The County Library discussion

April Fool’s Day is a great time for jokes, and general silliness, so to carry a sense of humor throughout the month our reading challenge is to read something you find funny, that will make you laugh. (After all, with Tax Day just around the corner, couldn’t we all use a little fun and laughter?)

Well, my next Harry Potter book is Half-Blood Prince and I don't recall much that made me chuckle in it as the story continuted its ever darkening path. On the other hand, some parts of the Wheel of Time series really had me laughing. So I may participate this month and perhaps not. We will just have to see. Then again, both books are so long, I may not finish either one in April.

Hooray for funny books. Off to look at the Reader's Choice books I have out to see if any look amusing....

I have a couple of books in mind: Hard Luck, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned, or The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, but I'm also anxious to see what everyone else suggests.

Hey if you're looking for some Reader's Choice books that might tickle your funny bone, you might want to try these two: Lowcountry Boil by Susan Boyer and The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Moore. Lowcountry Boil takes place in South Carolina and features a very pesky -- but quite funny -- ghost who helps our heroine solve a local murder. The Supremes takes place in Indiana -- though you would swear it's really in the South -- and the dialogue and antics of these lovable African-American female friends will make you smile and laugh out loud (but keep a hankie handy for some parts).

Well, what do you know? Lowcountry Boil is one of the one I have checked out! Thanks! :)

I loved "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed." I was up until 1:30 in the morning, reading and laughing out loud.

Another "laugh out loud" book is: "Big Hair and Flying Cows", by Dolores J. Wilson. Set in my home state of Georgia (US not Russia), it has hilarious characters engaged in even funnier situations.

Ruby wrote: "Another "laugh out loud" book is: "Big Hair and Flying Cows", by Dolores J. Wilson. Set in my home state of Georgia (US not Russia), it has hilarious characters engaged in even funnier situations."

My family is from the South. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to fall out of my chair. Another book, of a similar vein, that had me laughing -- and crying in spots -- was The Last Reunion of the All-Girls Filling Station by Fannie Flagg.

I am going to read "An Apple Core, a Toilet: Misadventures and Memories of a 1970's Childhood" by Tom Purcell. I got it free from amazon a little while back. I was born in 1972 and I look forward to some humorous nostalgia.

Debbie wrote: "Ruby wrote: "Another "laugh out loud" book is: "Big Hair and Flying Cows", by Dolores J. Wilson. Set in my home state of Georgia (US not Russia), it has hilarious characters engaged in even funnier..."

Debbie, So glad you loved "Big Hair"! I actually got to me et the author. Dolores invited me and my mom & sisters to her house for a luncheon once when we were going to be in the Jacksonville area -- even though we had wanted to treat her to lunch. She is just as funny and down home in person as her characters are in her books.

Since today has been rough (stepping in a puddle and no time for lunch were two of the more minor things) and all I want to do is read more of The Wind in the Willows because I know it will make the day brighter, I'm counting this one for the challenge.

JoAnn wrote: "Since today has been rough (stepping in a puddle and no time for lunch were two of the more minor things) and all I want to do is read more of The Wind in the Willows because I know it will make th..."

JoAnn should get a gold star for the first book read even after having a day like Alexander as we learn in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Period.

Ruby wrote: "Another "laugh out loud" book is: "Big Hair and Flying Cows", by Dolores J. Wilson. Set in my home state of Georgia (US not Russia), it has hilarious characters engaged in even funnier situations."
This is on my "to read" list, so I hope to get to it by the end of the month. I also really enjoyed Fannie Flagg's latest book a couple of month ago, so I recommend it to anyone who loves southern humor. If all else fails, the latest Flavia book is what I am reading next, and you can't help but laugh at the young chemist who pranks her sisters, all the while solving a mystery.

Becky wrote: "I have a couple of books in mind: Hard Luck, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned, or [book:The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Windo..."
"Never Have Your Dog Stuffed" sounds hilarious, Becky, if not somewhat morbid.... ;)

So, I know I say stupid things sometimes-- just a lack of forethought, you know. But some of the things people said in Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops really got me laughing. It's a great book to read if you don't have a lot of time because none of the exchanges related are more than a page or two and most are closer to a paragraph or two. (However, now that I've said that I remember that I picked this book just before going to bed thinking I'd only read a page or two and wound up going to bed at-- well, let's just say it was a bad idea, considering I had work first thing the next morning. I did laugh really hard, though.)

If you haven't read them already, I'd suggest "Funny in Farsi" or "Laughing Without an Accent" by Firoozeh Dumas. It's the funniest nonfiction I've ever read.

Cami wrote: "If you haven't read them already, I'd suggest "Funny in Farsi" or "Laughing Without an Accent" by Firoozeh Dumas. It's the funniest nonfiction I've ever read."

I really liked Funny In Farsi, too! That's a great suggestion.

I listened to Kerplunk Stories My favorite has got to be the one about how his column disappeared after his friend helped him with launching his boat from ten miles away.

Another funny, if somewhat frightening, non-fiction book I've read is Shut Up, I'm Talking: And Other Diplomacy Lessons I Learned in the Israeli Government--A Memoir. This is not a book to inspire confidence in bodies of government, but I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time.

I completed "An Apple Core, a Toilet: Misadventures and Memories of a 1970's Childhood" by Tom Purcell. It was not as humorous as I had thought it might be, but it was light hearted and nostalgic and made me think of childhood. Glad I read it.

Finished "The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches" by Alan Bradley. A great series. If you have a youngen interested in chemistry and mystery they would probably really enjoy reading these. Hopefully the series continues, although the cast of characters would change.

I also read "The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches" and loved it. I would be surprised if the series didn't continue, but I agree that the next book will have some different characters in it and the setting will change as well.

I will miss the characters of these books, most especially Dodger. I was so glad to finally get some of his backstory in this one.

I am always a bit late on these, but if you are still looking for a funny read, I can recommend these books: The Southern Sisters series by Anne George, or One for the Money (or another book early in the Stephanie Plum series) by Janet Evanovich. I will be glad to check out the other titles mentioned because I love reading a book that makes me laugh.

I know that several people have mentioned reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette in the past, but it would also be a great book for this month's challenge, for those of you looking for a humorous work of fiction.

Ann wrote: "I know that several people have mentioned reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette in the past, but it would also be a great book for this month's challenge, for those of you looking for ..."

LOVED that book! Not the ending I expected AT ALL!

Ann wrote: "I know that several people have mentioned reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette in the past, but it would also be a great book for this month's challenge, for those of you looking for ..."

I loved that book, too. That and The Rosie Project are what I think of for funny reads. I wish I could find more laugh out loud fiction like these two books.

Currently reading What Einstein told his Barber it is billed as a fun science book for grown-ups. I find it very informative and full of dry wit.

I just finished reading "Before the Clock Strikes Thirty" by Aubrey Mace who is a Utah author. It's a very funny romance and I'll probably review it for Meridian Magazine.

Marinda wrote: "Currently reading What Einstein told his Barber it is billed as a fun science book for grown-ups. I find it very informative and full of dry wit."

I love dry wit. For some reason it just strikes my sense of humor more strongly than other types of humor. It's not always easy to find dry wit, either. I'll have to find a copy of this.

I finished Terry Pratchett's 'Nation' & thoroughly enjoyed it. He's always good for a laugh (as well as for introspection!).

I read Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned by Alan Alda. I am a big fan of MASH and especially Alda on this show. While there were funny parts to this book, I took away from his writing his unique outlook on the world and life and his sincere love for his wife and family.

Nora wrote: "I finished Terry Pratchett's 'Nation' & thoroughly enjoyed it. He's always good for a laugh (as well as for introspection!)."

Have you read Dodger? It's one of my favorites by him, and another non-Disc World book

LOVED Dodger! Sort of a "what if...?" in Dicken's England--haha! Like it so well I bought it on Audiobook to listen to while I drive.

There’s one more day to let me know what humorous book you’ve read for this month’s challenge, if you want to be included in the drawing. (Please make sure your account setting allow you to receive messages through Goodreads if you want to be considered in the drawing, as this is how I contact the monthly winner.)