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Funny books

Can anyone recommend any funny books- novels that is! Can't trawl through the what at you reading thread as it's massive

Comments

  • Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan

    Is hilarious
  • A lot of Christopher Brookmyres' stuff is very funny, a mixture of comedy and crime/violence. I think he also did one straight thriller, I suspect all the gen is on his website.
  • Bill Bryson.
  • Incompetence by rob grant had me in stitches
  • A White Merc with Fins by James Hawes.
  • The Aberystwyth series by Malcolm Pryce; Last Tango in Aberystwyth, The Unbearable Lightness of being in Aberystwyth, Don't Cry for me Aberystwyth etc.

    Even funnier if you've ever been there.
  • What's your sense of humour like croydon? Do you prefer one liners, attrocious puns, parodies of familiar books/films, gentle whimsy, or familiar situations spun out to utterly absurd conclusions? Reccomendations will vary depending on your answer
  • A lot of Christopher Brookmyres' stuff is very funny, a mixture of comedy and crime/violence. I think he also did one straight thriller, I suspect all the gen is on his website.

    IdleHans said:

    A White Merc with Fins by James Hawes.

    Both good shouts. I'd also recommend Colin Bateman in a similar vein or Carl Hiaasen for an American version of the comedy/crime genre.
  • edited April 2014
    The late Peter Tinniswood is a funny writer. His book about the MCC (can't think of the title right now) is amusing to cricket fans.

    EDIT: Tales From The Long Room is the book I was thinking of.
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  • Portnoy's Complaint - The funniest book ever. Bar none.
  • Jeremy Clarkson that pompous twit writes surprising funny books...
  • For such a literary lot, the difficulty in reading the OPs request is surprising?

    He asked for "novels".
  • Tom Sharpe - his stuff from the 1970's rather than the more modern books
  • I have read a couple of Christopher Moore's novels. They are pretty good. If you have not read them the Adrian mole books by Sue Townsend are recommended as is Tue back catalogue of Douglas Adams.
  • Jeremy Clarkson that pompous twit writes surprising funny books...

    I've had to stop myself from reading these on trains as hate laughing out loud and being unable to stop with people giving me funny looks
  • The Bible and the Koran are both funny little reads but I think they're more fairytales rather than full-on comedy.
  • Some good shouts already...Used to read Tom Sharpe's novels back in the 80s on way into work on the train and struggled not to laugh out loud...a lot.

    Big William is right with Chris Brookmyre, some great Jack Parlabane novels. Dark and very funny!

    Colin Bateman also has a series of books, mostly set in Belfast and again dark and funny, such as Dr Yes, Mystery Man & The Prisoner of Brenda.

    More recently The 100 Year Old Man who climbed out of the window & disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. Really loved this one.
  • Agree with Tel, 100yo man is very good.
  • Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is funny, and so are the Red Dwarf books, if that's your thing.

    The Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser is pure comedy genius
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  • Spike Milligan's 'Adolf Hitler - My part in his downfall' is hilarious.
  • Terry Pratchett is normally very good for a laugh, though not purely a comedic writer. Try and go for the earlier stuff though, his work has got a lot more serious since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has suffered for it IMO. (Which is not a criticism before anyone jumps on me...)
  • Agree with Bournemouth about Carl Hiaasson.

    Also really enjoyed The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie
  • I second Pratchett great author deals in real life issues in humorous way. Has his books worsened on reflection yes they probally have still quality through.
  • Steven Clarkes "Merde" series is well worth a read.
  • edited April 2014
    The 'Thursday Next' series by Jasper FForde is worth a go on the fantasy comedy front as is The Rivers of london novels by Ben Aaronovitch. The Aberystwyth novels mentioned earlier in the thread are also very clever and funny.
  • thenewbie said:

    Terry Pratchett is normally very good for a laugh, though not purely a comedic writer. Try and go for the earlier stuff though, his work has got a lot more serious since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has suffered for it IMO. (Which is not a criticism before anyone jumps on me...)

    agreed ... great fun
  • Has to be Tom Sharpe, Wilt, Blott on the Landscape, Ancestral Vices are just a few, avoid the later stuff, he went of the boil a bit.
  • Luke Rhinehart - the dice man

    Matt Beaumont - e

    Both very entertaining
  • Another vote for e and Incompetence from me.
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