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Original poster

Books that are funny but not romcoms or love stories

34 replies

carrots555 · 29/10/2019 20:39

Hi All,
I've a flight tomorrow and would like to pop some books on my Kindle for the flight.
I'd like something to cheer me up so seeking some titles of funny books but would prefer to avoid anything which is romcom etc based.
Thank you

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pollywobble · 30/10/2019 05:01

Bill Bryson's autobiographical, Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid is my go to mood lifter

Tolleshunt · 30/10/2019 00:59

If you like your humour dark, ‘Hope: a Tragedy’ by Shalom Auslander is absolutely hilarious, and also very clever and profound.

beereyt · 30/10/2019 00:52

Anything by Dawn O'Portor. Especially 'Cows'. The elton John autobiography is funny too.

JaneJeffer · 30/10/2019 00:49

The Bear Went Over the Mountain by William Kotzwinkle

OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 30/10/2019 00:46

52 times Britain was a bellend is brilliant. You'll probably need another book as well but I thoroughly recommend that one,

Modestandatinybitsexy · 30/10/2019 00:44

This is going to hurt: diary of a junior doctor.

Also would recommend Hitchhiker's.

nocoolnamesleft · 30/10/2019 00:39

Chronicles of St Marys.

Nixee2231 · 30/10/2019 00:30

I just read Hollow Kingdom and laughed my butt off at some sections for the first time in ages. But it's a super strange little book, and not for everyone, so read the blurb first!

Gingerkittykat · 30/10/2019 00:28

A man called Ove.

Amortentia · 30/10/2019 00:12

I would agree on the suggestion of Terry Pratchett, especially the city watch or witches (love Witches abroad) books.

minipie · 29/10/2019 23:59

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
Round Ireland with a Fridge
James Herriot series

VirginWoolf · 29/10/2019 23:58

Carter Beats the Devil

FlatheadScrewdriver · 29/10/2019 23:41

Joining the crowd of Bryson recommenders, my choice would be A Walk in the Woods. Jasper Fforde, either the nursery crimes or Thursday next series. Alan Bennett, pretty much everything.

thatonesmine · 29/10/2019 23:33

Scoop by Evelyn Waugh.

Whatjusthappenedthere · 29/10/2019 23:07

This is going to hurt . Written by an ex doctor turned comedian. Sorry, name has gone but google will find it.

pallisers · 29/10/2019 22:56

The Mapp and Lucia novels
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Evolution Man (or How I Ate My Father)
Augustus Carp Esq by Himself

Also agree very much with Bill Bryson, David Sedaris, Wodehouse

I find a lot of Anthony Trollope very funny as well as being thumping good yarns.

BitOfFun · 29/10/2019 22:43

I loved reading David Emery's Full Metal Cardigan- it's the story of his career as a social worker, and it's very funny and wise.

Also, if you are into poetry and literature, Diary Of A Somebody, by Brian Bilston is great fun.

Tim Dowling's The Giles Waring Haters' Club is hilarious.

NomNomNominativeDeterminism · 29/10/2019 22:38

PG Wodehouse! Anything at all. Jeeves, Mr Mulliner, whatever. As long as it says PG Wodehouse on the cover you are sorted and the only issue is laughing out loud in front of fellow travellers.

TemporaryPermanent · 29/10/2019 22:37

Definitely David Sedaris.
French Revolutions by Tim Moore (quite old now in fact but whatevs)

My personal favourites in comic reading were always Clive James' TV criticism column collections. So, so funny. But I'm 50 so I remember quite a few of the programmes he discusses, or at least some of the general look of TV then, it's changed a lot. But if you're the same age you might enjoy them.
Visions Before Midnight
The Crystal Bucket
Glued to the Box

There's also Flying Visits, his collection of travel writing. I love his authorial voice, always have, and still laugh out loud despite knowing most of what he writes almost by heart.

SleepWarrior · 29/10/2019 22:37

Also Bill Bryson from me, but specifically Notes From a Small Island. Not too long and just a nice amusing enjoyable read.

VanyaHargreeves · 29/10/2019 22:36

Julian Corkle Is A Filthy Liar

KindOranges · 29/10/2019 22:35

Molly Keane’s Good Behaviour. Very black comedy.

TildaKauskumholm · 29/10/2019 22:34

Bill Bryson.

bionicnemonic · 29/10/2019 22:33

The Tent, The Bucket and Me
Emma Kennedy
Hysterically funny!

DownUdderer · 29/10/2019 22:33

Janet evanovich one for the money. There’s a whole series that I enjoy reading.