What books made you weep with laughter?

[Pennies]

The school hols are taking their toll on my sense of humour. I need something to make me laugh for my holidays. Nothing chick-litty though.

SOAS was what made me love him. I was one of the few people who read it. C'mon, the back talked about choreographed bank robbers... what's not to love??

I love 'Not the End of the World' if we're talking about Brookmyre. It doesn't have as much scottish 'slang' as some of the other books he's written.

I like Jasper Fforde, but he's more an intellectual sniggerer rather than a weep with laughter type author.

The only book I've laughed out loud at was chick-lity, I'm afraid. Watermelon by Marian Keyes. Sorry to have mentioned it, but hey ho!

Really Jux? I thought it had the cleverest opening chapter...oh well, we can't all like the same stuff I guess!

Christopher Brookmyre's "One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night" had me weeping hysterically with laughter. (The policeman in his pyjamas scene in particular).
It is set in the Black Isle where I come from so I enjoyed it even more knowing the areas he mentioned.

James Herriot had me howl uncontrollably reading any of his books.

Can't remember the author but it's called The tent, the bucket and me- about camping in the 70s. It made me almost wet my pants.

I too can highly recommend Notes from a Small Island and Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson.

I like the Guy Browning books too. They made me snort my wine through my nose.

Bill Bryson on the Germans and Austrians. I rarely laugh at books, but this was so very, very funny (as it was so very, very true to life).

Itsjustafleshwound - thankyou - "Last Chance to See" was one of the ones I'd forgotten. THe bit about the kakapo had me helpless.

Oh, and I had to stop reading the 'farting at inappropriate moments' thread on here as I thought I might actually expire. I think It was the funniest thing I've ever read.

Book of Heroic Failures (both 1&2) by Stephen Pile. Not a novel just a collection of stories of failure and they're just fantastic and beautifully written. Came out in the 80s I think (you have to get them second hand now - Amazon have them), and I've reread them about 100 times since then - everytime I'm down. Every member of my family have one or other of the books and dh is now reading them for the second time.

In fact I've been seriously thinking of trying to get hold of Stephen Pile and begging him to write another. And I'm really not a 'funny book' person.

Tom Sharpe has written many books (Porterhouse Blue was adapted for TV with David Jason - v good) but the funniest IMO was The Throwback. THere is one chapter in particular where he is (iirc) trying to get into someones house. I was hoenstly crying with laughter.

I also chuckle quite heartily at Tim Moores travel books and Terry Pratchett (particularly his earlier ones) usually raise a giggle from me.

Mel Giedroyc - From Here to Maternity, V V funny, in the laugh out loud sense!!!!!!

PG Wodehouse. Especially the blandings stories.

The war books of Spike Milligan.

RortyDog, I think you're going to have to link to that one

Explosive laughter and loud snorts with the books on Cocolepew's list: Carl Hiaasen Bill Bryson & the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum novels.

The fabulous Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series is my all time favourite though.

A book called Round Ireland with a Fridge, which sounds like it ought to be dire (and in truth, hasn't much by way of plot) had me hiccuping with laughter... tricky to read in bed while trying not to wake DH...

Diary of a nobody by (i think) George and Weedon Grossmith (I may be wrong)

The Unfortunates - in fact all - Laurie Grahams (but particularly the unfortunates.) hsterical.

And here's the other one - "Word of Mouth" by Nigel Rees - collection of overheard conversations, malapropisms etc.

One of those books that has a gathering momentum - start of smiling, then build to giggling helplessly.

Unfortunately out of print it seems.

Jux - it's here Maybe it's just me, but I was crying with laughter...

David Lodge
Bill Bryson
Douglas Adams

a few others but these 3 consistently make me laugh

oh and Roberston Davies too unexpected loud explosive and constant amusement

I second Round Ireland with a Fridge, very funny, but also add Dear Fatty by Dawn French, it made me both laugh and cry but the bit where she has to check her mother's fanjo for broken glass is priceless!!

Am partial to a bit of Pratchett myself

WouldLikeToBeEsmeButKnowsInHerHeartShe'llAlwaysBeGythaTiggaxx

I think he gets a bit of a pasting on here, but Charlie Brookers book of his screen burn columns is hysterical.

Pratchett! how could I have left him out