Laugh-out-loud books

[SkyBlueKitchen]

I don't read a huge amount. I've come to realise I will only keep picking up a book if it's lighthearted and puts a smile on my face (unless maybe I'm child-free for a while and had the energy to get into something a bit more serious)!

Books I've really laughed at include the Hitchhiker's Guide series by Douglas Adams, some comedians' autobiographies, and I've just finished a friend's recommendation, Far Far Beyond Berlin by Craig Meighan, which had me laughing nearly all the way through.

I have some Amazon vouchers and some Waterstones vouchers. Can anyone suggest some others?

Listening to Adam Buxton's Ramble Chat on audio at the moment and it's hilarious!

Hyperbole and a half
Dave Gorman

P.G Wodehouse can be laugh out loud. Also for a good chuckle is Peter Mayles and Bill Bryson.

Also, Lamb, a story of Biff, is very funny

The Bad Book Club, Robin Ince. It made me cry laughing. I had to close it and put it down to get my breath back!

If you like Douglas Adams, try the Dirk Gently detective books by the same author. You may also find you enjoy Terry Pratchett, try Wyrd Sisters first and see if he suits.

If you like Hitchhikers, I'd really recommend Qualityland by Mark-Uwe Kling - it's very funny in the same sort of way.

Good recommendations so far, thank you! I'll start looking them up! I'd heard of Dirk Gently actually, but didn't realise it was Douglas Adams as well.

The Shaun Bythell bookseller series.
Also thought Sorting out Billy by Jo Brand, a comedian, had some very funny parts, although it also deals with serious issues.

@Sadik thanks, Far Far Beyond Berlin was also quite like Hitchhikers (but with swearing!) so I'll reccomend that back at you while I look up Qualityland

All the Adrian Moles, any Bill Bryson. I agree with pp about Adam Buxton too.

Jasper Fforde is also worth a try (I'd say - like Terry Pratchett - he's one of those authors you'll either find hilarious or really annoying!) The Eyre Affair is the first of his Thursday Next books.

And I'll add Far Far Beyond Berlin to my tbr list :)

Bridget Jones' Diary, laughed out loud so much that DH was compelled to read it afterwards and he also lol'd a lot

Auntie Mame

Anything by P G Wodehouse

Three Men In A Boat

The James Herriot vet stories.

The Just William stories (absolutely wasted on children).

@UnalliterativeGeorge

Hyperbole and a half Dave Gorman

I'm assuming these are two separate recommendations as I tried to look up that book title by Dave Gorman but someone else wrote it

If so, any specific books by Dave Gorman to start with?

Any of the Bill Bryson books
George Mahood books are an easy lighthearted read and funny, try A Free Country

I second Three Men in a Boat. Utterly hilarious and enjoyable.

Those who like Three Men in a Boat, the sequel Three Men on the Bummel is even funnier IMO :)

Yes, they're different. They're all good but my favourite is googlewhack adventure or are you dave gorman?

Cold Comfort Farm

Yes to PG Wodehouse, Adrian Mole and Just William - the pre-war William stories were all written for adults anyway

Agree re Three Men on the Bummel too - hilarious and a really poignant English view of Germany before 1914

Enjoyed Shane Ritchie (1st autobiography) yeah, yeah. But I thought it was funny.

Also was going to suggest Cold Comfort Farm (one of the few books that has made me laugh out loud) and Adrian Mole (the first two books, and the Weapons of Mass Destruction).

Thanks, everyone! I've got a few ordered to start me off.

If you like Three Men on a Boat you might enjoy To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis about time travelling historians (the real-life three men make a brief appearance and there's a trip down the Thames heavily inspired by them. As well as the hunt for the Bishop's Bird Stump that was destroyed when Coventry Cathedral was bombed).

Nancy Mitford is funny and poignant (the recent TV adaptation of The Pursuit of Love is a good taster once you get past the frenetic first episode).

I second the James Herriot books . I used to read them at lunchtime at work and had to try not to laugh out loud !