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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Elayne on April 7, 2002, at 16:27:04
I mean...am I the only one who identifies with Ignatius?
I find this book hilarious and I think it's because I recognize my hypomanic self -- the grandiosity, the self-absorption, the academic haughtiness and pedantry.
I also love the language. It's the kind of book that makes me want to read it out loud, share it with my husband -- whether he wants to share it or not.
Elayne
Posted by jane d on April 8, 2002, at 0:06:01
In reply to Ignatius c'est moi!, posted by Elayne on April 7, 2002, at 16:27:04
> I mean...am I the only one who identifies with Ignatius?
>
> I find this book hilarious and I think it's because I recognize my hypomanic self -- the grandiosity, the self-absorption, the academic haughtiness and pedantry.
>
> I also love the language. It's the kind of book that makes me want to read it out loud, share it with my husband -- whether he wants to share it or not.
> Elayne
I think I identified with Ignatius a little too well to tell the truth. I'm a little touchy about 30 year olds supported by their parents because they can't hold a job at the moment. I loved the language as well. The excerpts posted above reminded me of that. And one of my favorite scenes was the description of him dropping all the ungraded exams out of the window onto the protesting students heads.Jane
Posted by Ella on April 8, 2002, at 2:11:51
In reply to Ignatius c'est moi!, posted by Elayne on April 7, 2002, at 16:27:04
I enjoyed the symphony of thoughts and feelings dunces provoked in me when I read it. I just did. I was sympathetic to Ignatius, his mother and everyone else in the book while they strived to make a reasonably adequate life for themselves. I giggled at the funny things Ignatius said and the situations that were brought up with the files, hot dog wagon and the whole last part of the book.
When I look at characters in books, movies, and TV usually I see aspects of regular people that have been magnified in order to make the book, movie, or show interesting and allow us to examine what makes that aspect "tick" and gain further insight into our lives (hopefully). Looking at characters like Ignatius can be unsettling at times, yet I usually press, not always though. There have been times in my life that I couldn't stand any more pressure, so reading something disturbing was just something I avoided. Enjoyment of a book like Dunces depends upon where a person is in their life, what kind of person they are, and their present condition. Enjoyment really is relative.Dunces does deal with serious issues and show some of the uglier sides of people, but there is a completely absurd side to this book that I just love. Not that I didn't get anything out of the serious stuff, I just tried not to dwell on it too much and make myself crazier then usual.
Ellamiatabamboo at yahoo .com input is welcome
Posted by Elayne on April 8, 2002, at 7:17:42
In reply to Re: Ignatius c'est moi!, posted by jane d on April 8, 2002, at 0:06:01
Jane,
I think I understand what you're saying. I remember reading this book when it first came out about 20 years ago and being a lot less impressed with it at that time. Obviously the book hasn't changed, Ignatius waxes obnoxious forever, so I guess I have...at least enough to distance myself and laugh at my own absurdity (sometimes!).
Take care,
Elayne
Posted by Elayne on April 8, 2002, at 7:22:18
In reply to Why I liked Dunces, posted by Ella on April 8, 2002, at 2:11:51
Ella,
Please see Jane's and my posts above. It does depend on where you are in your life at the moment.I also find that "I just do" like certain things I read. Sometimes it's fun to sit back and try to figure out why.
Elayne
This is the end of the thread.
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