Saturday, January 26, 2008

THE MEMPHIS READS QUESTION



What books made you laugh the most?















Thanks to Noa Eason, Raleigh Branch Library, for a great question!

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Comments:
The funniest books I have ever read are the Discworld books that I posted about in the author spotlight on Terry Pratchett. You don't have to read fantasy to enjoy Pratchett, but you must like satire and puns.

Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series may appeal for similiar reasons for readers who enjoy science fiction.
 
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole recounts the hilarious and absurd misadventures of Ignatius J. Reilly in 1960s New Orleans. Though highly intelligent, Ignatius has much trouble adapting himself to the ways of the world. Like many absurd characters, he is unaware of his own "specialness." The reader takes it for granted that Ignatius is nutty, but the larger question is whether the people he encounters are as sane as they think they are.

I highly recommend this book.
 
Janet Evanovich’s crazy characters have me shaking with laughter so much that I swear the cat has learned to recognize the author’s name and knows not to sit in my lap when I am reading one of her books.
 
I loved "Skin Tight" by Carl
Hiaasen. In parts it cracked me up.
He is a good writer. Thanks, ND
 
I second Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! That is one of my favorite books.
 
Catch 22 was the first book that had me laughing so hard I cried. It also made me cry. Georgette Heyer and Jayne Anne Krentz always make me chuckle and give me at least one good laugh per book. But only Janet Evanovich made me slow down on the interstate because the Stephanie Plum book I was listening to had me crying with laughter.
 
My favorite, "laugh out-loud" author has got to be Mary Kay Andrews. Her book HISSY FIT is my favorite. To paraphase the famous quote, "Hell hath no fury like a (southern) woman scorned!"
I highly this or any of her other books!
 
Even though, overall, GETTING MOTHER'S BODY by Suzan-Lori Parks was fairly serious reading, she sprinkled a number of funny moments through-out. I had a great time reading the book and look forward to diving into again, one day soon.
 
Many books truly make me laugh--those that are filled with honest humor, moments that I have lived and understand. Some examples include authors Janet Evanovich (I'm a plus-size girl, so I've been in Lulu's shoes and I've blown up a car, so I know how Stephanie often feels) or Jennifer Crusie. I also like Southern humor--Celia Rivenbark and Jill Conner Browne.

Beth, Highland Branch Library
 
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