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.

DEFINITELY the Wilt books, especially the original 'Wilt' that is just hysterical, and I love it! Actually, I might read it again very soon.

Also, a really silly book by Carl Hiassan called Native Tongue makes me giggle a lot. I tried other books by him on the basis of Native Tongue but they just did not work so well...or...at all.

The first book I read by Carl Hiassen was Sick Puppy, lent to me by my mum. I didn't look very intellectual when I said to her in company: "Oh yes, I really liked it. I loved the bit at the end with the Rhino."

The Liar by Stephen Fry. I read it aged 19 on holiday with relatives in France. I'm sure my Gran thought I was unhinged from all the hysterical laughter.

Oh yeah, definitely second The Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryon - it's wonderful...

Till the fat lady sings by Bob Jackson had me crying with laughter and when I let someone borrow it, I knew as I could hear them laughing too!!

Spike Milligan's war-memoirs and, especially, Puckoon - couldn't agree more with whoever nominated those. 'Puckoon' had me doubled up with helpless weeping laughter.

'Confederacy of Dunces' doesn't do it for me, though - on a recent 'which books are the most over-hyped' thread, that was my undisputed number-one choice! (Sorry to disagree with whoever loved it...)

Oh - not sure if anyone else has mentioned Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. It was one of two books (the other Notes from a Small Island) that my sister and I both said to each other 'oh my god you have to read this book' without knowing we were talking about the same one (we're both useless about remembering titles/authors etc)

Brookmyre is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. For those who are going to try him: start at beginning (quite ugly one morning) and DO NOT start with the Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks, it's the weakest one! Just finished A snowball in Hell - v.v.good.

Pratchett makes me laugh. The Bursar is brilliant

Also William Sutcliffe

I'm currently reading "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."
The premise is so ridiculous it can't not be funny. Can be a bit graphic

Bill Bryson - A walk in the woods
Douglas Admas - Dirk Gentlys holistic detective Agency
Peter Tinniswood - I didnt know you cared
Clive James - Unreliable memoirs
Dom Joly - Look at me!
Anything by P G Wodehouse
Have fun!

have to do another vote for Jasper Fforde here

The best PG Wodehouse in my opinion is a short story - Crime Wave at Blandings. It is a peach and a lovely quick read at the end of a bad day.

I agree with lots of the other suggestions, except Last Chance to See. It's very wittily written and has an important message but I found the book very depressing.

I think my favourite P G book is Code of the Woosters..I was laughing from the first paragraph (althought I love the short stories too!)

Also,
Scoop - Evelyn Waugh
The Liar - Stephen Fry

As a Christian and a long suffering C of E Church-goer, my favourite PG Wodehouse is "The Great Sermon Handicap" in which - deprived of gambling opportunities - BW and chums decide to bet on which local Vicar produces the longest-winded sermon on a particular Sunday. They spend quite some time studying form: The Rev'd So-and-So had a fine trial gallop this morning at the Mothers' Union meeting, etc.

Peter Kay's autobiograhy- made me gasp for air I was laughing so much!

Ermintrude13 I think most of the books that make me laugh are written by women. I've got lots but especially Women's Glib & Women's Glibber - antholologies, can't remember who edited by but I can't think of a dud piece in either. Guaranteed cheer-up stuff.

Also Devil's Cub & These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer - lots of her books are funny but these two really get me every time.

Takver, I never knew that Georgette Heyer wrote funny books; will check them out.

Absolutely, though some are much funnier than others. Mind you I have just remembered that chick-lit was ruled out by the OP and I reckon GH definitely falls into that category .

Come to think of it (reminded by another ongoing thread), the Diary of a Provincial Lady also has some very funny bits in it. Is she chick-lit? Don't think so . . .

Not quite fiction but this one made me laugh until tears were running down my face, it also made me cry too but I love that richness of emotion in a book. Marley and me.

Cold Comfort Farm made me laugh out loud
Love in a cold climate/the pursuit of love were very amusing

Trouble is, funny books by women are always classified as 'chick lit' whereas equally light but more blokey books aren't...

To me, chick lit is silly romances with little literary value - Mills and Boon for the 21st century. I'd say Helen Fielding was at the very top end of this because she's taking a more sidelong look at it. Also, her comic scenes really are very funny.

Love Evelyn Waugh's 'Scoop'
And 'Catch 22' is brilliant.

I think I am the only person alive who doesn't find Bill Bryson hilarious

or Pratchett

i love Adrian Mole The Cappucino years, and Weapons of mass destruction

both brilliant - have re-read them tons

also A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon had me chuckling