Comedy fiction - Page 4

ManosHandsOfFate · 11-10-2010, 05:00 PM

Wodehouse wrote a lot. For those of you that know his work, where's a good place to start?

issybird · 11-10-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManosHandsOfFate

Wodehouse wrote a lot. For those of you that know his work, where's a good place to start?

While he's best known for his Jeeves and Wooster books and stories, I'd probably start with his Blandings books. A little more plotty and less predictable.

obs20 · 11-10-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

I've just started The Finkler Question, I like Howard Jacobson as an essayist and columnist and there are some really funny lines in it, but have to confess I'm wondering why this won the Booker - but hopefully it will improve.

The novel is character driven. The layers need to be peeled away.

DixieGal · 11-10-2010, 08:47 PM

The Hal Spacejock books tickle me.

issybird · 11-12-2010, 06:36 AM

Fans of British-style antic humor might like David Lodge. And all bookish types owe it to themselves to read about the literary game played by the academics in Changing Places.

obs20 · 11-12-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Fans of British-style antic humor might like David Lodge. And all bookish types owe it to themselves to read about the literary game played by the academics in Changing Places.

How is Deaf Sentence? That seems to be the only one available as an e book and it is also in my local library.

issybird · 11-12-2010, 10:17 AM

Dang. I hadn't checked shook availability. Deaf Sentence unfortunately is about the author's own experience of going deaf, so it's not so risible as his earlier fiction, understandably. It would be worth trying to get the comic novels through ILL if that's a possibility.

SensualPoet · 11-12-2010, 12:59 PM

As for comedic fiction, I'm surprised no one has mentioned George Bush's memoirs Decision Point ...

Perhaps Stephen Fry? It does mess a little if we are looking for a King or Queen of comedy but I digress ...

Or Alexander McCall Smith and his Corduroy Mansions series? Small scale wry humour at its best.

obs20 · 11-12-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Dang. I hadn't checked shook availability. Deaf Sentence unfortunately is about the author's own experience of going deaf, so it's not so risible as his earlier fiction, understandably. It would be worth trying to get the comic novels through ILL if that's a possibility.

I found the paperback of Changing Places for six dollars on Amazon. Thanks

issybird · 11-12-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obs20

I found the paperback of Changing Places for six dollars on Amazon. Thanks

Hope you like it!

fantasyISbetter · 11-13-2010, 07:17 PM

Second/third/fourth Pratchett and Moore. Almost all the disc world of Pratchett, and esp Lust Lizard and Island of Sequined Love Nun of Moore. Although The Stupidest Angel is a scream as well. For more serious (sort of) Moore, Lamb is phenomenal.

For broad/slapstick humor, try Selina Rosen's The Queen of Denial (space opera with a great anti-heroine).

For sly/subtle humor, try Evelyn Smith's Miss Melville Regrets and sequels (woman at the end of her financial rope plans to kill herself publicly, and ends up killing someone else, starting a new career as assassin).

For subtle humor and Egyptology and a bit of romance (but nothing schmaltzy), try Elizabeth Peters' Crocodile on the Sandbank and sequels. To hear the heroine describe her husand's feeling about their toddler son ' my husband "is obsessed with the creature" just cracks me up. Great adventures.

some call me tim · 11-15-2010, 11:23 AM

Tom Robbins can be pretty funny too, though I don't jive with all his stuff.

Christopher Moore and Pratchett are my favorites as far as comedy goes. Carl Hiaasen is enjoyable too, but he definitely has a formula that he doesn't deviate far from in his novels. Skink is one of my all time favorite characters though.

raphaelnonsenso · 11-15-2010, 11:26 AM

Love Robert Rankin, especially his Brentford Trilogy

raphaelnonsenso · 11-15-2010, 11:28 AM

Another god comedic writer is Jasper Fforde!

Daephex · 11-17-2010, 10:35 PM

I don't know (or care) about who's "reigning," but Steve Martin's "Pure Drivel" had me in stitches when I read it. It's very strange, and very funny.

11-13-2010, 07:17 PM	#56
fantasyISbetter FantasyisBetter Posts: 66 Karma: 1221124 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: none	funny books Second/third/fourth Pratchett and Moore. Almost all the disc world of Pratchett, and esp Lust Lizard and Island of Sequined Love Nun of Moore. Although The Stupidest Angel is a scream as well. For more serious (sort of) Moore, Lamb is phenomenal. For broad/slapstick humor, try Selina Rosen's The Queen of Denial (space opera with a great anti-heroine). For sly/subtle humor, try Evelyn Smith's Miss Melville Regrets and sequels (woman at the end of her financial rope plans to kill herself publicly, and ends up killing someone else, starting a new career as assassin). For subtle humor and Egyptology and a bit of romance (but nothing schmaltzy), try Elizabeth Peters' Crocodile on the Sandbank and sequels. To hear the heroine describe her husand's feeling about their toddler son ' my husband "is obsessed with the creature" just cracks me up. Great adventures.

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11-10-2010, 05:00 PM	#46
ManosHandsOfFate Addict Posts: 298 Karma: 1537324 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chicago Device: Nook, K3, Fire, Nexus 7	Wodehouse wrote a lot. For those of you that know his work, where's a good place to start?

11-10-2010, 08:47 PM	#49
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	The Hal Spacejock books tickle me.

11-12-2010, 06:36 AM	#50
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,324 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	Fans of British-style antic humor might like David Lodge. And all bookish types owe it to themselves to read about the literary game played by the academics in Changing Places.

11-12-2010, 10:17 AM	#52
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,324 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	Dang. I hadn't checked shook availability. Deaf Sentence unfortunately is about the author's own experience of going deaf, so it's not so risible as his earlier fiction, understandably. It would be worth trying to get the comic novels through ILL if that's a possibility.

11-12-2010, 12:59 PM	#53
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	As for comedic fiction, I'm surprised no one has mentioned George Bush's memoirs Decision Point ... Perhaps Stephen Fry? It does mess a little if we are looking for a King or Queen of comedy but I digress ... Or Alexander McCall Smith and his Corduroy Mansions series? Small scale wry humour at its best.

11-15-2010, 11:23 AM	#57
some call me tim Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 22620 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Libra	Tom Robbins can be pretty funny too, though I don't jive with all his stuff. Christopher Moore and Pratchett are my favorites as far as comedy goes. Carl Hiaasen is enjoyable too, but he definitely has a formula that he doesn't deviate far from in his novels. Skink is one of my all time favorite characters though.

11-15-2010, 11:26 AM	#58
raphaelnonsenso Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 104 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Berkshire,UK Device: Sony Touch, K3	Love Robert Rankin, especially his Brentford Trilogy

11-15-2010, 11:28 AM	#59
raphaelnonsenso Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 104 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Berkshire,UK Device: Sony Touch, K3	Another god comedic writer is Jasper Fforde!

11-17-2010, 10:35 PM	#60
Daephex Licensed Raconteur Posts: 53 Karma: 514 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: "Travelling" Device: Kindle 3, Sony PRS-600, iPod Touch	I don't know (or care) about who's "reigning," but Steve Martin's "Pure Drivel" had me in stitches when I read it. It's very strange, and very funny.

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