I need something fun to read!

Dngrsone · 07-09-2016, 07:48 AM

I suffer from clinical depression. Well usually, suffer isn't the word I'd use; I do have medication (now), which helps to mitigate things to a certain point, but too much of it makes me literally too stupid to be able to function as an adult.

Particularly as an adult with a family to care and provide for.

So books are my primary means of escape/entertainment.

And, good lord, am I depressed this month. I reread a book I had read three months ago, because it was the funnest series I could think of ([i]Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillian[//i]); and I need something else that is just plain fun, without being too poorly written (Ms. Rowling, and your American interpreters, I'm looking at you!)

New to me, would be great, but of course there's no way my internet friends can know what I have and have not read.

So, my friends, what can you recommend for me that will take me more toward Elysium fields and further from the river Styx?

Dr. Drib · 07-09-2016, 08:23 AM

I imagine you've already read the classic, "Three Men in a Boat"? -- Get it here for free, if you haven't.

Apache · 07-09-2016, 09:48 AM

Anything by Christopher Moore, but especially Blood Sucking Fiends: A Love Story.
Richard Hooker: Mash and Mash Goes to Maine.
Graeme Simsion: The Rosie Project
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
All of Carl Hiaasen's books
Apache

silverraven · 07-09-2016, 10:48 AM

All of Terry Pratchett Discworld Series.
Also, might not be your cup of tea, but Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Grandma is funny!
S

Blossom · 07-09-2016, 11:03 AM

I second the Stephanie Plum series. They are my go to books for when I need to laugh or smile. The only books I've ever wanted to reread.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

MickeyC · 07-09-2016, 11:13 AM

The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Read this and you will understand the importance of 42.

And don't forget your towel.

Historiann · 07-09-2016, 11:16 AM

Leonard Wibberly, The Mouse that Roared
Joan Hess Maggody mysteries (Mystery series set in a small town in Artkansas filled with colorful characters)
Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Donald Ogden Stewart, Perfect Behavior: A Guide for Ladies and Gentlemen in All Social Crises. This is a parody book of etiquette written in the 1920s--dated, of course, but still funny

My very best wishes to you. Thanks for starting the thread.

jackie_w · 07-09-2016, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

Graeme Simsion: The Rosie Project

+1 for this. Even my husband enjoyed it and he's normally a Sci-Fi only guy.

pdurrant · 07-09-2016, 12:50 PM

"Just plain fun" is tricky. One one person finds funny, another might just find silly.

But IMO you could do a lot worse than any of the Jeeves and Wooster stories by P G Wodehouse. Since you're in the US, perhaps you could start with one of the early novels, Right Ho, Jeeves, which is in the public domain in the US, as the copyright wasn't renewed.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10554

bookaho!ic · 07-09-2016, 03:33 PM

would def suggest hitch hikers

although i have just discovered Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs - coyotes werewolves

but i love anything with a bit of supernatural about them

happy reading

Dngrsone · 07-09-2016, 03:59 PM

Thank you, friends, for some rapid recommendations. I have had Three Men in a Boat in my TBR in the past, but it somehow fell off the list, so it is back on. So is Right Ho, Jeeves. I actually read MASH in Maine in my freshman year of high school, back in 1980... was not impressed, back then. Might be something to revisit, though.

I have read all the Douglas Adams books (yes, even Dirk Gently), and I look forward to revisiting them in the future.

Hah, As I added The Rosie Project to my wish list, I discovered An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments is going for only $0.99 right now. How fortuitous.

Are the Stephanie Plum books better read in order, or can I start anywhere? The mini-library at work (basically, it's books left on planes, though there are a few of us who cycle our own stuff through on occasion) actually has Takedown Twenty, so I could start on that one...

MickeyC · 07-09-2016, 04:18 PM

Do read the Rosie Project. It is a great giggle!

Dngrsone · 07-09-2016, 04:55 PM

Ooh! Rosie Project is available at my library.

Dr. Drib · 07-09-2016, 05:01 PM

Some of the classics you are probably familiar with:

"Catch-22" - Joseph Heller

And quite a lot of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. may interest you.

silverraven · 07-09-2016, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

Are the Stephanie Plum books better read in order, or can I start anywhere? The mini-library at work (basically, it's books left on planes, though there are a few of us who cycle our own stuff through on occasion) actually has Takedown Twenty, so I could start on that one...

Yes, sorry, they need to be read in order. The characters/relationships develop as the books progress. Check your library, most have them.
S

07-09-2016, 07:48 AM	#1
Dngrsone Almost legible Posts: 1,457 Karma: 4611110 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: In a high desert, CA Device: Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Tab A (2017), Likebook P78	I need something fun to read! I suffer from clinical depression. Well usually, suffer isn't the word I'd use; I do have medication (now), which helps to mitigate things to a certain point, but too much of it makes me literally too stupid to be able to function as an adult. Particularly as an adult with a family to care and provide for. So books are my primary means of escape/entertainment. And, good lord, am I depressed this month. I reread a book I had read three months ago, because it was the funnest series I could think of ([i]Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillian[//i]); and I need something else that is just plain fun, without being too poorly written (Ms. Rowling, and your American interpreters, I'm looking at you!) New to me, would be great, but of course there's no way my internet friends can know what I have and have not read. So, my friends, what can you recommend for me that will take me more toward Elysium fields and further from the river Styx?

07-09-2016, 11:03 AM	#5
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I second the Stephanie Plum series. They are my go to books for when I need to laugh or smile. The only books I've ever wanted to reread. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk Last edited by Blossom; 07-09-2016 at 11:06 AM.

07-09-2016, 11:16 AM	#7
Historiann Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 532702 Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle PW	Leonard Wibberly, The Mouse that Roared Joan Hess Maggody mysteries (Mystery series set in a small town in Artkansas filled with colorful characters) Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Donald Ogden Stewart, Perfect Behavior: A Guide for Ladies and Gentlemen in All Social Crises. This is a parody book of etiquette written in the 1920s--dated, of course, but still funny My very best wishes to you. Thanks for starting the thread. Last edited by Historiann; 07-09-2016 at 11:38 AM.

07-09-2016, 04:18 PM	#12
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Do read the Rosie Project. It is a great giggle! Last edited by MickeyC; 07-09-2016 at 04:19 PM. Reason: I

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07-09-2016, 08:23 AM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I imagine you've already read the classic, "Three Men in a Boat"? -- Get it here for free, if you haven't.

07-09-2016, 09:48 AM	#3
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Anything by Christopher Moore, but especially Blood Sucking Fiends: A Love Story. Richard Hooker: Mash and Mash Goes to Maine. Graeme Simsion: The Rosie Project Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett All of Carl Hiaasen's books Apache

07-09-2016, 10:48 AM	#4
silverraven Guru Posts: 970 Karma: 3438612 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle 4NTB x 4	All of Terry Pratchett Discworld Series. Also, might not be your cup of tea, but Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Grandma is funny! S

07-09-2016, 11:13 AM	#6
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	*The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy* by Douglas Adams. Read this and you will understand the importance of 42. And don't forget your towel.

07-09-2016, 12:50 PM	#9
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,944 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	"Just plain fun" is tricky. One one person finds funny, another might just find silly. But IMO you could do a lot worse than any of the Jeeves and Wooster stories by P G Wodehouse. Since you're in the US, perhaps you could start with one of the early novels, Right Ho, Jeeves, which is in the public domain in the US, as the copyright wasn't renewed. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10554

07-09-2016, 03:33 PM	#10
bookaho!ic Evangelist Posts: 466 Karma: 5575734 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: UK Device: kobo Aura H20 2nd Ed	would def suggest hitch hikers although i have just discovered Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs - coyotes werewolves but i love anything with a bit of supernatural about them happy reading

07-09-2016, 03:59 PM	#11
Dngrsone Almost legible Posts: 1,457 Karma: 4611110 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: In a high desert, CA Device: Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Tab A (2017), Likebook P78	Thank you, friends, for some rapid recommendations. I have had Three Men in a Boat in my TBR in the past, but it somehow fell off the list, so it is back on. So is Right Ho, Jeeves. I actually read MASH in Maine in my freshman year of high school, back in 1980... was not impressed, back then. Might be something to revisit, though. I have read all the Douglas Adams books (yes, even Dirk Gently), and I look forward to revisiting them in the future. Hah, As I added The Rosie Project to my wish list, I discovered An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments is going for only $0.99 right now. How fortuitous. Are the Stephanie Plum books better read in order, or can I start anywhere? The mini-library at work (basically, it's books left on planes, though there are a few of us who cycle our own stuff through on occasion) actually has Takedown Twenty, so I could start on that one...

07-09-2016, 04:55 PM	#13
Dngrsone Almost legible Posts: 1,457 Karma: 4611110 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: In a high desert, CA Device: Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Tab A (2017), Likebook P78	Ooh! Rosie Project is available at my library.

07-09-2016, 05:01 PM	#14
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Some of the classics you are probably familiar with: "Catch-22" - Joseph Heller And quite a lot of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. may interest you.

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