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

[Joel]

I have a hard enough time writing my own version of Joel.

[CartoonistAndre]

Thinking way back, my first book of humor, that I'm able to remember, was No Time For Sargeants, which may have been, correct me if I'm wrong, the catalyst for Gomer Pyle USMC.

"Our first humor novel" might also be another good thread to have on our board, it may unearth some good memories and maybe add some forgotten authors/writers to our growing list of humorists.

[Pseudonymous]

CartoonistAndre wrote: "Thinking way back, my first book of humor, that I'm able to remember, was No Time For Sargeants, which may have been...".

I first read No Time for Sergeants in 1958 when I was 11 years old. I even remember buying the book at SS Kresge's Five and Dime, probably for 25 cents. God, I'm old. Why did you bring this up?

Interestingly, you and I may share this book as the first adult comic novel that we ever read. This seems strange as I don't remember lending it to you. Please return it. I'm beginning to think I want to read it again.

[CartoonistAndre]

Sorry Pseu! Well, actually NOT sorry! The truth is; I actually sort of 'borrowed' it from you, just after you stole my girl, Brunhilda! I was just a stupid freshy and you were some big-shot senior! But now, Hah!, now I luxuriate in the satisfaction of pulling it out, on occasion, and farting on the page with your name on it!

I think I read it years later in '63 or '64.... Had to air it out a bit.

Andy Griffith's movie adaption was not nearly as funny as the novel. You know that might've been my first "It wasn't as good as the book" critique of movie adaptations.

[Rebecca]

Linda B.D. wrote: "Hi, I'm not sure where this should go. This is a short list of things that are true. Yes, true & they did happen to me. Well worth the read! Laugh for the day. >https://www.goodreads.com/story/list..."
Linda, looks like this one belongs in the "pimp your book" section. I will move it if I can figure out how, or you can simply delete and re-post in the appropriate section.

[Rebecca]

Linda, I get what you are saying, but it's still advertising your own writing. In general, we try to avoid doing that in threads of this sort. If you prefer, there is a blog thread where we post about our posts, as it were.

[Melki]

I hate to put my little moderator foot down, but this topic is really for any books by other authors you have read and would like to recommend.

If you're interested in telling us about your own work, we have a Pimp Your Book section AND NOW, a new Creative Writing subspecies for posting short stories, etc.

Linda, thanks for helping me realize we needed a topic for author's short writing. I have moved your original comment to that section.

[Linda B.D.]

Melki wrote: "I hate to put my little moderator foot down, but this topic is really for any books by other authors you have read and would like to recommend.

If you're interested in telling us about your own ..."

Thank You. Wow, I didn't consider myself an author. Thank You for moving it.

[Rebecca]

Linda--you put words on paper, or at least on computer screen, and share them with the world. That makes you a writer, in my book.

[Kathy]

"Put my little moderator foot down." Ha, Melki. Back to the topic--I howled reading most of the Donald Westlake books featuring Dortmunder and gang.

[CartoonistAndre]

I just remembered this thread while looking through a very funny and inspiring book by Melvin Helitzer- Comedy Writing Secrets. A former award winning professor of humor and journalism at Ohio University and a consummate humor writer. If you write humor it's invaluable and a good source for getting ideas and lots of hilarious examples.

Then again, you're probably thinking "Of course we know Melvin Helitzer! What a Yutz!"

MELVIN HELITZER

[Joe]

Denis Leary's "No Cure For Cancer" had me laughing hard. I know it was originally a play, but the book is really funny.

[Sonya]

I'm currently reading, but may never finish To Be Or Not To Be by Ryan North. This is one of those Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books, which if you can't guess is based on Hamlet. This book is thicker than my dictionary and has so many possible endings, that I doubt I would ever get to them all. It has great color illustrations and to top it off is very funny. Just reading the first couple of pages was hilarious. I recommend it, if you find these books amusing.

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

[Sonya]

Sonya wrote: "I'm currently reading, but may never finish To Be Or Not To Be by Ryan North. This is one of those Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books, which if you can't guess is based on Hamlet. This book is thick..."

Okay, on looking at the book again, it's not that thick, but you could definitely use it for a door stop or a brick if pressed for those items. ;)

[Joel]

Sounds like good beach reading, especially if your name is Robinson Crusoe.

[CartoonistAndre]

If you say you may never finish it, I'm thinking you just might wind up using if for something like that. Maybe a step-up in the kitchen or tortilla maker.

[Sonya]

I'm sure Robinson Crusoe could use a good tortilla maker.

[Joel]

Couldn't everybody?

[Lisa]

Sonya wrote: "I'm sure Robinson Crusoe could use a good tortilla maker."

I would think Rob would have wanted a decent out-door grill. Preferably one plumbed to a gas line.

[Gary]

A comedy about WW II in an Irish seaside village--The Dingle War--was one of my favorites. It's probably out of print now. I read it 45 years ago.
As a couple of the others have commented, oddly, the rest of my favorites are serious books; histories, essays, or science, and none of them are funny.

[Melki]

Gary wrote: "A comedy about WW II in an Irish seaside village--The Dingle War--was one of my favorites. It's probably out of print now. I read it 45 years ago.
As a couple of the others have commented, oddly, t..."

Thanks for the suggestion, Gary. There are some used copies available on Amazon - The Dingle War.

[CartoonistAndre]

Sad to say, I can't remember the last time I read a fall down funny book. If I can get 10 chuckles and a belly laugh I feel lucky to have found something worth mentioning here (other than the ones I'd suggested months back) but it's been a while.

I'm reading David Sedaris for the first time, I'm halfway through and enjoying some essays more than others while hoping for that belly whopper any second now.