Books to Make You Laugh

Hello,

Today, continuing my countdown to Ireland Reads Day tomorrow (25th Feb 2022), I’m exploring my long running love of funny books. Often underestimated and rarely featuring on book award shortlists, I think any book which gives you a laugh is one to be treasured.

I’ve just had a rummage on my shelves and found plenty of examples to share. I’ve reached that point in life which comes to all bookworms when you are forced to admit that unless you’re prepared to move house you may have to give away some of your books (gasp!). Yes, I know, it’s a wrench, but I console myself that they raise funds for charity and hopefully find a new reader if I let them go.

While I have made my peace with passing on thrillers, rom-coms, and general fiction the category I always keep is humour. The picture below, featuring many of my favourite funny writers, contains books I bought in my teens onwards, which is why some of the spines are faded.

Need a chuckle? Check these out.

There are, of course, as many forms of humour as there are people in the world. We all have things which tickle our funny bone and it varies. I can enjoy a pun here and there, but others loathe them. The dark humour of Christopher Brookmyre’s thrillers has reduced me to tears on public transport (much to the bemusement of my fellow passengers), but it wouldn’t be for everybody.

I can’t help but notice the total absence of female writers in this pile. I know I read roughly 50:50 from male and female authors (I checked one year, out of sheer curiosity) but it appears I enjoy male humour, no idea why.

Some are old-school – if you haven’t tried PG Wodehouse’s delightful farces, you’re missing out and Tom Sharpe’s school stories are bitingly funny.

Some are old friends, often re-read – Terry Pratchett’s satirical fantasy world, I’m looking at you. I’ve reached the point where I can recite most of William Goldman’s wonderful romantic adventure “Princess Bride” but still love it.

Others are more recent discoveries. Christopher Fowler’s Bryant & May detective series is so clever and witty, while Jay Kristoff’s dark fantasy has the funniest footnotes ever (at least as good as Pratchett, and that’s saying something).

I’m pleased to include two Irish writers (drat, I forgot to include my beloved Oscar Wilde plays) – Roddy Doyle whose ear for Dublin dialogue is perfect and Colin Bateman who creates crazy plots set in Northern Ireland – he’s another who makes me laugh aloud.

That’s the key, I think. If a book can make me laugh, ideally in a quiet place, then it’s going on my shelves. Sometimes we need to read something funny. I know the Pratchett’s got me through exam stress more than once. Books are an escape to other worlds and smiling on the journey is a wonderful bonus.

I do my best to include humour in my word history books. Anybody who has ever looked at how words were spelled in Old English needs a sense of humour. If I’ve made anybody smile while reading, I’ll be very happy indeed.

Wishing you a very happy, and laughter-filled, Ireland Reads Day,

Grace (@Wordfoolery)