Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012 discussion

Buddy-read with Michelle & Margaret

Enjoy - I really liked this book and found it to be hilarious.

Officially starting this one in the afternoon! Plenty of comments coming your way by evening. :)

I will be anxious to see what you all think.

Just finished the first chapter, it was one of the funniest things I have read in a while. I loved the the scene in the police station with the older gentleman and his arrest for calling all officers "comuniss." It is all so very clever and tongue in check. How Ignatius could be described a boy is beyond me!

*First, sorry for being late! My sister-in-law and niece are in town and it has slowed not just my reading progress but also the time I have to talk about the book with you. Don't get me wrong; I love my sis-in-law and niece. I'm just letting you know I'm not over here twiddling my thumbs and staring off into space. LOL! Anyway, we're spending the last day with them because they are leaving later tonight. You'll get my undivided attention from tomorrow and onwards, for sure...except for that ONE hour tomorrow night when True Blood comes on. Hahaha!*

Anyway, I loved the opening! "Take that!" - Ignatius after hitting the cop with his lute string.

*AND* That man in the sunglasses tickles me with his Ooo-wee's all the time. Just wanted to add that. Somehow it's like a stand-up comedian's catch-phrase that gets funnier every time he uses it. Oh and that wreck at the very end?? Hahaha! That was great and with all the crap falling on the big Plymouth. Oh, "poor" Ignatius was ready to die with that faulty valve of his! Oh! And also Patrolman Mancuso...loved the punishment for making a wrongful arrest. The tights and the yellow sweater was fabulous!

Anyway, I just finished chapter 3. Good lord, is Ignatius wonderfully narcissistic or what?? So let me get this straight...he considers himself a medievalist and yet he goes to the movies every day and watches TV. Rrright. I loved Myrna's letter to him, made even funnier because I love the study and theory behind psychology and I admit it woke up my "inner armchair psychologist". She almost got the Freud theory right. He actually believed it was Paranoid Jealous lovers/spouses who were masking homosexual tendencies. His reason behind it was that the jealous party was projecting the sort of same-sex partner his/her unconscious secretly desired onto their lover/spouse. And the psychosomatic invalid? Oh yes, I can certainly see that one in the making already. But I also found it interesting that while Myrna was so occupied in analyzing Ignatius she isn't exactly independent herself, given all that money her daddy has already spent on her little endeavor.

Two questions: First, that masterbation scene - well I'm half convinced it was, given that it started with an erection and ended in him needing a Kleenex...on the other hand it could be that he thought of his dog to distract himself from "temptation" and he needed a Kleenex because remembering his dog made him cry. I read that part twice and either he "satisfied" himself at the memory of that dog or he resisted temptation by thinking of the dog. If it's the latter, why the references to the glove, silk fabric and Noxema?

Second, what do you make of Lana Lee and the young man's reference to "the orphans" and then that brown parcel? I'm gathering there is some kind of funny business going on on the side but it's only drugs, what's with the reference to the "they liked the teacher the best" followed by that secret grin those two exchanged? Are we not yet supposed to know what's up with that or have you gathered anything from that scene?

Interesting! I absolutely loathed this book. Such a great title & such great reviews -- I had very high hopes. And it just wasn't my style of book at all.

I'm glad you guys are enjoying it!

Kate wrote: "Interesting! I absolutely loathed this book. Such a great title & such great reviews -- I had very high hopes. And it just wasn't my style of book at all.

I'm glad you guys are enjoying it!"

Kate, I felt the exact same way. I am anxious to see such a different reaction.

I had the same thing with Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. Everyone went on about how funny it is, and it was, but it got old for me very quickly.

I don't much care for Christopher Moore either. I think he's the same genre as a Confederacy of Dunces. I read the one about the demon -- funny at first, but then deteriorated into not-quite-so-funny jokes, miserable plot and contrived ending. So I don't read this sort of thing any more -- I don't enjoy it & there are too many books out there I do want to read.

I hated The Hobbit. That's one "everyone else" seems to adore but I got really ticked off at Tolkien for interrupting the present day of the story so often just so he could give all this back history nonsense on whatever area they were entering on their quest.

I also hated The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galazy. Yes, what I read was hilarious but my problem was, Where's The Plot?? To me it read like a comic fest without any goal whatsoever in working toward a well defined plot. That annoyed me so I sent it to my Barter Box.

Anyway, I know what you ladies are talking about when you're frustrated by a hyped up book that really, really, really disappoints you in a big way.

I swear, with Ignatius' constant dramatics and his "Oh my God"s at every little thing, this kid off youtube keeps coming to mind over and over again (a skinny version of Ignatius, of course):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VtsWG...

*Fingers crossed, hoping it went through*

Margaret: no worries! It has been absolutely beautiful here and I spent yesterday out in my garden and with my family. It was nice enough to get some weeding, etc done.

I just finished Chapter Three this morning. As far as the masturbation scene, I was perplexed too. I couldn't tell which was the outcome (no pun intended). Although he is more than a bit eccentric, I am choosing to believe that he misses his dog!

The orphans, I thought were ladies for hire that dress as different characters according to the client's preferences. I am thinking that the front is a charity operation for " orphans". Jones catches on really quick and doesn't buy the whole orphan story. I LOVE Jones.

Hayes: this is different to me from Lamb. I did not like Lamb, not one bit. To me Lamb was a lot of adolescent boy/ potty humor threaded through a story. This is more witty and ironic.

Margaret wrote: "I swear, with Ignatius' constant dramatics and his "Oh my God"s at every little thing, this kid off youtube keeps coming to mind over and over again ..."
It went through! Too funny.

MichelleCH wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I swear, with Ignatius' constant dramatics and his "Oh my God"s at every little thing, this kid off youtube keeps coming to mind over and over again ..."
It went through! Too funny."

*Note: He was the same boy who had that lengendary freak out when his mother cancelled his World of Warcraft. (the remote control up his bum...ring any bells?) LOL!

I really like Jones too! He's pretty doggone sharp. Still loving the "Ooo wee"s. :)

At Chapter 5- I can't believe Ignatious is really working! And what a good use of the "valve" excuses, who could argue with that!

So it appears that he has taken on this new role at Levy Pants just to show Myrna that he is engaged in a meaningful activity. Do you think that he will end up going to New York at some point? I would love to see the fireworks between those two (outside of their writing).

I am also glad to see Mrs. Reilly finding some independence from Ignatious through Officer Mancuso. Although he isn't the brightest or the best and seems to have a knack for getting himself into trouble.

Another run in with the "orphans" - what is going on there??

I wish I had more time to read!

For someone who made such a bad first impression I have to say that Officer Manasco has really grown on me. You're right, he isn't the sharpest and he does get a little lot gung ho on being a hero and arresting somebody but you can't argue, the man has heart. :)

How goes it Margaret? You are speeding along....:)

I'm loving how everyone connects...how far are you?

At chapter 10. I agree, there are great connections...also, the letters between Ignatious and the Minx are getting better and better. Love how she said he has an Oedipus bond circling his brain...may the armchair psychology continue!

Haha! I know! Do you have a favorite character? Mine is, without a doubt, JONES!!! Love that guy and all his "Whoa!", "Ooo-wee", and "Hey!"

Have you met Mrs. Levy yet? What do you think of her?

I like Darlene and the cockatoo bird- poor thing, it sounds like he has been mostly defeathered. Her exotic act was a riot. Although Lana's suggestion that Jones be the doorman was insulting. She is a really vile person, with a butt of steel.

I do love Jones too, and he is always digging at people but they just don't get it. His sabatoge plan with the packages is brilliant; I wonder where that will lead.

Mrs. Levy is a trip too, with her exercise table and obsession with Miss Trixie.

All of Ignatious hot dog eating is making me nauseous!

Hey! I said leave the board out of this!

LOL!!!!

Glad to see that this one continues to go well for you two. The book is truly a riot. Jones was my favorite character, too. One of the few books that I've re-read.

I just love how Mrs. Levy thought she was a psychologist but according to Mr. Levy she failed so badly they refused to even give her an F! Haha!

I could see re-reading it. You know a book is good when you go to work and talk about it with everyone.

Well Mrs. Levy certainly can't read people, she is so off the mark with Miss Trixie who just wants to retire.

LOL! Where are you now in the story?

Whoa! I just saw that you finished! Well? What did you think of the wrap up? Those last two chapters where everything pulls together and everyone gets what they deserve? I especially loved Jones' ending with Levy. Oh and speaking of Levy, thank God he finally grew a pair! Although I was vastly entertained by his ridiculous wife and that board of hers (Leave the board out of this! Haha!) it was nice to see her get put in her place. I just loved this book! :)

Yes, yesterday evening. I thought the ending wrapped it all up nicely. Myrna arrived just in time and that car ride is going to be some trip! I'm so glad that Ignatious finally cut the cord and that Levy did as well. Bermuda shorts are awesome! It did live up to all the hype in my opinion.Thanks for the buddy read :)

Did you feel sorry for Ignatius too when he went to that gay party and everyone treated him like crap? I know I did...*even though* Ignatius, being himself kind of asked for *some* of it I couldn't help but think Aw, you poor thing!

Another thing, I felt sorry for his mom throughout the story and even though I totally understood Ignatius definitely needed some professional help I couldn't help but root for him when Myrna showed up. That's certainly one way of getting him to flee the nest!

One more thing: What exactly was this "board" Mrs. Levy was on and what did it do?? It was referred to as an exercise board but given how she was always laying on it and even going Ooh and Ahh, combined with her love for it...I can't help but wonder, where can I find one for myself? I might want to get in on that! LOL!

Sorry Margaret, I did not get a notification about your reply. I have been reading the Goodreads Feedback group and it seems like notifications were down for a few days. So very annoying.

As for your questions, I did feel sorry for him but his logic around preventing war through the election of gay leaders seemed a bit odd and one dimensional. For such a brilliant thinker, he really was dense in a lot of ways.

Me too! His mom was an enabler and yes, she was tired of all the mishegoss, but I was holding my breath as they were packing, especially when Myrna went back in for more notebooks. I was also worried that the car would breakdown because of Ignatious's weight. I felt like his mom could of at least given him some sort of a warning. I so wanted them to get away.

Here you go!
https://www.soloflex.com/store/whole-...
Not cheap though.

I read more about Toole and his life and efforts as a writer. Ignatious must of provided such a great outlet for him, so very sad that his life ended in suicide. What a loss of talent.

Not a problem. :)

I was sweating too at the end! I thought for sure the ambulance would show up right as they were leaving. I did not think about the scenerio where Myrna's car breaks down due to Ignatius' weight. Great call! Now that you brought it up that is totally forseeable. So glad it didn't happen though.

That board...I thought it would be more like a vibrating table since Mrs. Levy was always laying on it.

Anyway, I always knew Toole killed himself I was just never clear why. Was it because he wasn't making it as a writer? For some reason I always got that impression.

From what I have read, it was attributed partly to his inability to get his work published. It also seems as if Toole also had a difficult relationship with his mom.

Another interesting tidbit is that a movie version was supposed to come out with John Belushi, but he passed away before filming. He would have been great.