Falling Down Funny- Best Books You Have Read...

[Linda B.D.]

What is the best non-fiction or fiction book you have ever read? Give us tiles, author (and links if possible), to Amazon or GoodReads. It can be fiction or non-fiction- needs to be falling down funny. Let's have a good time with this ! LOL LOL LOL ...together.

[Joel]

Wow, that's tough. My perennial-ish re-reads are The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and Scoop. A Confederacy of Dunces is probably in there somewhere, too.

[Rebecca]

That's a pretty good collection, Joel. I'll go with the Hitchhiker's Guide, most of Terry Pratchett, and the mysteries of Charlotte MacLeod for fiction (off the top of my head when I should be asleep).

Non-fiction. . . well, last spring when I was running and listening to David Sedaris Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, I had to stop running because I was laughing so hard. That usually only happens when listening to the NPR quiz show "Says You."

[Melki]

It's weird, but when I look over my list of absolute favorite books, almost none of them are humorous - very odd, considering humor is my favorite genre. Pratchett's Carpe Jugulum did make the list fairly recently. Also on there, Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One, a satirical look at Hollywood and the funeral industry.

My all-time favorite book, Ella Minnow Pea, while not fall-down-funny, satirizes censorship and government oppression on a small imaginary island.

[John]

Joel wrote: "Wow, that's tough. My perennial-ish re-reads are The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and Scoop. A Confederacy of Dunces is probably in there somewhere, too."

Looks like there are a lot of books named Scoop. Who's the author of the one you like?

[Joel]

Evelyn Waugh, of course!

[John]

Wow, this Evelyn Waugh is apparently quite the stud. Will have to check her out.

[CartoonistAndre]

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and Hitchhiker's Guide top the list along with Catch 22. I was about to add Portnoy's Complaint but wouldn't call it falling-down-funny. Some of Carl Hiassen's novels (Nature Girl, Tourist Season) could also be added to my list.

[Rebecca]

I haven't read any of Hiassen's adult books, but I have to say that his kids' books are the cat's pajamas!

[Melki]

Hiassen has written two of my favorite characters - Skink, whom I guess you would describe as Nature's Avenger and the greatest villain ever - Chemo.

[John]

Melki wrote: "Hiassen has written two of my favorite characters - Skink, whom I guess you would describe as Nature's Avenger and the greatest villain ever - Chemo."

I'd like to hear what you think of Bad Monkey if you get around to reading it as it's the only Hiassen book that I've read.

Having said that, I only gave it 3 stars so I can't really recommend that you read it ;)

[Melki]

John wrote: "Melki wrote: "Hiassen has written two of my favorite characters - Skink, whom I guess you would describe as Nature's Avenger and the greatest villain ever - Chemo."

I'd like to hear what you think..."

I have not read that one yet. When it comes to Hiassen, the earlier stuff is best, though I'll probably read his latest - Skink--No Surrender.

[John]

Sadly, they say the same thing about John Box. Which is to say they like my jello fudge finger paintings way better than anything I've written.

[Melki]

John wrote: "Sadly, they say the same thing about John Box. Which is to say they like my jello fudge finger paintings way better than anything I've written."

Parents can be such harsh critics...

[Guy]

Cartoonistandre wrote: "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and Hitchhiker's Guide top the list along with Catch 22. I was about to add Portnoy's Complaint but wouldn't call it falling-down-funny. Some of Carl Hiassen's novels (..."

I just bought a copy of Catch 22.

[Melki]

Guy wrote: "I just bought a copy of Catch 22. "

May the force Yossarian be with you.

[Shedlon]

Jasper Fforde makes me laugh out loud; his Thursday Next series is really rather good. And the Nursery Crime series made me laugh out loud.

I like the silliness of Tom Holt's books too and you can't really pick a loser from his collection either but if pushed Valhalla is the inspiration for my own opus mingus, "Paradise Falls."

Rob Naylor (Red Dwarf writer) made me snort a bit with his book "Fat"

I've also got into the Space Captain Smith books from Toby Frost which I read imagining Alexander Armstrong as the eponymous hero.

Terry Pratchett's earlier work is priceless with "Mort" being my favorite.

Historically... Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat was good pulp fiction although I did read it again recently and it seemed to have lost it's edge.

As for Hitchhikers... well... no collection would be complete without it or Douglas Adams.

For a one off; Spindle by Ian Taylor nearly made me wet myself but in just one very specific and very funny passage.

Isaac Asimov wrote two cracking humour books too; Isaac Asimov's Treasury of Humor and Asimov Laughs Again but these are collections as opposed to science fiction per se

My library smells of old books; warm winters wrapped up with a good story, leather bound parchment basal tones, ancient ink keynotes and the merest hint at highnotes of mirth-induced wee...

Ez

[Melki]

Shedlon, my man, that last line is good enough to save as a quote...so, I did.

And great book choices, by the way.

[Shedlon]

Melki wrote: "Shedlon, my man, that last line is good enough to save as a quote...so, I did.

And great book choices, by the way."

Thank you!
:)

Ummm... save as a quote...?

[Melki]

I added it to my favorite quotes on my profile page. Soon you'll be as famous as Mark Twain or Ben Franklin, or at least Richard Simmons.

[Shedlon]

Melki wrote: "I added it to my favorite quotes on my profile page. Soon you'll be as famous as Mark Twain or Ben Franklin, or at least Richard Simmons."

Ohhhhh!

Oooooh!

Mark/Ben/Richard who...?
:D
Just kidding, of course I know Mark Franklin and Ben Simmons. And I went to school with Dick Twain...*




*These are all lies

[CartoonistAndre]

Melki wrote: "Hiassen has written two of my favorite characters - Skink, whom I guess you would describe as Nature's Avenger and the greatest villain ever - Chemo."

Melki, I'm also looking forward to reading his latest, Skink-No-surrender, but I'm not familiar with the Chemo character. I'll have to go through which ones I've read and which ones I've obviously missed.

John, I can't remember how much I enjoyed Bad Monkey, so I can't honestly rate it, but considering that fact in of itself, I would guess it wouldn't garner more than a mediocre 3.

Looking back further, I would add Ken Kesey's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, as one novel that kept me grinning like a fool on the subway, with occasional belly laughs, but not quite reaching the rolling on the floor with hilarity index, Thank God- NYTA isn't the most sanitary place to fling yourself about horizontally. And although the conclusion left me wanting, I realized it was the only logical ending, unless Mr. Kesey was of the Hiassen mindset of sequeldom.

[CartoonistAndre]

Guy- I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy Catch 22. Don't be surprised however if you start thinking-"Hey this is just like that tv show- Mash! It was the catalyst for the highly successful series.

[Rebecca]

Cartoonistandre--funny, I don't remember One Flew Over being funny--I remember being horrified. That was a long time ago, though (in high school?). I find that I missed a lot of humor in books read in HS. I only recently re-read and discovered that Pride & Prejudice is funny.

[Shedlon]

Melki wrote: "I added it to my favorite quotes on my profile page. Soon you'll be as famous as Mark Twain or Ben Franklin, or at least Richard Simmons."

Just figured out what this means... and it's huuuge!
I am so very grateful to you; thank you!
And people are liking it already!
Humbled.

Shedlon Wortlebucket*



*names have been changed to protect the... the... me.

[Lasa]

Stray Souls or anything by Kate Griffin, so I hear, but this is my first.

[CartoonistAndre]

Rebecca- It's been said I have a sometimes twisted sense of humor but I found the confrontations between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched amusing. But then it was about 50 years ago when I first read it. It's all relative to past experience I suppose. My wife and I recall how we were the only ones in the theater laughing through "War Of The Roses". The seats were more than half full with silent couples, who I'm sure were wondering why we were so amused by the 'tragic' subject matter.

And I would emphatically add Donald Westlake's Drowned Hopes as one book that did have me in stitches. It was my first Dortmunder novel but I think it was his best.

[Rebecca]

Definitely agree about Westlake. Why haven't I read any in decades, anyway?

[Sonya]

I have to agree with Sheldon. Of the ones that I have read on his list are some of my favorites. Also, if you like weird and funny, I love Robert Rankin's "Nostradamus Ate My Hamster" and "Fandom of the Operator" was funny, but zombies are not my favorite.

[Lasa]

Sonya wrote: "...Also, if you like weird and funny, I love Robert Rankin's "Nostradamus Ate My Hamster"..."

That's def going on my TBR pile.

[Shedlon]

Sonya wrote: "I have to agree with Sheldon. Of the ones that I have read on his list are some of my favorites. Also, if you like weird and funny, I love Robert Rankin's "Nostradamus Ate My Hamster" and "Fandom..."

Oh yes! Thank you Sonya! I forgot! Rankin is funny; his Brentford Triangle series is good. I did find him a bit ponderous sometimes. The title "The Sprouts of Wrath" promises so much but took some persevering (for me) but is could be worth investigating for others.

[CartoonistAndre]

I'll have to look up Mr. Rankin. Thanks Sonya and Sheldon.

Although he can become predictable, Dave Barry had me laughing out loud many times. And although he is an author as well as a journalist and bloger, would this group consider any of his books in this category?

BTW Melki, I see you are also an artist…or did I mis read a thread?

[Melki]

Cartoonistandre wrote: "Although he can become predictable, Dave Barry had me laughing out loud many times. And although he is an author as well as a journalist, would this group consider any of his books in this category?

BTW Melki, I see you are also an artist…or did I mis read a thread?"

I've read quite a bit of the Barry. He's usually good for some chuckles.

I have a BA in art, though I don't really consider myself an artist. Though I have a deep appreciation for the work of others, I've long been out of the habit of drawing or painting daily.

[Sonya]

I used to read some of Dave Barry's columns in the paper. A few years ago I listened with my kids to a children's story he wrote, "Science Fair", which was very funny. There are a lot of Middle Grade and Young Adult writers out there that are hilarious.

[Jim]

I remember reading Barry's column in the Sunday Sun about shrink wrap & how difficult it was to get through after just such an adventure. I kept it on the fridge for years.

Mary Roach is another funny author with a lot of good things to say. I started reading her column in Reader's Digest. Years later, she came out with Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. It's not falling down funny, but her humor certainly lightens an otherwise pretty horrific subject. She starts the book off in room filled with tables on which are dozens of human heads...

A couple of her other books did have me laughing out loud. Her invitation to her husband ("Want to go to England with me, dear?) had him boinking her while a doctor sonogrammed them to see how the fit was. Just one of the funnier parts of Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. You can just imagine all the fuel for humor in Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal. Yes, I learned all sorts of fun trivia.

[Sonya]

Much apologies, I see that I put "Sheldon", but now am reading that it is Shedlon.

Another one of those things where the mind sees what is familiar instead of what is actually there. (I now have to forgive all those people that write my name as Sonia.)

[Shedlon]

Sonya wrote: "Much apologies, I see that I put "Sheldon", but now am reading that it is Shedlon.

Another one of those things where the mind sees what is familiar instead of what is actually there. (I now have..."

No, you are correct Sonya; One evening "Sheldon Wortley" morphed, under copious amounts of alcohol, into "Shedlon Wortlebucket." Which, truth be told, still makes me giggle when drunk.

Shedlon Wortlebucket
Aged 48 (and a quarter)

[Astha]

Oh read anything by Jarod Kintz!

[Dylan]

Plenty of stuff here I've got to check out.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Good Omens. Anything Terry Pratchett is always good to brilliant. I always presumed the funnier bits in Good Omens were his.

Also slowly working through the back catalogue of Christopher Moore. Coyote Blue and Dirty Job are my favourites so far.

[Shedlon]

Dylan wrote: "I'm surprised no one has mentioned Good Omens. Anything Terry Pratchett is always good to brilliant..."

Funny (sorry*) you should mention Good Omens, I'm 3/4's of the way through yet another read now!

*Not sorry

[Dylan]

Shedlon wrote: "Dylan wrote: "I'm surprised no one has mentioned Good Omens. Anything Terry Pratchett is always good to brilliant..."

Funny (sorry*) you should mention Good Omens, I'm 3/4's of the way through yet..."

Between writing my post and reading yours, I have just grabbed my copy to reread this weekend.

[Erica]

"How I Became a Famous Novelist" by Steven Hely and "The Financial Lives of Poets" by Jess Waller.

[Pseudonymous]

I highly recommend the novels of Christopher Buckley, at least for American readers. He's a funny guy.

(FYI: Christopher Buckley is an American conservative pundit. But don't let that scare you. Pundits are just as afraid of you as you are of them. And they can make good pets once they have been fixed or spayed.)

While my politics are considerably to the left of Mr. Buckley's, I greatly admire his even-handed, approach to ripping Congress a new one. His novels are not partisan diatribes; they are satires on the American system of government that can be read with great enjoyment by both conservatives and liberals--with the possible exception of our new Corporate citizens, whom Buckley doesn't seem to like very much. Here are some of my favorites:

(Warning: These books may not be appropriate for people living in countries where national leaders are not chosen based how well they did in the Americas Got Morons TV talent contest.)

Supreme Courtship: In an act of extreme frustration after failing repeatedly to get to Senate to approve qualified nominee after qualified nominee for the Supreme Court, the President nominates a popular TV courtroom judge. Think Judge Judy. Hilarity ensues.

Thank You for Smoking: You like lobbyists; we've got lobbyists. We've got tobacco company lobbyists--the most loveable lobbyists of all. (The book is much better than the movie.)

Boomsday: Young people revolt because they don't want to pay my Social Security and Medicare. The Bastards.

They Eat Puppies, Don't They?: The military-industrial complex v. the Dali Lama. Who will win?

[Guy]

Jim wrote: "I remember reading Barry's column in the Sunday Sun about shrink wrap & how difficult it was to get through after just such an adventure. I kept it on the fridge for years.

Mary Roach one of your favourite books? I see you gave it 5 stars. It is definitely one of mine.

[CartoonistAndre]

Pseudo- thanks for those recommendations, I will put them on my to-read list. And since we were on the subject of Dave Barry, I was reminded of an old favorite, one that I haven't read in years but someone who had milk, beer or wine (depending on my choice of beverage at the time) blowing out my nose like a blue whale. That author was good ol' Erma Bombeck! Maybe some of the younger members never had the pleasure, so I highly recommend some of her earlier novels...

[Rebecca]

You know, I haven't read any Erma Bombeck since long before I became a parent. They were funny then, and must be a great deal more so now!

[Rodney]

My mother read Erma Bombeck books on road trips, which was often since we lived forty miles from any civilization. I remember all of us laughing through every book. I picked up one of her books not long ago and it was like watching a recording of a series you used to watch as a kid. I was surprized to discover how much my sense of humor has changed. Still a good read though.

[Melki]

Pseudonymous wrote: "I highly recommend the novels of Christopher Buckley, at least for American readers. He's a funny guy.

(FYI: Christopher Buckley is an American conservative pundit. But don't let ..."

I'm also a Buckley fan. Florence of Arabia is one of my favs.

[Joel]

Rodney wrote: "My mother read Erma Bombeck books on road trips, which was often since we lived forty miles from any civilization. I remember all of us laughing through every book. I picked up one of her books not..."

My mother read Erma Bombeck on road trips, too. Unfortunately, she tended to be driving at the time.

[Rebecca]

Joel, maybe you could write your own version of Erma! That seems like the sort of thing she would have done...