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Book Review of A Confederacy of Dunces

A Confederacy of Dunces
reviewed on
Helpful Score: 2


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.