Subject: What's the funniest book you've read?
Posted by: alaspooryoric
Date: Dec 16 10
I would have to say a tie between Douglas Adams's "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and Tim O'Brien's "Tomcat in Love." A close second would be John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces." If one could count a play as a book, then I might say Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest."
Posted by: alaspooryoric
Date: Dec 16 10
I would have to say a tie between Douglas Adams's "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and Tim O'Brien's "Tomcat in Love." A close second would be John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces." If one could count a play as a book, then I might say Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest."
74 replies. On page 1 of 4 pages. 1 2 3 4
adamantmuse 
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Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is pretty darn good. Also, anything by Christopher Moore, especially Fool, Lamb, and Island of the Sequined Love Nun. I read Monster by A. Lee Martinez, and while I haven't read anything else by him, it was pretty great. Reply #1. Dec 16 10, 7:43 PM |
Cymruambyth
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I can't name just one. Anything by P.G. Wodehouse has me falling about giggling (especially the Jeeves and Wooster sagas), and 'Three Men in a Boat' by Jerome K. Jerome has long been a favourite. Richard Gordon's 'Doctor in the House' and the follow-up books are also fun, as is Will Ferguson's 'How to be Canadian', and the best one of all is '1066 and All That' by W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman. Reply #2. Dec 17 10, 12:17 AM |
Dagny1
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All good ones mentioned thus far, especially Three Men in a Boat (Not to Mention the Dog). But this was surpassed for me by several books by Kinky Friedman. Reply #3. Dec 17 10, 12:44 PM |
Heleena
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With the exception of "A Confederacy of Dunces" I haven't read any of the previously mentioned books and I didn't make it all of the way through that one. I just didn't get it. Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" had me laughing out loud. It was a hilarious account of his attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail. Really enjoyed that one. Reply #4. Dec 17 10, 2:12 PM |
abechstein
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It's hard to pick just one, but I have to suggest "Straight Man" by Richard Russo. If you're in academia, it's especially funny, but, regardless, it's worth a read. Reply #5. Dec 17 10, 3:02 PM |
lesley153
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I was in tears reading Samuel Shem's "The House of God" but, like Heleena, I didn't get "A Confederacy of Dunces" either. Somewhere in these boards, but I can't find where, I remember posting that I never wanted "The House of God" to end, and that I'd had "A Confederacy of Dunces" for more than twenty years and had never managed to get beyond the first few pages. Reply #6. Dec 17 10, 4:52 PM |
postcards2go
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I agree with Cym. I can read the same P.G. wodehouse books over and over, and laugh every time. Reply #7. Dec 17 10, 5:21 PM |
H0lyAerith
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Well, definitely the one that everyone else finds funny ("The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy") but also many parts of anything written by David and Leigh Eddings (they have a very wry, sardonic sense of humor that I like). Reply #8. Dec 20 10, 12:56 PM |
mjws1968
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Hitchhiker's is always good for a laugh. Terry Pratchett's books also have me in stitches, I can particularly recommend his fourth Discworld novel, "Mort", absolutely hilarious. Seriously, if you're taking it on holiday pack a lot of changes of underwear. Reply #9. Dec 21 10, 1:28 PM |
jolana
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Apart from some Czech books which I won´t mention here as nobody here would know them, the first book that crossed my mind was "Egg and I" by Betty MacDonald. Reply #10. Dec 21 10, 2:41 PM |
wyambezi
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I try to take light reading with me to doctors' offices but I had to quit taking Paula Poundstone's "There's Nothing In This Book That I Meant To Say" because I couldn't curtail my laughing. Not good with people feeling miserable nearby. Reply #11. Jan 02 11, 9:09 PM |
MotherGoose
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"the first book that crossed my mind was "Egg and I" by Betty MacDonald" I remember reading that one decades ago! "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" was very enjoyable. I also enjoy the Rumpole books and find their understated humour very enjoyable. Bill Bryson books are always good for a laugh. I particularly enjoyed "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid". Being of nearly the same vintage (slightly younger), his ability to write humorously about the era in which we both grew up, and having shared similar experiences, made the book even funnier for me. If you are younger and didn't experience or remember those times, it might not be quite so funny. Reply #12. Jan 02 11, 10:09 PM |
houston1127
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A Confederacy of Dunces was probably the funniest book I remember reading. Ignatius was all too familiar with me, and his valve troubles were hilarious. The funniest series of books that I've read is the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser. I can't get enough and it's too bad more weren't written. Reply #13. Jan 03 11, 12:22 AM |
HannahConner88
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"The Princess Bride" by William Goldman. It's my favorite book, better than the movie and laugh out loud funny- and it's an incredible work of fiction. Reply #14. Jan 03 11, 2:48 PM |
golfmom08
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Janet Evanovich's series about bounty hunter Stephanie Plum always makes me laugh out loud. Reply #15. Jan 09 11, 6:56 PM |
Rowena8482
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Usually when someone asks me this, I say Gerald Durrell and My Family and Other Animals, and the two sequels, but I got a book of "werewolf Christmas" stories a fortnight ago, and one of them made me laugh until I literally couldn't stand up, and kept me giggling just thinking about it for days. It had a ridiculous plot, and the total absurdity of it just "hit my funny bone", and I have NEVER laughed so much while reading anything :-D (And when I find it I will tell you the title and author lol - they were all more or less unknowns, I downloaded the book as an ebook, and I'm not sure it was even published as a "real" book, but Oh! how I love that story! I got some more stuff by the author, but it seems this one was a departure for him and his other stuff was more gory slasher horror so it didn't appeal to me) Reply #16. Jan 10 11, 3:20 PM |
naerulinnupesa
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"Pahupidi puhkus" (Upside Down Holyday)by Asta Kass. It tells a story about a brother and sister, twins, who go to their Grandma in the country for Summer holiday. As an unexpected "bonus", their Great-grandmother also comes there and turns life upside down. She gives all the tools and other useful things for scrap metal (to make the place look nicer for the home improvement contest). She breaks into her own room ("You mustn't climb out of the window!" - "I climbed IN. And so did all of YOU.") She agrees to babysit a bunch of 3-year-olds (the kindergarten is being remodelled). She paints every floor in the house as a surprise. ("The paint will take a long time to dry, but it's alredy starting to!") And I could never hear a phrase "tame animal" without smiking again, 'cause that's what she called a horse right before it ruined their garden. ;) Reply #17. Mar 15 11, 5:13 AM |
MrHulot_
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"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams "Lucky Jim" by Kingsley Amis "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller "Three Men in a Boat" by Jeromo K. Jerome Reply #18. Mar 15 11, 5:28 PM |
| MalcolmCyril
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Woody Allens' "Without Feathers" or pretty well anything by Dave Berry. Reply #19. May 11 12, 8:45 PM |
| NutmegClaw
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One of my favorite funny books led me to the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. It is "Nanny Ogg's Cookbook". She has a recipe for Carrot and Oyster pie (carrot so you can see in the dark, oysters so you will have something to look at). She also gives tips on ettiquet. It is a must for Discworld fans. Reply #20. Sep 04 12, 4:00 PM |
74 replies. On page 1 of 4 pages. 1 2 3 4
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