Dusted Off: Bringin’ Da Funny

I read and watch a lot of things considered comedic, humorous, funny, etc. but it’s not often that I’ll find something that his worth more than a handful of laughs–recently, I’ve stumbled onto a few things that are laugh out loud funny from beginning to end. Been meaning to talk about them for awhile, might as well get to it now, 3 books that I still laugh at weeks after finishing

Books:

• The Rabbit Factory by Marshall Karp – This is the first installment of what I hope is many in the adventures of two LA Homicide Detectives, Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs. The detective story is solid–a serial killer(killers?) is attacking people associated with a Disney-like company (complete with theme park), leading the detectives through both the messy world of the animation industry and its even messier history. At the same time, Lomax is dealing with the recent death of his wife and some other family issues. BUT the story is told with flair, heart and a lot of laughs. This isn’t one of those books where the serious or violent aspects of the events are played for laughs. It’s like Harry Bosch having a great day (‘tho I don’t know if Harry could handle such an eventuality). Better yet, it’s like those ‘comic relief’ episodes of The Closer where Detectives Flynn and Provenza get themselves in the middle of some silly situation (like “To Protect & To Serve” or “Saving Face“)–the murder stuff is serious, but everything around it is hilarious. It was touching, it was hysterically funny, with a dead-on mystery. Probably the best book I’ve read this year.

• Bloodthirsty by Marshall Karp Naturally, after The Rabbit Factory I rushed out to get the next Lomax and Biggs case. Thankfully, it was almost as good as the first. The humor still crackled, the insider’s view of Hollywood again felt genuine, the crimes…well, they were more violent, more gruesome. Sadly, I could see the solution to the mystery a few miles away, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment watching the heroes get there themselves. Honestly, I can’t really see the events of the first book happening in the real world–but this one? I’m surprised we don’t hear about that kind of thing every day. A solid sequel that leaves you wanting more, I can’t wait for the next thing Karp brings out.

I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle

Take the ultimate Teen Movie in the vein of

Better Off Dead

,

Say Anything

, or

Can’t Buy Me Love

, make it funnier yet more heartfelt, and then commit it to print rather than film, and you’ve got this novel. Denis Cooverman, alpha-geek, uses his valedictorian speech at graduation to announce to the world–including Beth Cooper–his love for the titular character, the requisite gorgeous, rich, blonde cheerleader. There are a few problems with this…1. Beth is barely aware Denis exists; 2. Beth has a boyfriend with a nasty jealous streak; 3. Boyfriend is an Army soldier–with Special Forces training–on leave. Hilarity ensues. The novel is a chronicle of the day that follows graduation, that one last night of revelry. Well, revelry, violence, and young love. I wasn’t reading it long before Samwise started saying, “you’re about to start laughing” when I’d pick up the book (he was right).