Sesame the Opossum
  • Home
  • Merch
  • Our Book!
  • Art Museum
  • Rescue
  • Newsletter Sign Up

Butterflies and Typewriters

4/28/2017

 
Obviously, I love reading. And what New Orleanian doesn't adore Confederacy of Dunces? In high school the book was required reading, and like most things at the time, it went completely over my head. Our English teacher had us "annotate" our books (which I now find very helpful when reading anything), and I was more concerned with cooking up believable margin notes and underlining random but well spaced excerpts than I was with understanding what the book was actually about. 

Picture
Of course, I still don't exactly understand what the book is about, but I have great appreciation for the style and content. It is one story of many in a long history of "picaresque" novels, so called for their portrayals of a central "picaro" (Spanish for "rogue") figure who hails from the dregs of society and has a series of adventures loosely structured enough so as not to qualify as a plot. Comedy and satire abound, and the picaro's blasé interpretation of morality provides a vicarious thrill for everyone who wishes they could just stop acquiescing to society's bullshit already. I mean, whose adventures would you rather watch with voyeurism and schadenfreude: someone who values practicality and their own needs over a moral compass, or an insufferable pedant with a penchant for proclaiming rules the ultimate mark of civilized society? 
Picture
Picture

​To be clear, there is a huge difference between appreciating (and even coveting) a fictional character's qualities and suffering those same qualities played out by others in real life. Glorifying real life picaros sounds dangerously like the trend of applauding and embodying the anti-PC, alt-right epidemic sweeping the nation (and Europe). Affection for society and a healthy regard for others are important and admirable. But in a fantasy like Confederacy of Dunces, rejoicing in the picaro is a delight. Just don't get any ideas that being an Ignatius is actually desirable in the real world. One entitled blowhard is one too many. 
Picture
Political rantings aside, the whole point of my post is that the story BEHIND the creation of Confederacy of Dunces is being made into a film, titled Butterfly in the Typewriter and based on the book bearing the same name. It chronicles writer and professor John Kennedy Toole (who went by the name of Ken) as he writes, suffers depression, and struggles to bring his masterpiece to light. Toole died by suicide in 1967 at the age of 31, after which his devoted mother continued to champion his work, ultimately getting the manuscript published and earning her son a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in 1981. I haven't read Butterfly in the Typewriter, but have read Ken & Thelma, which documents the pair's mother/son relationship and Thelma's unwavering determination to get her son's work published. 

Filming is set to start very soon (in May) and stars Susan Sarandon as Thelma and 
Thomas Mann as John Kennedy Toole, with Nick Offerman and Diane Kruger in staring roles as well. Keeping my eyes peeled. I'm going to ask New Orleans Movie Tours to take me to set so I can get a front-row seat. ​​I have not been paid to promote New Orleans Movie Tours or anything. But if they gave me money I wouldn't say no. But they haven't. I just love New Orleans and movies and going on tours. 
Picture

Save the dates! May 13 & 14, 2017

4/28/2017

 
Picture
Saturday, May 13, 2017 — I'll be at Garden District Books on Prytania from 1-3pm celebrating Independent Bookstore Day! GDB is hosting activities galore. Splat the Cat will be there, whom I haven't met yet, and I'm scheduled to appear just as Splat leaves. Is Splat avoiding me?! Come see me; we'll have signed copies of my book Opossums Don't Live in Houses and Other Alternative Facts. If you just want to hug me and say hi that's 100% great, too!
Picture

​That Saturday and Sunday are also the NOLA Veggie Fest. Follow the link for times & info. I'll be at the Veggie Fest on Sunday during the day to say hello to my fellow vegans! Look at all these New Orleans (and greater Louisiana) vendors scheduled to appear. Veggie Fest is my favorite day for pigging out and enjoying all the vegan treats New Orleans has to offer. 
    Picture
    Join Sesame's Email Club!

    About

    Written by me, Starry, from It's Me, Sesame!

    Questions? Comments? Love letters? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section! You may also email me (Starry) any time at itsmesesame@gmail.com.

    Categories

    All
    Edibles (Food)
    Facts
    Golden Opossums
    Lookables (Art)
    Lovables (Animals)
    Portables (Travel)
    Readables (Books)
    Watchables (Movies)
    Wearables (Fashion)

    Archives

    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    October 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe below, and every once in a while* we'll send stories, updates, and seedling news! (*probably once every two months or so!)

Subscribe to Our Snoozeletter
Check out  our favorite opossum products on our Merch page, and
join us at www.GalleryBurguieres.com & www.Cocoally.com for artwork
​ and accessories featuring all species of wild & domestic animals!
© COPYRIGHT SESAME THE OPOSSUM & STARFISH. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Are you a business owner looking to provide your customers with lovely opossum products? Visit our Wholesale page!

Are you an educator seeking fun and educational content for your class? Send us your requests on our Education page!
  • Home
  • Merch
  • Our Book!
  • Art Museum
  • Rescue
  • Newsletter Sign Up