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Posts: 11039
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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March 2002
Posts: 15680
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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November 2003
Posts: 11039
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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August 2004
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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November 2005
Posts: 4833
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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July 2007
Posts: 423
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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November 2003
Posts: 11039
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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May 2005
Posts: 486
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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November 2005
Posts: 4833
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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May 2003
Posts: 4389
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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August 2006
Posts: 3145
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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March 2002
Posts: 14842
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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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | anything by kurt vonnegut jr. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
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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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | One for the Money . . . |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
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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November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | I`m with AL, read some Kurt. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Been through all Vonnegut's stuff at least once. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Go Here:
Anthony Bourdain |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
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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February 2005
Posts: 11840
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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September 2003
Posts: 9301
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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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Anything by Heinlein..... |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Heinekin? |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Robert Heinlein |
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Novel Ideas...
