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Original poster

Could anyone suggest some humorous books for elderly readers please?

60 replies

MissGreatBritain · 04/03/2011 10:43

I've recently been working as a volunteer, delivering library books to the housebound, who are mostly elderly. Many of them request romance, family sagas etc but also humour. And I'm really struggling. There just don't seem to be many novels that are light and easy but also suitable for the older reader. I'm loathe to put in anything about 20 somethings, as I'm not sure they'll relate to it. Can you suggest any authors please who write with humour? Thanks!

OP posts:
lottiejenkins · 04/03/2011 13:30

I'll second Gervase Phinn. He's a personal hero of mine and i was lucky enough to meet him ten years ago at my niece and nephews school!! His books have had me crying with laughter!

Lilymaid · 04/03/2011 13:28

Monica Dickens wrote some very amusing books that are easy to read - some autobiographical, others fiction.

holymary · 04/03/2011 13:16

Bill Bryson
EF Benson (Mapp and Lucia)
I have also discovered the Persephone publishers who reprint novels from the past by female authors like Noel Streatfeild, Marghanita Laski, etc. Check out their website and that will give you plenty of titles to go on.
Also, do you think some biographies might appeal?

ohmeohmy · 04/03/2011 11:54

Evelyn Waugh

bruffin · 04/03/2011 11:18

Deric Longden's autobiographies are very funny, although his first one Diana's Story about the death of his wife is very sad as well, but very humerous.

AvengingGerbil · 04/03/2011 11:17

Gervase Phinn
Betty Macdonald
Terry Pratchett

TheRedQueen · 04/03/2011 11:17

The Gervase Phinn series about the school inspector in Yorkshire Dales. Can't remember the first two in the series, but the third one is called Head over Heels in the Dales.

Sunseed · 04/03/2011 11:11

Anything by Tom Sharpe

GwennieF · 04/03/2011 11:09

I was going to suggest PG Wodehouse too. Or James Herriot, he can be pretty funny...

tillyfernackerpants · 04/03/2011 11:05

What about PG Wodehouse? I've not read him myself but a few people have recommended the Jeeves and Wooster books

Alexander McCall Smith is light and easy too

Those are the two that come to mind, will have another think and come back to you

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