Recommendations for Funny Books?

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Mrs Miniver
Miss Buncle's Book

Thanks for the suggestions! I've never heard of some of these authors, or heard about them and then forgot. Keep them coming, please!

 I agree with the person who suggested David Sedaris! He is definitely my favorite contemporary author. Don't read his books in public because you may not be able to contain your giggles, and you will look like a weirdo.

 Augusten Burroughs writes a lot like Sedaris, but the humor is a bit darker, and I would definitely recommend any of his books. Who was it who said "Comedy is tragedy plus time"?


 I'm currently reading "A Confederacy Of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole, which is hilarious...it's a bit of a cult classic, even.

 If you are a sick being and you like to laugh at tragic characters with disgusting personality disorders, read anything by Chuck Pahlaniuk. It's generally more schadenfreude than actual comedy, but I LOVE IT! Invisible Monsters is the best, IMO.

Happy reading!

This is a great idea for a thread.  I think all books should have warnings if they have cancer -- or other dread diseases -- in them.  I picked up Richard Russo's Bridge of Sighs and it turned out a major theme was cancer.
My vote would be anything by Bill Bryson.

This is a great idea for a thread.  I think all books should have warnings if they have cancer -- or other dread diseases -- in them. 

Absolutely! I made that mistake a few times when my mother was ill. Not good.

Along with a lot of you, I also love David Sedaris. But I think the OP wanted something with a plot; more of a novel? Is that right? Sedaris is great in snippets, but he doesn't really tell a big story. He's definitely worth putting on a 'funny book' list, though!

Along with a lot of you, I also love David Sedaris. But I think the OP wanted something with a plot; more of a novel? Is that right? Sedaris is great in snippets, but he doesn't really tell a big story. He's definitely worth putting on a 'funny book' list, though!

Ahh, good catch, chary.  You're right!

Oh also Tom Robbins! Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates is one of my favorites. Totally funny, bizarre and interesting!

I adore Tom Robbins.  "Skinny Legs and All", "Jitterbug Perfume", and "Stilllife with Woodpecker" are all great books.  I don't know if they are side-splittingly funny, but there is a humour to them.  I almost always find myself laughing out loud when I read Tom Robbins books.

Oh also Tom Robbins! Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates is one of my favorites. Totally funny, bizarre and interesting!

I just got this one in the post today!  Was thinking of saving it for my holiday as I'm sure I'll really enjoy it. I read one of his others years ago, but can't remember which one. It was the one about the princess?  Anyway, I remember loving it and laughing out loud several times.

Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole is one of the funniest books I've ever read! 

And I will third PG Wodehouse!  Very funny stuff!

Fourthed!  Whenever I'm in a grumpy mood, a little Bertie Wooster always makes me giggle.

Absolutely! I made that mistake a few times when my mother was ill. Not good.

Along with a lot of you, I also love David Sedaris. But I think the OP wanted something with a plot; more of a novel? Is that right? Sedaris is great in snippets, but he doesn't really tell a big story. He's definitely worth putting on a 'funny book' list, though!

The book I ended up getting at the book store had a joke about breast cancer, which is what my mom has and the whole reason I need a funny book. Thankfully it was just two lines and the rest of the book was cancer-free. Not funny in the slightest, though.

You're right, I am looking for more of a plot. I need books that will help me get lost and forget about everything.

I tend to be reading mysteries and/or thrillers now.  You can usually count on them to be cancer-free.  But maybe I need to branch out into more of this upbeat stuff.

If you read the whole douglas adams hitchhiker series, it is long enough to absorb you for a long time, and super funny.

I tend to be reading mysteries and/or thrillers now.  You can usually count on them to be cancer-free.  But maybe I need to branch out into more of this upbeat stuff.

When my mother was seriously ill, I leaned toward old stuff - old books and old films tend not to include cancer for some reason. It was like I entered a 1930s timewarp ... and it was kind of nice!

I just finished reading Talking with Addison by Jenny Colgan. There was one spot with a joke about cancer and then there was a coma, but there was enough humor that I was fine with it. I think every page made me laugh out loud! I brought it to read while we were waiting for the fireworks in Boson to start, since we had a few hours, and I must have looked like a loony laughing out loud. I have to find more of her books!

I just finished reading Talking with Addison by Jenny Colgan. There was one spot with a joke about cancer and then there was a coma, but there was enough humor that I was fine with it. I think every page made me laugh out loud! I brought it to read while we were waiting for the fireworks in Boson to start, since we had a few hours, and I must have looked like a loony laughing out loud. I have to find more of her books!

Yay for Jenny Colgan! That was the first of hers that I read, and she really just gets better.  My favourite is Amanda's Wedding and West End Girls and her new one Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend are both really good as well.