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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | In my never-ending attempt to raise the level of discourse 'round here, I though I might ask those of you who can read, for recommendations on books. In particular, funny novels. You know- the kind that make you snort aloud in public places...
I'll get the ball rolling...
Any novel by Tom Robbins, but particularly; "Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates" and "JitterBug Perfume"
Carl Hiaason has a slew of funny novels, but "Skin Tight" made me left hardest.
"Me Talk Pretty One Day" -David Sedaris |
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Location: SoCal | Not a novel, but a good read.... Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, by Tim Weiner. One screwed up government agency. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Heh, Paul... I just finished that one a few weeks ago... and part of the reason why I want something funny... |
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Posts: 709
Location: Germany | I currently read this one: "I'm a stranger here myself: Notes on returning to America after 20 years away" by Bill Bryson.
Also not a novel but very funny.
Karl |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Anything by Jasper Fforde (that's not a misprint, nor are there any in the books; no matter how many times he insists otherwise.) Follow the directions at the website.
If you liked Douglas Adams, (You did read Hitch-hikers Guide To The Galaxy, right?) finished the two Dirk Gently-Holistic Detective novels, and still wanted more....this is for you. |
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Location: UK | Any books by Nick Hornby , i think High Fidelity is really funny and kind of captures that bloke obsessive thing around music |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I picked-up High Fidelity just weeks after spending a month in/around Hartfordshire, quite unaware that Hornby was (and apparently still is) English and that the story takes place in Hemel Hampstead. Fun bit of synchronicity. Like Robbins, Hornby writes women very well and that is much of his appeal beyond his humor (the two often coincide)... I can't recall at the moment the title of a later novel he wrote about a married couple splitting-up but, it too, was hilarious...
fillhixx, yes, read "Hitch-hikers" and I'll look into "Dirk Gently" and Mr, Phphorde.
Another for y'all is "A Walk In The Woods" - Bill Bryson |
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Location: North Carolina | Have read all Hiassen to date ("Double Whammy" my fav) and the one novel by Dave Barry, but am partial to police procedurals. On the lighter side of police/mystery street, I like the Elvis Cole novels by Robert Crais. Elvis has the added benefit of a shaddowy sidekick, Joe Pike, who tends not to have much of a sense of humor himself. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I'm a fan of all the literary descendants of John D. MacDonald and Elmore Leonard; Carl Hiaasen, James W. Hall, and couple others I call "The Florida Writers." (I call them that because the Partziemers kicked in -part of the time, I forget)
All Bill Bryson books are good for insight and humour. I also recommend his A Short History Of Nearly Everything. You will come away with a better understanding of science and history than all those boring lectures managed years ago. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Fiasco by Tom Ricks.
God's other son, by Don Imus.
Both of these will make you laugh your a@@ off. For different reasons. |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | For a good long read with alot of humor, I recommend Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson.
Rick - loved God's Other Son! |
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Location: NJ | The Janet Evanovich "Stephanie Plum" series is pretty funny, and is a REAL simple read.
Jeanette turned me on to 'em one day on the beach, and I had originally dismissed 'em as "chick-book fluff".
It's pretty funny sh!t . . . and it takes place in Jersey (Trenton, t'be exact).
The grandmother character's a f@ckin' HOOT!! . . . |
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Location: NJ | anything by kurt vonnegut jr. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | What Cliff said. There's 12 of them and they are numbered. "One to get ready" Two to show" or something like that. I'm on 6 right now. |
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Location: NJ | One for the Money . . . |
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Location: NJ | I just finished a book a couple weeks ago called "Crazy for God" by Frank Schaeffer.
I THINK it comes out next week (I had an advance copy).
Not a comedy, but a pretty interesting read . . . |
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Location: ms | I`m with AL, read some Kurt. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Been through all Vonnegut's stuff at least once. |
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Location: NJ | Go Here:
Anthony Bourdain |
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Location: south east Michigan | IHMO, laugh-out-loud novels would be few and far between. Comedy depends so much on inflection an timing that I think it hards to pull off with the written word. The exception might be a joke book where the reader can sense the set-up and the pay-off and insert their own sense of timing.
I have read hundreds of sci-fi books and could rattle off a quick top ten list but you might have a hard time finding most of them currently in print. |
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Location: closely held secret | Donald Westlake and P.G. Wodehouse .
I'm with ya on the sci-fi, Brad. Niven, Silverberg, Pohl, Card... |
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Location: south east Michigan | John... next time we cross paths we have to remember to carve out a half hour or so to compare sci-fi notes. |
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Location: SoCal | Anything by Heinlein..... |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Heinekin? |
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Location: SoCal | Robert Heinlein |
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Location: NJ | Guys, . . .
. . . did you by chance miss the word "funny" from the first post??
:rolleyes: |
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Location: SoCal | You've never seen a thread evolve? |
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Location: closely held secret | Well, it started with:
Originally posted by Jeff W.:
In my never-ending attempt to raise the level of discourse 'round here, I though I might ask those of you who can read, for recommendations on books. So, exactly how serious were we to take it? |
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Location: closely held secret | Besides, Heinlein (among others, Niven, Pohl, etc) was a master of irony and sarcasm, both considered to be forms of humor.
He also popularized the term TANSTAAFL. |
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Location: NJ | Jeffrey;
It came to me this morning as I was driving to work.
You NEED to read
Jim Norton's "Happy Endings".
If for ANY reason you are dissatisfied with it, I will reimburse you the full purchase price . . . |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | You know...I just may pick that up myself. I have always gotten much more enjoyment out of a very well written semi-fiction (read anything by Pat Conroy - the man paints a picture you can't believe) and, despite a few efforts, have never really appreciated novels with humor.
Not going to give up tho'... |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Haven't read that one, Clifford. It goes on the the list |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
You've never seen a thread evolve? Sorry, I may have missed the sea change, I didn't think U.S.A. citizens believed in evolution....... |
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Location: NJ | Suggesting that threads HERE are "Intelligently Designed" is a bit of a "stretch" . . . |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Intellegently rambled maybe |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Were you predestined to think that or was it a natural step in the process of free will?
Ahhh, skip it!
Lately all I can handle is the StewMac catalog in one sitting but in my younger days I enjoyed the sarcastic imagination of Piers Anthony and Stephen Donaldson.
Put me down for Chuck Swindoll and Max Lucado. |
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Novel Ideas...