Group Read -> February 2019 -> Nomination thread (A humourous book won by Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons)

[Nigeyb]

Every month we discuss a book on a specific era or a theme. This book will be the winner of a group poll.

Our February 2019 theme is humour. Many consider February to be the most depressing month of the year so what better than a group read we hope will make us smile, chuckle, laugh and maybe even guffaw

If you feel inspired, please nominate a humorous book from the 20th Century.

It can be either fiction or non-fiction.

Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.

If your nomination wins then please be willing to fully participate in the subsequent discussion.

Happy nominating.

[Nigeyb]

Looking for inspiration. Try these lists (though some are outside our timeframe)….


https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/b...

And for all you Wodehouse lovers...

https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

[Rosina]

The list of novels from the Guardian did spark some ideas. However, as we are not limited to novels, or fiction in general, I would like to nominate1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by Sellars and Yeatman. All the (English) history that can be remembered, and often it's the history that one does remember - that the Cavaliers were Wrong but Wromantic, and the Roundheads Right but Repulsive comes more readily to the memory than any serious discussion of the Civil War.

[Hugh]

1066 and all that is a classic!

[Nigeyb]

I'm recalling books I've already read, some decades ago, but which made me laugh out loud and which I found hilarious. What's come to mind so far is...


Wilt by Tom Sharpe - I recall tears streaming down my face with this one

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin - not so much a laugh-out-loud book but ludicrously charming, quietly amusing and highly addictive. So much so that I read all six novels in about a week.

Kill Your Friends by John Niven - an outrageous and hilarious novel about Brit Pop era London. Another one that had me weeping with merriment.

Needless to say there are also a number of Wodehouse novels which fall into the loud-out-loud category but we're reading one of his for our January 2019 Hollywood group read, so I have resisted thinking about his most hilarious novels.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Rosina, and thanks Hugh


Rosina wrote: "I would like to nominate 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman.

All the (English) history that can be remembered, and often it's the history that one does remember - that the Cavaliers were Wrong but Wromantic, and the Roundheads Right but Repulsive comes more readily to the memory than any serious discussion of the Civil War."

Not a book I've read (though the title is very familiar) however it sounds absolutely wonderful - and very amusing.

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman

[Roman Clodia]

Haha, great topic for dreary February! Comedy is so subjective, isn't it, and I rarely laugh out loud at books so when I do, it's memorable (Mick Herron, thank you!) One I do remember sniggering and snorting embarrassingly over on the Tube is Cold Comfort Farm - so that's my nomination.

Blurb: "Winner of the 1933 Femina Vie Heureuse Prize, COLD COMFORT FARM is a wickedly funny portrait of British rural life in the 1930s. Flora Poste, a recently orphaned socialite, moves in with her country relatives, the gloomy Starkadders of Cold Comfort Farm, and becomes enmeshed in a web of violent emotions, despair, and scheming, until Flora manages to set things right."

My take: Taking a pop at the popular rural melodrama of the 1930s, this is a bit like an urban character from Waugh stumbling into a DH Lawrence novel, and deciding to Sort Things Out! Very witty, elegant writing, LOL funny (in my view, at least!)

[Hugh]

Strangely enough, both Cold Comfort Farm and 1066 and All That were books which I became aware of thanks to BBC Radio 4, and I agree that both are still much funnier than many books written much later that are acknowledged as comedy classics.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Roman Clodia, and thanks again to Hugh. We've now got a couple of splendid nominations to get the ball rolling.


I was just wondering about The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, a book I've long meant to read having loved the Leonard Rossiter TV adaptation. I suspect it's somewhat melancholic, but then perhaps some of the best humour is tinged with other emotions?


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

[Jamie]

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.



Ive been wanting to read this classic forever and its #1 on the humor shelf!

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Jamie - another great nomination.


What do you want to say in support of your suggestion?


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
JAMIE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

[Judy]

To bring a bit of sunshine to February, I'll nominate

The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates



This is very short - here's the Amazon blurb:

'Home looks nice. Allus does though, don't it? Perfick'

And so the Larkins - Pop, Ma, Mariette, Zinnia, Petunia, Primrose, Victoria and Montgomery - return from an outing for fish and chips and ice cream one May evening. There, amid the rustic charms of home, they discover a visitor: one Cedric Charlton, Her Majesty's inspector of taxes.

Mr Charlton is visiting to find out why junk-dealer Pop hasn't paid his tax - but nothing's that simple at the Larkins. Mariette takes a shine to 'Charley' - as Pop calls him - and before long the family have introduced the uncomplaining inspector to the delights of country living: the lusty scents of wild flowers, the pleasures of a bottle of Dragon's Blood, cold cream dribbled over a bowl of strawberries and hot, hot summer nights.

In fact, soon Charley can't see any reason to return to the office at all .

I've always heard that this is very funny but have somehow never got round to it, though I did see bits of the TV series.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Judy. Another book I've always wanted to read. It's an embarrassment of riches already


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
JAMIE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
JUDY: The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates

[Cordelia]

How about The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills

[Story]

Oh, these all are such great choices, it's going to be hard to know how to vote.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Cordelia - another great nomination.


What do you want to say in support of your suggestion?


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
JAMIE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
JUDY: The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates
CORDELIA: The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills

[Jan C]

Rosina wrote: "The list of novels from the Guardian did spark some ideas. However, as we are not limited to novels, or fiction in general, I would like to nominate[book:1066 and All That: A Memorable History of E..."

I've had that for several years and don't think I have even opened it yet. May push me to read it.

[Susan]

I have only read Hitchhiker's from the above list.

[Val]

Here are a few more suggestions, from Guardian readers:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith is hilarious, both the situations and the drawings to accompany them. It is outside our time-frame unfortunately, so I am recommending it not nominating it.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Val. I fully concur. The Diary of a Nobody is one of my all time favourites.

[Nigeyb]

The suggestions Val posted from the Guardian (see message 19) have convinced me to nominate....


The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin by David Nobbs (1975-78)


According to a Guardian reader and quoted from Val's link...

David Nobbs's The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is hilarious from start to finish and boasts an undercurrent of poignant seriousness. I would urge anyone who hasn't read it to do so quickly and then watch the original TV series before the remake comes along. Earwig.

Nicholas Royle, Manchester


More information about The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin....

Originally titled ‘The Death of Reginald Perrin’, this is the book that found national fame when David converted it into a TV series starring Leonard Rossiter. It tells the tale of Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, a senior sales executive at Sunshine Desserts, who behaves more and more strangely, until eventually he leaves all his clothes on a beach, goes off to lead a new life, but is drawn back to his old life and ends up marrying his wife in disguise.

The various reviews I've read convince me that it meets all the criteria for an amusing book to help banish the mid-Winter doldrums


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
JAMIE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
JUDY: The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates
CORDELIA: The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills
NIGEYB: The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin by David Nobbs

[Nigeyb]

Who else is going to nominate, or is considering a nomination?

[Susan]

I think there are enough there, to choose from, so I won't nominate this month.

[Sue]

I've just added all of those to my tbr (except Hitchhiker which I've read but would be happy to read again). It's a great list, I would read any of them!

Also thanks for the links to the Guardian lists Nigeyb, I got several good suggestions from that too.

[Lynaia]

I would like to nominate In the Sweet Dry and Dry by Christopher Morley. Basically a satire on Prohibition in the US. Full of absurdity and exaggeration as well as lots of word play. I laughed quite a bit when I read it years ago. Available on Kindle in the US for free but inexpensive hard copies are available in the UK. Advantage of the book is you get the fun illustrations!

[Jan C]

I'm not nominating.

I am on a re-read of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy but that has been going on awhile.

Lately I haven't been doing well with re-reads. It takes me longer and I don't seem to like the books as well as I did 20+ years ago (or however many it was).

[Susan]

That's the risk with re-reading, Jan. Tastes change :)

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Lynaia


I'll get the polls up later so last chance to nominate

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
JAMIE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
JUDY: The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates
CORDELIA: The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills
NIGEYB: The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin by David Nobbs
LYNAIA: In the Sweet Dry and Dry by Christopher Morley

[Sue]

Lynaia wrote: "I would like to nominate In the Sweet Dry and Dry by Christopher Morley. Basically a satire on Prohibition in the US. Full of absurdity and exaggeration as well as lots of word play...."

I just found this on Gutenberg.org too

[Nigeyb]

The poll is up.....


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Vote vote vote


NOMINATIONS:

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
JAMIE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
JUDY: The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates
CORDELIA: The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills
NIGEYB: The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin by David Nobbs
LYNAIA: In the Sweet Dry and Dry by Christopher Morley

[Nigeyb]

Our February 2019 theme is humour. Many consider February to be the most depressing month of the year so what better than a group read we hope will make us smile, chuckle, laugh and maybe even guffaw.


Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons is currently out in front....

* * * * * * * * * *
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons - 4 votes, 33.3%

JUDY: The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates - 2 votes, 16.7%

NIGEYB: The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin by David Nobbs - 2 votes, 16.7%

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman - 1 vote, 8.3%

JAMIE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - 1 vote, 8.3%

CORDELIA: The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills - 1 vote, 8.3%

LYNAIA: In the Sweet Dry and Dry by Christopher Morley - 1 vote, 8.3%

* * * * * * * * * *

Please vote for the book you'd most like to read and discuss....

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

[Nigeyb]

We have a winner.


Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

Thanks to Roman Clodia, and everyone who nominated, voted and discussed.

The discussion takes place in February 2019

* * * * * * * * * *
ROMAN CLODIA: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons - 4 votes, 28.6%

JUDY: The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates - 2 votes, 14.3%

NIGEYB: The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin by David Nobbs - 2 votes, 14.3%

ROSINA: 1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman - 2 votes, 14.3%

LYNAIA: In the Sweet Dry and Dry by Christopher Morley - 2 votes, 14.3%

JAMIE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - 1 vote, 7.1%

CORDELIA: The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills - 1 vote, 7.1%

* * * * * * * * * *