Page 1
Page 1
Started By
Message

should i recommend Confederacy of Dunces to my sons?

Posted on 4/30/26 at 6:51 pm
Posted by selfgen
youngsville
Member since Aug 2006
1195 posts
Posted on 4/30/26 at 6:51 pm
i grew up in New Orleans in the 70s and 80s; the book was assigned to us at Jesuit High. i appreciated it a lot more little later when i was older, wiser and had discovered weed. Seriously, this book cracked me up and I related to all the New Orleans references.
Now i’m 60 years old and i have 4 sons; but we’ve be in Lafayette for 30 years now.
i am wondering how the book has aged, will my sons, who are in their 20s, enjoy it and will a lot of the humor get lost due to my boys not being as familiar with New Orleans, French Quarter, etc?


what do you think?
Posted by rebelrouser
Columbia, SC
Member since Feb 2013
13229 posts
Posted on 4/30/26 at 7:20 pm to
Yes absolutely. and if they like it recommend something from the Vonnegut thread.
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
20959 posts
Posted on 4/30/26 at 8:00 pm to
It's the funniest book I've ever read. Why wouldn't you recommend it to them?
Posted by Gerry Laval
Member since Apr 2025
355 posts
Posted on 4/30/26 at 8:05 pm to
Yes
It’s my favorite
Posted by ecb
Member since Jul 2010
10212 posts
Posted on 4/30/26 at 8:39 pm to
Absolutely
Posted by boxcarbarney
Above all things, be a man
Member since Jul 2007
26668 posts
Posted on 5/1/26 at 9:54 am to
My favorite novel.

Other than the excellent writing, I love it mainly because most of the characters remind me of my family. You could easily switch out Irene with my grandma, and Santa Battaglia with my aunt, and the book would read almost exactly the same.

While I was aware of the novel, I didn't really know anything about it until I saw LSU's Swine Palace do a production of it in the mid 90s. I immediately bought the book after the show, and fell in love with it.

To your question, I don't see why you wouldn't recommend it to them. They'll either get it, or they won't. But it should be read.
Posted by TAMU-93
Sachse, TX
Member since Oct 2012
1207 posts
Posted on 5/1/26 at 1:34 pm to
I'm not that familiar with New Orleans and I still found it hillarious.
Posted by selfgen
youngsville
Member since Aug 2006
1195 posts
Posted on 5/1/26 at 8:18 pm to
thanks for the replies. i’m gonna recommend it. they’re already familiar with it.
currently i’m listening to the audiobook version that’s on Youtube. Several people are praising the narrator of the job he does voicing the different characters. But i actually don’t think he nails Ignatius’s voice. doesn’t sound like New Orleans, sounds like just a typical Southerner. In New Orleans we DON’T say “Ba “Tawn” Rouge. We say BATTIN Rouge.
Posted by dirtsandwich
AL
Member since May 2016
7028 posts
Posted on 5/2/26 at 11:58 am to
The book is obviously very much of New Orleans but its reach is much broader. I don’t think you have to be able to find the city on a map to appreciate the book. Of course, knowing (and loving) New Orleans does add a level of depth to the setting. Jealous of people who have never read it.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram