Comedy Fiction books?

[BigWords]

I would suggest Stephen Fry's Liar, or any Monty Python book...

[libri vermis]

Oh, this thread is kind of old, but I will make some suggestions anyway.

 

I agree with Douglas Adams Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series and the Christopher Moore books.

 

I would also add Tom Robbins. Still Life With Woodpecker, Another Roadside Attraction, Skinny Legs and All, and Jitterbug Perfume are all good ones.

 

Another good one is Freddy and Fredricka by Mark Helprin.

[AbielleRose]

There is a wonderful mystery/romantic comedy series out called the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. There are 16 books in the series so far (and more to come). I highly reccomend them! Everyone I know who has read it is addicted.

[Frances1711]

Hi,

I've just finished studying and now want to read a good funny novel thats gonna make me laugh out loud....a good change from serious studying lol

Any suggestions???

I havent read too many novels so no matter how old or popular your suggestions are please let me know cs more than likely i havent read them.

Thanks

[Janet]

Welcome to the forum.

 

I've moved this to a more appropriate forum for book suggestions. I'm sure you'll get lots of ideas.

 

As it was posted in the 'Women's Fiction / Chick Lit' forum, I presume that's the genre you're most interested in?

[Lucybird]

 

Round Ireland with Fridge by Tony Hawks

 

I second this, and Playing the Moldavians at Tennis.

And on a similar vein Googlewhack and Are you Dave Gorman? by Dave Gorman.

[Janet]

Or 'Friends Like These' by Danny Wallace!

 

(None of these are chick-lit though - they're all non-fiction so far, but all good reads. ).

[sirinrob]

To add to the list 'A Fraction of the Whole' Steve Toltz - this just gets funnier and funnier as you read through the novel.

[Kell]

Anything at all by Danny Wallace.

[Louiseog]

I've just read The Best a Man can get by John O'Farrell that made me laugh out loud and it was chick litty (or boy litty)

[iamnotreal]

If you like funny (light) fantasy, try anything by Tom Holt. I read "You Don't Have To Be Evil To Work Here But It Helps" not long ago, and it had me in stitches.

 

There's also "Gods Behaving Badly" by Marie Phillips. I stole this synopsis from Amazon:

 

Being immortal isn't all it's cracked up to be. Life's hard for a Greek god in the 21st century: nobody believes in you any more, even your own family doesn't respect you, and you're stuck in a delapidated hovel in north London with too many siblings and not enough hot water. But for Artemis (goddess of hunting, professional dog walker), Aphrodite (goddess of beauty, telephone sex operator) and Apollo (god of the sun, TV psychic) there's no way out...Until a meek cleaner and her would-be boyfriend come into their lives, and turn the world literally upside down. "Gods Behaving Badly" is that rare thing, a charming, funny, utterly original first novel that satisfies the head and the heart.

[funrun]

Confessions of a Reformed Dieter A.J Rochester

[AbielleRose]

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is one of the funniest series I've ever read. All of the characters are well written and the situations they get themselves into are classic.

[BigWords]

Any of the Monty Python books are laugh-out-loud funny in parts (though I've never found one which can maintain the comedy level throughout), and Nicholson Baker's books have me grinning from ear to ear (warning: some of his output is sexual in nature, so if you're easily shocked then it may not be for you). Oh, and there is an excellent Bill Hicks biography with heavy doses of his stand-up material reprinted. Highly recommended.

 

ETA: Liar by Stephen Fry. Anything at all by Julie Burchill (love her or loathe her, she has the ability to write some genuinely comedic lines).

Edited January 17, 2010 by BigWords

[WrongIslander]

I haven't read them but apparently Charlie Brooker's books are hilarious. If they are anything like his shows (and apparently they are) then I would have no choice but to concur.

[poppyshake]

Marian Keyes's books are funny .. especially the ones about the Walsh clan ... in particular 'Rachels Holiday' but also 'Anybody Out There', 'Watermelon' and 'Angels'.

[Frances1711]

Gosh, wasnt expecting so many replies, this is great! knowing me I'l start reading and not finish! havent read a novel in years...I'l let u's know how i get on

Edited January 19, 2010 by BookJumper

[angelofboox]

Pratchett's books always get me laughing! Specially at moments I don't expect when I'm sitting in public, which ocassionally draws bemused looks. If you've not given any of the Discworld series a stab, and you like a sort of non-serious science-fiction/fantasy satire of the universe - definitely worth a try!

[Anika]

Lynne Truss is really funny! Just picked up the 'Treasury' (3 novels and a selection of her columns) and it's hilarious!

[Michelle]

Frances, I've merged your thread with a similar one, so we can keep the suggestions all together. Please let us know how you get on with your choices.

[Vladd]

May I suggest

Space Captain Smith

God Emperor of Didcot

and Wrath of The Lemming Men

all adventures of Captain Isambard Smith of the British Space Empire written by Toby Frost

[Jue xxx]

Please stop the suggestions!!

 

I've added all of the above to Mount tbr and now blown my New Year's Resolution! (which was to reduce the size of Mount tbr before adding more to the list!)

[iamnotreal]

I've got one more suggestion. It's the book I'm reading at the moment, Retromancer by Robert Rankin. There's something insanely funny about it, but it's hard to describe what it is. I think it's just the way James (main character) talks and the things he says... it's funny!

 

I was reading it on the train this morning and it's a good job I was the only one in the carriage or I would have got some really weird looks!

[Vladd]

I'd forgotten Rankin, his books are a must.

[Bookey]

Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith really cheered me up!!

 

It won't let me put the link in but it's all the ws then alexandermccallsmithbooks.co.uk and click on Corduroy Mansions on the left to get a great intro to the book and the characters.