alley was filled with well-dressed ladies in large hats. Ignatius pointed the prow of the wagon into the throng and pushed forward. A woman read the Big Chief statement and screamed, summoning her companions to draw aside from the ghastly apparition that had appeared at their art show.

“Hot dogs, ladies?” Ignatius asked pleasantly

The ladies eyes studied the sign, the erring, the scarf, the cutlass, and pleaded for him to move along. Rain for their hanging would have been bad enough , but this.

“Hot dogs, hot dogs, “ Ignatius said a little angrily, “Savories from the hygienic Paradise kitchen.”


A Confederacy of Dunces…. John Kennedy Toole.

I loved the caustic exchanges between Ignatius and the girl (can't remember her name) in the long, long insulting letters they wrote to each other.

And the whole bit about making the sign at the office he worked at, taking days to do it...

Such a funny book, and also insightful and thought provoking.

One of these days I need to read it again.

His savior. LOL

I'll go into the house and shut the door.

and so I'm feeling a little nervous about this:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340054/

It could turn out very well and I certainly hope it does, but I also think there's a high potential for disaster here. How do y'all feel about the idea of even attempting a film of this book, let alone these casting choices?

Lily Tomlin as his mom - excellent casting there!

I just hope they can keep the tone of the book in a movie. I think it's gonna be tough to redact it down to 2 hours or less.

I cannot think of anyone else for that part.

Gleason would also be good, but might not have the right amount of sort of idiosyncratic genius and subdued chaotic emotionalism of Ignatius. But then again, he might have!

Walker Percy is another of my favorite Southern writers. However, just imagine what John Kennedy Toole could be writing now. He might have eclipsed the "F" man in Mississippi. Naw, couldn't happen. Nothing could be better than Light in August.