Really funny books

[PepeLePew]

dd is after funny books - she’s 14 and reads a lot, and widely, but wants books that “make me laugh out loud”. She loves PG Wodehouse, and Diary of a Nobody. I’ve just got Three Men in a Boat out of the library for her, which I think she’ll like. And then I’m a bit stumped as my reading tastes incline more to the less jolly end of the spectrum. One of the challenges is finding humour that is age appropriate, of course. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Actually, scratch Clovenhoof - thinking about it now I think it might be aimed at a more adult audience.

I really like the sound of Clovenhoof!

I loved Maureen Lipman's Home Thoughts From a Broad at this age. I found it in a charity shop and laughed until the whole family asked me what was the matter.

Cold Comfort Game is one of my favourite books, also any Nancy Mitford. She's in for a treat if she reads those.

I'd also recommend The Diary of a Provincial Lady by EM Delafield which has on occasion made me weep with laughter.

minapaws Alan goes on a walk to follow in the footsteps of a job interview his dad once went to, and definitely NOT to get it commissioned into a Julia Bradberry style tv series.

Nell

'the Wimbledon Poisoner' by Nigel Williams might be to her taste.

Gerald Durrell's "family" trilogy - "My Family and Other Animals", "Birds, Beasts and Relatives", and "Garden of the Gods" are lol funny.
The "Chronicles of St.Mary's" series is good too, also Terry Pratchett's "Disc World".

Cold comfort farm is meant to be funny I just found t really fucking annoying

The Common Reader is very funny

If she is loving the humour in Diary of a Nobody and Three Men in a Boat she'd probably really enjoy James Thurber, the author of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and also an excellent humourist. The Thurber Carnival is an anthology of some of his funniest pieces of writing. Gentle, quirky observational comedy. I read my copy until it literally fell apart.

Also, what about some Nigel Molesworth books? They still make me laugh.

Jane Gardam's Bilgewater about a clever, young girl growing up is very funny and brilliant.

Also recommend Bill Bryson.

How about Jasper Fforde? The Big Over Easy is a good one to start with.

The tent, the bucket and me. Written by Sarah somebody. Was funny.

I immediately thought of Unreliable Memoirs by Clive James (see it’s already been mentioned) it’s hilarious and very touching at times

I find David Sedaris books laugh out loud funny. But they may be a bit old.
DH frequently pissed himself laughing at Terry Pratchett

I want to read the Maureen Lipman now.

The Rosie Project

The Darling Buds of May series by HE Bates is excellent and has nice gentle humour, with a bit of “how’s yer father”...

Also would second Alexander McCall Smith, particularly the Ladies No 1 set

And completely different but what about Terry Prachett?

Came here to add Unreliable Memoirs and Gerald Durrell as well. Beaten to it! What about Roald Dahl's Boy and Going Solo? The bit about smoking goat droppings still has me sniggering... Not, however, My Uncle Oswald until she's a bit older (though it is bloody hilarious)

Tom Sharp had me crying with laughter at her age.

OP , your daughter has brilliant taste! My favourite modern author is George Mahood (1st book is 'Free Country but they can be read in any order.)

This is so helpful! Thanks so much. I’ve got a massive list, have ordered The Thunderbolt Kid and Diary of a Provincial Lady, and am going to see what I can track down in the library for her. And read them myself, as I could do with some light and funny reading. Keep them coming, this is all tremendous and will keep her going for ages.

Spike Milligan's memoirs.

Rumpole! (the short story omnibuses are best).
And of course Pratchett, Herriot, Douglas Adams and Jasper Fford as pp have said.

EF Benson’s Mapp and Lucia books. Also Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor and some of his other books.