I know, I know, this can be a moving target (and should be, depending on where you are in life)…
But I’m still going to ask: What is the funniest, or what books are amongst the funniest, you’ve read? I’m looking over the books I have coming up for the rest of the year, and by and large, we’re talking about some dark reading. I could use some laughs…so help me find an idea or three, will you?
Here’s my rather incomplete answer (that I ripped off from something I told K.R.R. Lockhaven last year). I should probably tweak this list before I publish, but I don’t have the time…
Off the top of my head…
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (well, everything Adams wrote)
Mechanical Failure by Joe Zieja
The Fran Lebowitz Reader
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Dave Barry Slept Here by Dave Barry
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
White House Mess by Christopher Buckley
Sir Apropos of Nothing by Peter David
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin,
Lacey Lamar
The Tales of Pell by Delilah S. Dawson, Kevin Hearne
Incidentally, you should read the entire series of interviews Lockhaven did about humor in fiction–some great things were said, and then there was my entry, too.
I look forward to your recommendations!
allyson johnson
I laughed out loud reading David Sedaris’s “Me Talk Pretty One Day” – reading it on the patio outside my workplace with people looking at me weird. Also have been forbidden to read “Pogo’s Sunday Punch” in our living room as it irritates my husband when I go into consulfive laughter. (I sneak upstairs and read it in the guest bedroom).
HCNewton
Good ol’ Pogo 🙂
Bob Germaux
I’ve read several of Barry’s books, H.C. They’re all funny, often hilarious. I’ll throw out one suggestion, a book called “The Book With No Pictures” by B.J. Novak. It’s supposed to be read with kids, but Cynthia and I laughed out loud the first time we read it together in a little book store in Bermuda. BTW, many years ago, Dave mentioned me in one of his columns, my main claim to fame:)
HCNewton
You cannot, I repeat, cannot just leave that last sentence hanging without a follow-up story, there, Bob!
Since High School I’ve been a sucker for Barry (my attempts before then just displayed how un-ready I was to be reading it).
I’ll add the Novak to the list! Thanks.
Peat
I think the funniest things I’ve ever read are non-fiction – Jay Rayner’s Dining in Hell (a collection of his 20 most vitrolic reviews) is an evergreen favourite here, as is Michael Green’s The Art of Coarse Rugby (a hymn to the ‘virtues’ of very amateur sport)
Fiction wise… PG Wodehouse, obviously. Lindsey Davis’ Falco series about an ancient Roman sleuth could be wonderful. Mid-career Pratchett.
HCNewton
I read the third Falco book ages ago (think it was new at the time). Felt like I needed to have a better grasp on Roman history to really appreciate it (which I might have now, I should go back). I’m not sure how “obvious” Wodehouse is (feel free to hurl rotten fruit and vegetables my way, but I just don’t get the appeal).
I think I’ve looked at the Rayner book before, should take another look.
Thanks!