meeshcanread's review
3.0
I couldn't decide on the star-age to give... in one way, I appreciated the book's good writing, the back-stories that improved towards the end, the controversial socio-philosophical ideas that Ignatius spits out, and the rollercoaster of emotions that is drawn from the reader. However in another way... I couldn't stand reading this book! I was cringing, grimacing, and shuddering the whole way through this book, it made me feel sick to get close to a character such as Ignatius. I guess that was the writer's purpose and he did well - I just couldn't bring myself to give a higher rating.
zoelatham's review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
knightvspawn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
turbogerbil's review
5.0
The absurd characters and interactions between them make this novel one of the funniest I've ever read. I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so much reading a book. The laughs sneak up on you, too!
rdhuff's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
youngserfs's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
With such a despicable protagonist it took me a while to commit to liking this story. I was glad I stuck with it to experience this comedy of errors centred around such an awful miscreant as Ignatius J. Reilly.
yrsbrn's review against another edition
3.0
This book had a ton of funny moments, but I also got pretty overwhelmingly annoyed by the consistent incompetence of almost every character and the loooooong leash Ignatius Reilly was granted by everyone else. I guess that allowed for the shenanigans to happen as they did, but I’m still annoyed by them after reading.
Probably would have felt better about this if it didn’t include the last chapter. Still happy I read it, just probably won’t revisit it in the future.
Probably would have felt better about this if it didn’t include the last chapter. Still happy I read it, just probably won’t revisit it in the future.
rebeccatc's review
4.0
Extremely funny satire. Ignatius Reilly is highly intelligent but completely unemployable; wildly creative yet entirely lacking in common sense; shunned by society but filled with his own prejudice; slothful yet manic. His twisted world view is hilariously challenged when he meets an assorted cast of characters in his native New Orleans. It's hard to describe, but this book shouldn't be missed.
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1981)
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1981)
bamairi's review
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75