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Original poster

Can anyone recommend any seriously funny reads please?

55 replies

JuanPotatoTwo · 14/03/2014 20:30

I've recently read The Wimbledon Poisoner by Nigel Williams which I thought was very funny. I'd forgotten quite how satisfying a book that can make you laugh out loud could be, so on the back of The Wimbledon Poisoner I read two other books by the same author but found them a bit disappointing.

Have you read anything properly funny that you would recommend? TIA?

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Original poster
JuanPotatoTwo · 15/03/2014 22:47

God it's dangerous owning a kindle (App). It doesn't feel like you're spending money, and before you know it, you've spent a fortune! Thank you for so many suggestions - have bought loads one or two.

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NotAnotherPackedLunchBox · 15/03/2014 18:34

Three men in a boat by Jerome K Jerome alwaysl makes me laugh.
Scruffy by Paul Gallico has a few laugh out loud parts in it along with lots of smiles.
Who was Oswald Fish by A.N. Wilson is another one I read from time to time when I need a laugh.
I agree with others above that David Lodge is also good fun.

somedizzywhore1804 · 15/03/2014 18:25

Second Time for Bed by David Baddiel which is laugh out loud brilliant. I've lost three copies of that book from lending it out.

Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpen is very good. All about his dad who is a bit of a "character".

Mintyy · 15/03/2014 18:23

The Van by Roddy Doyle.

Anotheronebitthedust · 15/03/2014 18:22

The last thing I giggled at was 50 shades of Mr Darcy. It may be a bit niche, as you have to be aware of both Pride and Prejudice and 50 shades of shit grey to fully appreciate it.

Warning though it is very silly, but just the sort of sarcastic sillyness I appreciated in a bit of light reading.

GreggsOnLegs · 15/03/2014 18:19

Yes definitely Danny Wallace, as Bertie botts said, yes man is hilarious, so is friends like these.

AnnabelJ13 · 15/03/2014 18:13

I can recommend 'How to talk to a Widower' by Jonathon Tropper - totally hilarious.

IWorshipSatin · 15/03/2014 15:37

My Booky Wook by Russell Brand. Regardless of what you think of him it is really funny.

David Baddiel's early novels (Time For Bed, Whatever Love Means) are funny but might be a bit dated now.

tripfiction · 15/03/2014 15:33

Road to Rouen by Ben Hatch perhaps?

tripfiction.blogspot.ch/2013/07/travelling-with-tinies-around-france.html

minniebar · 15/03/2014 14:07

DEFINITELY The House of Sleep by Jonathan Coe. I'm not a laugh-out-loud reader but I couldn't help it with that book.

Second Jasper Fforde. Love him!

ProfondoRosso · 15/03/2014 13:31

The last book which made me laugh out loud was the Alan Partridge autobiography, I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan Grin

Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh is v funny too.

MorrisZapp · 15/03/2014 13:18

Gah

MorrisZapp · 15/03/2014 13:18

David Nobbs also very witty.

You don't have to be called David to be funny, but it clearly helps.

Oh, and Laurie Graham, she's hilarious and you learn stuff.

MorrisZapp · 15/03/2014 13:16

David Nobbs also very witty.

You don't have to be called David to be funny, but it clearly helps.

Oh, and Laurie Graham, she's hilarious and you learn stuff.

DuchessofMalfi · 15/03/2014 12:57

I find David Sedaris's humour a bit patchy at times. Doesn't always appeal to my sense of humour, when I read his books, but when I listen to him reading them that's completely different. I think he's best listened to on audiobook if you can get them. He had a series on Radio 4 fairly recently, which was when I first discovered him.

I've read two of his books - Naked, which I didn't like that much, and Let's Talk Diabetes With Owls, which is much funnier. I've got Me Talk Pretty One Day on my kindle, not read it yet.

MorrisZapp · 15/03/2014 12:42

David Sedaris. Armistead Maupins Tales of the City.

David Lodges novels are sublimely funny, but in a witty way more than lolz.

junowiththegladrags · 15/03/2014 12:36

David Sedaris, Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family In Corduroy And Jeans. Proper laugh out loud funny.

spiderlight · 15/03/2014 12:36

The Timewaster Letters are brilliant.

BertieBotts · 15/03/2014 12:31

And Things My Girlfriend and I have Argued About.

BertieBotts · 15/03/2014 12:31

Bill Bryson is great. Also Danny Wallace - Yes Man had me in fits (although the film was nowhere near as good.

Mil Millington books are good although it's a long time since I've read them. Love and Other Near Death Experiences is funny from memory.

sugarplumfairy · 15/03/2014 12:29

Mark Haddon - A Spot of bother, had me laughing out loud.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/03/2014 12:27

Deric Longden's books about his life with his first wife (who had ME, and died of it - the book has both laugh out loud moments, and tears), and with his second wife, Aileen Armitage and their family of cats - hilarious books.

Whatfun · 15/03/2014 11:56

The Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich are laugh out loud funny IMO.

AlpacaLypse · 15/03/2014 11:44

E by Matt Beaumont. Had me in stitches.

Original poster
JuanPotatoTwo · 15/03/2014 11:43

Thank you - will go and browse Amazon :)

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