I dont really laugh when reading ..do you?

A great thread for finding some good-fun reads! Thank-you.

I don't usually laugh at things written to be funny (like Wodehouse) though I do enjoy them. I get laughs from things that just tickle me. Durrell did it for me - and the first chapter of Harry Potter

I took an Antony Trollop book with me on a hostelling holiday as I was assured that 19C lit was soporific. ( I have trouble sleeping in strange places and, facing a week of rooms full of other people, was expecting the worst.)

Listening to that advice was a serious mistake! Barchester Towers really tickled me - and I was left properly awake trying not to laugh in bunk-beds all over the lake-district.

I did not regret the lost sleep and I've loved his books ever since.

Dungeon Crawler Carl has had me crying laughing in parts, and sobbing in others.

I finished it ages ago actually. Then listened to Us Three, which I didn't enjoy quite so much. I'll try her others I think.

I'm feeling a bit low at the moment. I spent some time doom scrolling through some autocorrect fails this morning and did laugh out loud at some of them. I know many are set up, but still funny. Then I got on with me day.

I also laughed (or sniggered) at You Are Here by David Nicholls.

Same - although I do have The Satsuma Complex in my reading pile, so we shall see. I don't tend to be someone who guffaws through books or TV/films - it's a chuckle here and there if anything. The last time I laughed like a drain was during a Pictionary-type game played over the weekend with friends and someone had drawn 'Hang Glider' and I guessed 'Death Camp' (it was an after dark version of the game). You had to be there - but we were all crying because it was so ridiculous and you totally could read their drawing in either way!

Never, I don't even laugh if I'm watching TV alone either. Must be a social laugher!

My DH does though, really annoying and followed by him trying to explain the puchline when we're reading in bed. I feel like a book is your own totally private space and not to be shared.

Murderbot series made me laugh out loud several times. I read 5 of the 7 in a week!

Loved them so much.

Watched it on a streaming platform, Series (book) 1 and loved it so much had to buy the books.

I've 2 left which I'm saving for a long journey next week.

The only other 2 books that have made me laugh were The Martian and Sweetpea.

I just laughed out loud at that quote. Thank you for reminding me to reread them!

I’ve also laughed at Gerald Durrell’s books, particularly the zoo collecting trips. Drunken shenanigans, being accidentally caught up in revolutions, animal behaviour…

I’ve laughed out loud at Ruth Dudley books too. And Gladys Mitchell’s Mrs Bradley. She’s unexpectedly hilariously harsh and sharp.

I’ve cried at the end of Watership Down when Hazel leaves his body by the water because he won’t be needing it any more (genuinely welling up again just typing that) and at LM Alcott’s Good Wives when poor Beth dies. Oh, and when Charlie dies in Rose in Bloom! It’s the part where he says he can at least die like a man, even if he couldn’t live like one. Blub.

Generally, books don’t make me laugh out loud. Though I admit there’s been the odd bit in some of Jodi Taylor’s books that has given me fits of the giggles.

I was thinking about this when I laughed last night - at non-fiction.

I was reading about American history, and a president, Buchanan, was described as being a heavy man, with tiny feet and almost no backbone.

Lol.

So glad to have found another fan. How far have you got?

Oh absolutely😂😂
I thought the TV series was pretty decent too.

I have recently read Frank and Red and did LOL in a few places. The author has really got the measure of how young children's minds work. It's a very sweet story.

I'm listening to this at the moment. I admit, I did not know she was an author. I'm loving it.

😁It was the toilet paper part that really cracked me up. I'm sure you can remember that! 😂

Another here who needs a re-read of Cold Comfort Farm. I don't remember it even being humorous let alone laughing out loud.

The first time I read Three Men in a Boat I couldn't breathe for laughing, especially the parts about cheese and Uncle Podger. Since then I've only found them slightly funny. I think you have to be in the mood!

The only book I have laughed out loud at is Ruth Jones By Your Side. It made me smile while reading it and also the occasional teary eye.

Another Bill Bryson fan here. I remember an episode in his book about moving back to the US where he was left swinging from his attic without a ladder that left me in stitches.

I agree it's rare in books though.

Same here.

Other people on MN reading Cold Comfort Farm 🤣
Me reading it 😐

Yes, if there is humour in it. Especially Terry Pratchett or Bill Bryson. However I was surprised that people said Cold comfort farm humourous or had it in t e text. I don't remember it! Must read again some time!

Thank you! I thought they would be dry for some reason so was avoiding, I'm so glad they're good. I'll have to hit the library again soon. If I start collecting his books as well I'll need to evict a house member.

He has such a huge back catalogue and some are better than others, I read them as a teen as my dad had them all and I was bored one day, but I read them none linearly. I personally prefer the City Watch books of them all (witches close second)

I read Night Watch without having read the several ones that come before it but it didn't suffer for not knowing the background of the characters, and it blew me away how detailed the world building is in that one, and all the City Watch books really. Amazing and funny characterisations, you'll find yourself applying alot of the wisdom of Sam Vimes in real life then remember oh he's not real 😆

I love the Tiffany Aching books, I sometimes think of a shambles as I live in the countryside and see snags of sheep's wool on fences :)

I read Adrian Mole when I was younger than he was and all I remember are the bloody hat bells that he kept having to scribble over, and "I am of the second sex". His mum leaving his dad. I really didn't get it. I found it all sad.

I came to Pratchett late, I always associated him with beardy hat types on public transport, but reading his child friendly ones to my son had me hooked. Then we stopped for some reason (trying to pick which one to read next I think!) so it's been a while... His books are so useful to me for sorting thoughts in my head. The witches have no hierarchy, oh no, except they absolutely do, and should have, because Granny W, obviously. I absent mindedly thought that I wanted to make a shamble for someone the other day until I remembered they aren't real.

I'm thinking Mort next... Can't decide.