Are there any funny light hearted fiction books that aren't chick lit?

[headfairy]

Looking for recommendations for my book club. We've had a run of depressing stuff and need something cheery and funny.

Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series? Or some of the lighter Louis De Bernieres stuff - 'The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts' is funny (but a bit raunchy if you have any members who don't like that sort of thing).

I'll have a bit more of a think.

thanks for those, considering they're all gunning to read 50 shades of grey I don't think they're too sensitive to that sort of thing :o

E by Matt Beaumont.

Not strictly fiction, but 'My Family and Other Animals' cracks me up and is (IMO) a great read.

'Three Men In A Boat' or some of the Austen stories (ye olde chick lit) are quite funny - 'Northanger Abbey' in particular. Or Adrian Mole.

Friends like these- Danny Wallace, hilarious! Based on a true story, love his books, they're all really well written and funny.

Diary of a Nobody is (I think) over 100 years old, but the humour stands up really well. I reread it every couple of years.

The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills is very funny and quite dark.

I know Kingsley Amis was a dreadful old mysogynist but parts of Lucky Jim can still make me laugh out loud.

The Observations by Jane Harris is told in the narrative voice of a servant girl; quirky and amusing.

yy to Diary of a nobody and also Diary of a Provinical Lady by EM Delafield.

I'm not sure it's funny, exactly, but I really enjoyed Sathnam Sanghera's The Boy With The Top Knot. There's lots that resonated (80s childhood stuff) and some deeper themes as well but not in a depressing way.

And Caitlin Moran's How To Be A Woman is actively funny.

Also anything by Nora Ephron. You can't beat Heartburn all these years later.

Terry Pratchett and I also recommend Jasper Fforde.

I was going to say Terry pratchet too. A great escapist read, and very funny.
Also the Adrian Mole diaries, and the one about the Queen, the queen and I.

I recommend Alexander McCAll smilth - isabelle dalhousie novels. They are a bit twee and lifestylee but they are very well written.

Fair Peril by Nancy Springer - love it! It's like a modern fairy tale, very funny :)

Definitely second Jasper FForde's Thursday Next series

Tom Sharpe, Porterhouse Blue
David Sedaris, Naked
Bill Bryson, A Walk in The Woods
Richard Russo, Straight Man

Oh I love three men in a boat and had forgotten - am going to pull it out and re-read it now :)
Bill Bryson can be very laugh-out-loud funny.

Laurie Graham writes beautifully witty and light novels - The Importance of Being Kennedy (the Kennedy story told through the eyes of their nurse) is one of my favourites.

I just read Sue Townsends The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year. Its still in hardback, good though and Light with Funny Bits.

You absolutely must read The Van by Roddy Doyle.

I second anything by Sue Townsend, Diary of a Middle Aged Woman was good too, along with Adrian Mole.

This book is fabulous - i've read it a few times now and it still has me laughing

www.amazon.co.uk/A-Short-History-Tractors-Ukrainian/dp/0670915602

Oh yes, Roddy Doyle.

Also, The Wimbledon Poisoner by Nigel Williams had me crying with laughter.

Just read When God Was a Rabbit (can't remember author) that was funny too.

Evelyn Waugh 'Vile Bodies' springs to mind as laugh out loud, but there were loads of other funny ones by him whose names I can't remember.

And I found 'Inconcievable' by Ben Elton hilarious in places.

I second Matt Beaumont's E, and its sequel E Squared, plus the Laurie Graham recommendation - love Gone With The Windsors.

Christopher Brookmyre
Carl Hiassen
Both have a substantial number of books but 'The sacred art of stealing' by Christopher Brookmyre is my favourite and Skintight is my favourite by Carl Hiassen

Tom Holt always makes me laugh, he writes things based on myths and legends and that kind of thing, but they are very, very funny. Overtime, Flying Dutch and Who's Afraid of Beowolf are all very funny. Also Ye Gods was very good.

I agree about Laurie Graham, I haven't read the Kennedy one yet but the Edward and Mrs Simpson one (Gone with the Windsors) is great, as are several of the others.