A Confederacy of Dunces

One of the strongest criticisms against A Confederacy of Dunces basically boils down to the fact that there's not one single likable character in this entire tome. Although not entirely devoid of truth, this book is arguably filled to the brim with characters vivid and pretty much alive! Moving with spectacular alacrity across pages, streets, from homes to factories and to bars, and back. And do you like everyone you meet daily?

Leave these characters with different worldviews to interact with each other, hinder each other, assist each other, and accompany each other in a bleak world of meaninglessness, confusion, and misunderstanding, then add a total lack of ability to correctly and humanely connect with each other. The final result tends to turn out exceptional one way or another.