Funniest (and smartest) Book You've Ever Read?

[Riley]

When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris. If you are against gays this isn't the book for you. Also Fatherhood by Bill Cosby.

[Christine]

I would like to second the recommendation for Dorothy Parker's writings. She was brilliant. I would also like to recommend one of my very favorite authors, Francine Prose- especially her novel Blue Angel and her collection Guided Tours of Hell. Hilarious in that ohmygodimgoingtohell sort of way.

[Tabrez]

I find the writings of Douglas Adams and PG Wodehouse quite hilarious. They have both written humorous books with quite a bit of consistency.

[Tim]

One that made me laugh a lot: My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist

The Butcher Boy was also amazingly funny.

[Liz]

FOr those that have read all of Adams' Hitchhiker series-
are the other books as good as the first?

[Erin]

I would also second the Tuesday Next series by Jasper Fforde, I think someone mentioned this already. Such a funny take on government and society, with some literature humor thrown in.

[Julie]

For both funny AND smart, I would second (or third?) the Jasper Fforde recommendation. Lots of references to Shakespeare, Bronte classics - very clever British humor!

[Christina]

Hey everybody! Did anyone mention Tom Holt already? He´s one of my gods of british humor and every book by him made me laugh at almost every page. I didn´t try to read him in public, because people would have thought I´m crazy ;)!

[Tara]

Erin, I've really tried with Tuesday Next. I just cannot get into it. :/

[Skylar]

Of those on the list that I have actually read, the funniest are (in no particular order):

* Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen

* A Tale of A Tub - Swift (but you need the background to appreciate it)

A Modest Proposal - Swift (funnier than A Tale of A Tub - definitely has something on its mind)

Middlemarch (subtle funny - satire)

* A Handful of Dust - Evelyn Waugh (subtle funny - but also quite serious - satire)

Thank You, Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse

Cat's Cradle - Vonnegut

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Adams


* The starred three were removed from the 2008 list but were in the 1st edition

[Lori]

Jasper Fforde is very good, have read and re-read!
enjoy

[Ariana]

might help if you read thursday next, who is the main character in the book, not tuesday