Life is Fun(nier), Book Edition
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE Most of you know I love a good book. Here are a few of my favorite funny ones:
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore--Apparently, Death is employed, and well, his job is to go around collecting people's souls. Throw in a few twists like reanimated squirrel people, giant ravens and a jaunty Jack Russell terrier, and you have yourself a book that should seem completely ridiculous, but somehow still comes across as believable.
My Horizontal Life: a Collection of One-Night Stands by Chelsea Handler--If you ever wanted to get TMI about all the one night stands a girl has in a life-time, then this is your book. My favorite part is when...oh just read it. Seriously, you'll learn a lot.
The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie--That's right, Dr. House writes books. Funny ones. This novel is a spy-spoof, but what really shines is just how wittily it's written. Here's his description of a beautiful woman:
"She came towards me and stopped. She was shorter than she'd looked on the other side of the room. I smiled again, and she took a cigarette from the packet, but didn't light it. She just played with it slowly, and then pointed a pair of green eyes at me.
I say a pair. I mean her pair. She didn't get a pair of someone else's eyes out from a drawer and point them at me. She pointed her own pair of huge, pale, grey, pale, huge eyes at me. The sort of eyes that can make a grown man talk gibberish to himself. Get a grip, for Christ's sake."
Such goodness. I love when stuff is clever.
When You Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win by Carol Leiffer--I just read this book recently, and it's a fantastic example of "life is funny". Not only is the author a comedy writer, but she's well aware of how ironic life itself can be. Married for years and then divorcing in her forties, she, on a whim, decided she'd like to date a woman. What happened from there must be read about, but this lady is an inspiration to me about what it means to truly know and understand yourself.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith--I don't care if you like Jane Austen or not, this book is funny.
What are your favorite funny books?
Reader Comments (9)
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. About hiking the Appalachian Trail. Sort of.
Love Christopher Moore! I think "Lamb" is my fav. Gotta love a book from the perspective of Jesus' best friend, Biff.
I haven't read anything funny lately... Glad add some laughs to my reading list.
Thanks!
Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.
And also Karma Cola, but you won´t get it unless you´ve travelled to India.
Russian comedy writers are also amazing !
@niceguyted--Is that a non-fic?
@christi--I've been meaning to read "Lamb"...I've heard several times that it's fantastic.
@Shannon--You're welcome. I've found I definitely need to mix up the serious stuff with some laughs.
@EV--I like Hitchhikers!! Very funny...well, I just love the English comedy writers. Terry Pratchett is a definite favorite.
Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut. Silly, prescient, and a rarely mentioned piece of the authors catalog of writings.
I just got Lamb by Moore and it is flippin HIlarious! I'll loan you my copy when I'm done.
@Travis--you're right, never heard of that one! I'll have to check it out.
@Jai--Haha, maybe I'll trade you Lamb for your copy of A Dirty Job that I stole. :D
I LOVE Christopher Moore! A Dirty Job is one of my favorite books!
I also recommend Tom Robbins - so much fun!