Search - A Confederacy of Dunces

One of the funniest, most inventive, outrageous, creative books I've ever read. This novel has the unique distinction of having a character that is despicable and loveable at the same time. If you don't believe that's possible, read this book and you'll know what I mean.

Now everytime I want to get out of doing work, I jokingly complain about a "valve" in my heart. But only a character as visionary and charismatic as Ignatius could actually pull that one off.

I read and re-read this book every few months and I always discover somthing new to laugh about. The most wonderfully eccentric characters I have ever come across. It pains me that the author took his own life and has deprived us of more of his brilliant work.

This wildly inventive and amusing novel features one of the most unforgettable characters in modern fiction: Ignatius Reilly. He's a mammoth misfit Medievalist hilariously at odds with the world of the twentieth century, and his adventures take him to 'way down, to New Orleans' lower depths.

This is the strangest book I have ever read. I read it for a book club. There were no likeable characters in the book but I think it's worth a read because it is so uniques !

Once in a blue moon I encounter a man sufficiently large and self-absorbed to remind me of Ignatius Reilly. Usually I'm in the presence of others and, for ease and speed, I blame my out-of-place laughter on last night's Family Guy episode or a fictional passerby's unsuccessfully stealthy flatulence. My most recent encounter with such a man was during an introduction to my company's sweaty database administrator. In addition to his general, rotund astuteness, he possessed certain quirks which were instantly identifiable as Ignatius-esque. Most notable was his tendency to produce a fountain pen, temporarily discarding a typical ball-point pen already in use, to sign various corporate documents. The connection was instantaneous and I giggled with delight. Without having known Ignatuis, this guy would simply be a douche bag with a fancy pen. Thank you, John Toole, for giving me the gift of Ignatius.

That been said - I couldn't finish the book. The story line seemed to meander aimlessly and I lost the will to continue. But read this book so you can know Ignatius. It is definitely worth anyone's time.

Great character development!