"[You] must begin a reading program immediately ... Begin with the late Romans, including Boethius, of course. Then you should dip rather extensively into early Medieval. You may skip the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. That is mostly dangerous propaganda. Now that I think of it, you had better skip the Romantics and the Victorians, too. For the contemporary period, you should study some selected comic books."

My first read of the year is a reread of the cringe comedy classic by #JohnKennedyToole , with the bloviating Ignatius Reilly and the beautifully constructed farce of vivid characters revolving around him. One of my favourite final paragraphs too, ending the silliness and chaos on a surprisingly moving note. @bookstodon #Bookstodon

Saw ‘The Neon Bible’ this evening, part of the Terence Davies retrospective at the BFI.

Fabulous film. So under-rated. Based on the John Kennedy Toole novel of the same name.

More than any other film it brings together his arthouse and MGM musical influences - America on a soundstage but lit like a painting. This is America as experienced and loved by Davies when he was growing up.

And here as in his autobiographical films there’s a connection to communities & families under deep stress.

Gena Rowlands is especially good as Aunt Mae, but all the performances are excellent, e.g. Diana Scarwid as the mother.

Also, as usual, the music is wonderful. Terence Davies really knew how to use music.

https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=terence-davies&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

#TerenceDavies #BFI #TheNeonBible #GenaRowlands #DianaScarwid #JacobTierney #JohnKennedyToole

"Discover the chaotic brilliance of A Confederacy of Dunces, a satire that still resonates."

📖 Explore the review:
https://thebrokenspine.co.uk/2022/02/19/a-confederacy-of-dunces-by-john-kennedy-toole-a-review/

#LiteraryClassics #JohnKennedyToole

Better late than never, I guess, but I am glad to have finally met Ignatius J Reilly.

"My excellence confused them" will come to cover many, many situations in my life.

#books
#confederacyofdunces
#johnkennedytoole
#kirjat

3 things about Terence Davies’ THE NEON BIBLE [1995]

1. He lip-syncs the introductory patter.
2. “Just a tooth. And her dignity.”
3. The most breathtaking sunrise in cinema?

#3things #movies #genarowlands #terencedavies #johnkennedytoole #cinema

"Sólo me relaciono con mis iguales, y como no tengo iguales, no me relaciono con nadie"

Ignatius Reilly

El 17/12/1937 nace
🖋️ #JohnKennedyToole
Se suicidará en 1969 sin haber conseguido publicar,
📖 #LaConjuraDeLosNecios
Una de las grandes #novelas
de la #literatura estadounidense.