Funny books - any update on the June thread?

[PeggyGuggenheim]

The last "funny books thread" I can find was written in June. It included

Jonathan Coe's What a Carve Up
Three Men In A Boat
Anything by James Thurber

My top funny books are
Cold Comfort Farm
The Princess Bride
Anybody Can Do Anything (Betty Macdonald)
Magical Thinking (Augusten Burroughs)
Lucky Jim

Does anyone who loves these books have any others to offer? I mean, of a similar calibre.

I haven't read that book by Augusten Burroughs, but I loved his 'Running with Scissors'. It is shocking but hilarious at the same time.

Bill Bryson's travel books always make me laugh.

Magnus Mills 'the Restraint of Beasts'. Also William Boyd's 'A Good Man in Africa'

(haven't read the old thread, so there may be some duplications here).

Ah yes, this is the sort of thing! Magnus Mills Restraint I remember as being fantastically funny. I found Bill Bryson a bit too one-liney for my tastes - the jokes come so thick and fast that your tummy hurts by the end of page three, then quip fatigue sets in. Whereas Magnus Mills and the other people on the list are really situation/character based. I may need to bump this thread again this evening - thanks for starting it off Jeff.

Im sure I've got some more, I'll have to ferret through my shelves later .

Peggy, have you read Nancy Mitford's novels or her sister Jessica's memoirs (especially 1st book Hons and Rebels)? I've only read Cold Comfort Farm and Lucky Jim of those you mention though, so sorry if that's not the right suggestion.

Barbara Comyns and MJ Farrell aka Molly Keane are other suggestions I'd make if you can find any of their books.

Definite vote for Stella Gibbons. Still hilarious!

Funniest book I ever read: "My Search for Warren Harding" by Robert Plunkett. Probably hard to find now but absolutely brilliant.

Just read "Stalking Richard and Judy" by Valentine Honeyman after Stephen Fry Tweeted it. Nearly weed myself (on the Tube . Highy recommended!