The funniest book you've ever read

[Thomcat]

We're choosing a comedy book in the next book club Igo to. I have to say I've never read a funny book, well not that I can think of.
What's the funniest book you've ever read?

Definitely Notes on a small island by Bill Bryson - I don't think any other book has actually made me cry with laughter. And even now, years later, I laugh when I think of bits of it.

Also, yes William must be read along with those fantastic illustrations - TV series didn't quite hit the spot.

My Dad is such a fan, he was sort of suggesting 'Richmal' as a possible name for our dd!

Isn't there one of William's gang called Ginger, and isn't he always interupting his sister courting in the summer house?

Suzy, I really enjoyed Dirt Music btw.

Was Violet Elizabeth in the Just William books?

gingerbear, yes she was, the horror. The TV series gave Bonnie Langford the oxygen of publicity she really did NOT NEED...
Suze, ds is nearly six, a good reader for his age I guess, and has started reading for himself the brilliant Martin Jarvis adaptations of the original stories (all the fun, only the wordiest passages carefully edited, for a luvvie he made a terrific job of this!).
He enjoyed having them read to him from about 4.5.
We have just all POSL at home over the one where William learns about St Francis at Sunday School and decides to become a Saint, with his own Order, the Williamiscans.
Ds has an extra special reason for loving the Just William stories of course...
If we're doing vintage comic memoirs, apart from the superb Clive James and Spike Milligan, let's not forget Rum Bum and Concertina by George Melly. I had to prise our copy out of dd's mitts the other day, definitely NOT a bedtime story for the children.

that sounds good marina, has Martin Jarvis capitalised on his radio production company and put them out as audio versions?

Did you like it GB, I wasn't sure about the end tbh

Marina - I've heard George Melly's book is good if rather er, rude?! Must give that a go. Also very intrigued by bakedpotato's recommendation.This is a great thread!

Good to hear your ds loves William (can't wait till mine's old enough) - I just couldn't choose a favourite, but especially like the ones with William's lofty brother Robert in them; whisking his latest paramour out to tea, only to be thwarted by William's efforts to 'help' the romance along.

Back to funny book suggestions - must not forget to mention wonderful PG Wodehouse. Again, the TV series was good, but oh, those books..superb

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Suzy, I think this is how he got into editing them - he is clearly another big fan. Given that his usual TV roles involve drawling and pretty much autopilot smoothie-chops schtick, I never thought he had such finesse in him tbh
Oh yes Tinygang, George Melly is rude indeed
And how could any of us have forgotten P G Wodehouse? It's impossible not to be cheered up by a session with the Aunts, Gussie, Madelyn, Tuppy and co. Not to mention the winsome Cora and "Eulalie"...

Holidays in Hell by PJ O'Rouke (yes i know he is a fat republican but he makes me laugh) and The Edible WOman by Margaret Atwood.

Know what you mean about the end Suzy, seemed like the author had run out of steam by then.

Any other good novels about Australia?

Oh god, Bonnie Langford ruined that character!

Another vote for Just William here - our long car journey to France would be unbearable without a few of the audio CDs. DH loves Cousin Percy - "he's very good with boys".
Tony Hawks makes me laugh too - especially Round Ireland with a Fridge.

oh good they are on audio, I shall look on ebay

GB um.......Peter Carey is good, Illywhacker, The Tax Inspector just off hte top of my head. He's in the Ian MacEwan mold, IYSWIM.

McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy is laugh-out-loud stuff. Where Did It All Go Right by Andrew Collins is funny and great if you are about my age (late 30's) as it's about growing up in the 70's - very nostalgic.

John O'Farrell's "Things can only get better" is also very very funny.

Three men in a boat - Although don't know if that is because it reminds me of dh and his friends so much but I laughed out loud at it and re read it sometimes.

The best friends guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine. Hilarious!

not the funniest but the best i can remember
here
Would not want him as a dp though!

Marina,
Yes! Brother slippers!! I nearly put that in but thought everyone would think I was crackers.
We have lots of the Martin Jarvis tapes. Must try out 4 year old DS1 on them...

Oh 'Three men in a Boat' is great. Anything by Tim Moore,hysterically funny travel writer and rather erudite to boot.
William Boyd has had his moments. 'A Good Man in Africa' is one of my favourites.

Musr dig out Just William again!

gingerbear, Ben Elton's Stark is a very funny novel set in Australia.

I don't think anyone's mentioned Tom Sharpe yet either. Blott on the Landscape, Porterhouse Blue, Wilt...

i thought both dave gorman's books were funny..Are you dave Gorman? and the Googlewhack adventure.

Round Ireland with a fridge is hilarious!

Also, another bit of good Irish humour is The Snapper, by Roddy Doyle.