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?

The funniest book I’ve ever read is called Honeymoon in Purdah. It’s a travelogue about a journalist who wants to travel in Iran but has to pretend to be married to a man she hardly knows in order to do so. The cultural/linguistic misunderstandings she describes are hilarious. I remember reading this on a train and someone coming to check that I was ok as I was making such strange noises trying not to laugh out loud.

French Revolutions by Tim Moore. All his travel books are great but that one is particularly funny.

The tent, the bucket and me by Emma Kennedy is based on her family's annual holidays which always ended in disaster. Horrifying and funny in equal measure. She's also written one about her gap year in the states which is amusing but not as hilarious.

Spike Milligan's autobiography series: Hitler, my part in his downfall had me crying with laughter. Also love HHGTTG.

Elizabeth von Arnim -All the Dogs of my Life. Free on Project Gutenberg.
Emily Hahn - England to Me.

Both from the 1930's, but not dated in their attitudes. Both made me laugh out loud.

Adrian Mole. Read the books in my 20s and still pick them up occasionally when I'm feeling shit.

Alan Bennett: The Uncommon Reader.
The Queen suddenly takes up reading literature. The funniest book I have ever read. I re-read it at intervals of about 5 years.

EM Delafield: The Diary of a Provincial Lady
Set in about 1930. Probably funniest if you are familiar with the sort of small community where EVERYONE knows everyone else's business.

you might enjoy To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis about time travelling historians

If you want to read about historians who investigate historical events in contemporary time (do ^not* call it time travel) you need the Chronicles of St Mary's by Jodi Taylor. I think there are about twelve full length novels now, plus short stories. They need to be read in order, as there are ongoing storylines.

Parts of them are laugh out loud funny, but parts are also very sad - people die.

Jodi Taylor's history is much better than Connie Willis's - Connie Willis drops some frightful clangers.

Peter Moore's travel books.

The funniest book I've ever read is Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. Oh, and 'A Confederacy of Dunces'. Utterly, utterly hilarious.

Definitely Bill Bryson's travel books.

I love some of the Harry Pearson travel books. Bits of A Tall Man in a Low Land had me sobbing with laughter. Racing Pigs and Giant Marrows was also great.
Yes to the Spike Milligan war autobiographies or at least the first four.
Stuart Maconie’s Pies and Prejudice is very funny indeed and parts of Jodi Taylor make me laugh far too much for public transport. Other bits make me cry though.

Woops sorry All The Dogs Of My Life
by Elizabeth Von Arnim was on Amazon £2.16. But others of hers ARE free on Project Gutenberg

@TheleadbetterLife
"The Just William stories (absolutely wasted on children)."

My mother aged 91 has 1st edition copies, read to her by her own father.
She knows that is the only thing I want from her estate ( the 1st edition is a bonus, not a prerequisite). They are indeed wasted on children. Do you remember the double negative story?
"Father, did you say I could have a birthday party?"
"NO I did not".... capers ensue.

The double negative story is brilliant. William's father is one of the best characters, especially when you get the little hints that he was exactly like William when he was a boy.

I also love all the ones where William involves himself in hapless Robert's love affairs.

Oh I'm having such a pang for William now, I must go and see if I can find my old copies.

I came on to say I snorted out loud at parts of This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay, but there are some really tough bits in there too.

Marian Keyes always makes me laugh but again there are serious themes.

The Far Corner by Harry Pearson made me laugh more than any other book. If you don't like football though, it probably won't.

Dork Gently series
The meaning of Liff
The deeper meaning of Liff
Hyperbole and a half
Adrian Mole books

*Dirk. Sorry

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, and the others by him. In one of the later ones set in Corfu, they give a party, and I remember reading it on holiday around the pool and not being able to breathe for laughing.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, and the others by him. In one of the later ones set in Corfu, they give a party, and I remember reading it on holiday around the pool and not being able to breathe for laughing.

I adore his books, and was genuinely shocked to find out that Larry was an actually successful and well-regarded (by some) author, as Gerry skewers him so beautifully. Very much a prime example of a sibling's view.

I came to say The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith. Really is laugh out loud funny, especially the incident with the red enamel paint and any scene with Mr Pooter's son.
If you like a gentle laugh may I suggest The Card by Arnold Bennett, one of my all time favourites. Arnold Bennett was really famous and popular in the early 20th century but then seems largely forgotten. I love his writing.

Frank and Stan

Frank and Stans Bucket list - uplifting, entertaining and comical - can really recommend these books

@TheLeadbetterLife

The double negative story is brilliant. William's father is one of the best characters, especially when you get the little hints that he was exactly like William when he was a boy.

I also love all the ones where William involves himself in hapless Robert's love affairs.

@TheLeadbetterLife Yes! What an absolute joy! And written by someone who didn't have children herself ( probably the better for it). A school teacher, I believe... Martin Jarvis made a good job of reading it But my grandfather who read them to my mother and me for a mere 5 years was awesomely beautiful.

OP, a one off...
The Best a Man can Get.
It was embarrassing on the train when I laughed so much I had tears coming down my face and then got hiccoughs.