Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Basically I'm searching for a novel to really blow my hair back - through its deft use of comedy. The funniest books I've ever read are Catch-22, Lucky Jim and Confederacy of Dunces. Obviously lots of Vonnegut is hilarious. Lately, I've also been very into George Saunders. So, funny - but with something on its mind.

Any ideas?? Thanks.

I haven't read enough of books, neither have I read the books you mentioned in your comment, to say which are smart and funny but...

I do think Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer is quite hilarious and smart, in my opinion.

You already mentioned the top of my list (Vonnegut, Heller, Toole, etc), but I would like to add Douglas Adams to your list.

I hated Catch-22, so we might not have the same sense of humor, but Nick Hornby is one of the few modern authors (of what I would consider literary fiction) that makes me laugh out loud. I also found Oscar Wilde's 'Picture of Dorian Gray' full of funny lines although of course the book itself is a little depressing.

Have you looked at America The Textbook by Jon Stewart? If you appreciate Irony I think you would like it. I read Catch-22 right before I read this one. It's not a novel but it is hilarious. You have to read it from cover to cover, even the inside cover. If you decide to pick it up let me know what you think.

And speaking of Oscar Wilde, I thought The Importance of Being Earnest was funny.

Anything by Christopher Moore, Janet Evanovich, and Bingo, Six of One and Loose Lips by Rita Mae Brown.

Laugh out loud funny.

Kurt Vonnegut's SLAPSTICK (or lonesome no more)

ho hum

I loved "Confederacy of Dunces" so much!

From the list, I've enjoyed Douglas Adams, P.G. Wodehouse, and Stella Gibbons "Cold Comfort Farm." And there's always Huck Finn, which has some really hilarious parts.

I agree - Douglas Adams is truly hilarious. His "Hitchhiker's Guide" series is a MUST READ.

I'm reading some funny NF stuff by Mary Roach. She writes about scientific topics, yet she's LOL funny. "Stiff" is a real hoot.

Chuck Palahniuk's CHOKE was extremely (painfully) funny - the forthcoming film version might try to adjust the balance back towards tedium though.

I really didn't like Choke. ...Hopefully that doesn't alienate me.

I have to ditto Douglas Adams though my favorite for laughs was the one entitled "Dick Gentry's Holistic Detective Agency" or a similar title....can't remember right this minute.

I haven't read the J. Thurber books that are on the list; but, in general, he cracks me up! Remember "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" anyone?

I also love Mark Twain's humor in Huck Finn and many other works.

"Cold Comfort Farm" is a scream also if you "get" dry British humor and the context of that particular book.

I also lol'd at Kennedy O'Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces".

"Everything is Illuminated" definitely has some very funny moments.

I thought "Decline and Fall" by Evelyn Waugh was pretty funny. I picked it up at the library, recognizing the title from the list. Other than that I didn't know what to expect. That made it even better.

I also agree that Douglas Adams and Nick Horny are great reads.

Anything by Jean Shepherd (if you haven't heard of him, he wrote the stories that were compiled to make the movie "A Christmas Story".) Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome, and Cannery Row by Steinbeck were the two funniest pieces of "literature" I've ever read.

I agree that Choke was pretty funny myself. Although it was a bit vulgar more so than what I can typically handle. (I know, I'm a light-weight).

I would have to say Catch-22 as well. Second time round I finally finished the novel and I was glad I did. The ending is hilarious. I also thought Bridget Jones Diary was comical.

I thought Youth in Revolt was pretty funny. And, of course, David Sedaris is always good for a good chuckle.

Thanks for all the input, everyone! These are a some really helpful recs. Keep 'em coming if you think of any others.

Mark Twain is wonderfully humorous. He's one of those people I would have liked to meet.

I find Christopher Moore's books to be hilarious, esp "Lamb: The gospel according to Biff". It helps to be Catholic and/or having a good understanding of the life of Christ but it's not necessary to enjoy it.

But one of the funniest books I have ever read is "The Frisco Pigeon Mambo" by CD Payne.

Agreed! "Lamb" was terrific, especially if you're Catholic. Try Cannery Row if you haven't read it. Funny and on the 1001 list.

Gogol is very funny! Dead Souls is keeping me laughing right now. Check out his short story, "The Nose."

"Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" by Douglas Adams.

And as an added bonus that series has justified my no map navigational policy,

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be".

the funniest book i've read in a while is augusten burroughs running with scissors - bizaare slice of life stuff.

some of the most intelligent books i've read - a fine balance by rohinton mistry and perfume by patrick suskind. both are really great stories, finely crafted and woven together. perfume made me change the way i saw books when i first read it.

I just re-read the original post/question--if you want something funny AND smart, I'd recommend Empire Falls by Richard Russo or Handling Sin by Michael Malone.

I don't know if you're into science fiction, but anything by Terry Pratchett has amazing wit in all of his books.

Yes, yes, yes! Me, too, Karina!

I've been lost in every major city in America and enjoyed the experiences -- for the most part...
Sometimes I needed to get somewhere on time!

Dirk Gentry is definitely my favorite detective, and don't forget he saved the universe for NO EXTRA CHARGE!

Anything by Flann O'Brien!

The Third Policeman
At Swim, Two Birds
The Poor Mouth

For dry humor in the lower key, I'd recommend J.F. Powers:

Morte d'Urban (novel about fundraising priet banished to rural parish in Minnesota who plots a return to glory by building a golf course as main attraction for a retreat center. Very funny, but also a serious meditation on spiritual life and and redemption)

Collected Short Stories

I am America and so can you
Running with Sissors
She's Come Undone and Lamb
The Appilachian Trail (Cahill)
The Stepford Wives
Fear of Flying
If you can't live with me, why aren't you dead yet? cynthia heimel
If life is a bowl of cherries why am I in the pits? (erma brombeck rip)
The man who mistook his wife for a hat (Sacks)
everything by Spaulding Grey (rip)
early John Irving

Great Post!

Personally I loved Catch-22 and HATED Confederacy of Dunces...but...

I am so stoked someone mentioned Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome - great and very funny book.

How about...
The Bear Went Over the Mountain by William Kotzwinkle, pretty funny book about a bear and an author who basically exchange places -

The Mouse that Roared by Leonard Wibberley (cold war classic about a tiny country that decides to declare war on the US - also very funny)

Mark Twain "Diaries of Adam and Eve" - short and hysterically funny anecdotes from adam and eve...ex, adam wonders why eve has to go around the garden of eden renaming everything...

Gogol Dead Souls is very funny but a significant read.

How about The Eyre Affair by Fforde? Light enjoyable clever reading about Literary Detective Thursday Next.

I am delighted that you mentioned Three Men in a Boat. I read it many many years ago and I remember rolling on the floor and still think it is one of the funniest and wittiest books ever. Never met anyone else who had read it, ha!

I agree with so many of these:
Confederacy of Dunces, Hitchhiker's Guide, Choke, Everything is Illuminated, Vonnegut (Sirens of Titan was the first book I ever laughed aloud to), Sedaris-all great laughs.

Though out of step with the other books mentioned, the last book I read that tickled me so was the Truth About Chuck Norris (it made my husband cry with laughter).

The Curious Case of the Dog at Midnight was also quite silly and amusing at times, as well as being endearing.

OK, not one person has mentioned the great Dorothy Parker. No, she doesn't write novels but she is the funniest writer EVER. David Sedaris will make you laugh out loud and yes Nick Hornby. What anyone found funny in Confederacy of Dunces will you please tell me? My son counts it among his favorites too and a lot of folks mention it here. I just slogged through that book.

I am with you Maureen...not quite sure what was so funny about Dunces.

I read A Confederacy of Dunces about 10 times. I was living in Germany, and missed the United States.

Strongly recommended -- if you like wacky humor, Southern dialects, and making fun of academics.

Parts of Dunces I liked but it definitely wasn't what I had hoped.
I really loved David Sedaris "Holiday on Ice" Loved the Curious Incident of the Dog at nIght. I think you especially like that one if you are familiar with autism at all.

I haven't read Three Men in a Boat but it's on my to read list now.

I'm with you, Jode. I'm adding Three Men in a Boat to my TBR list, too.

Sedaris has been mentioned a couple of times. I laughed out loud listening to the Audiobook Me Talk Pretty One Day. He really captured the humor in mangling a language as you learn it.

This is a fun thread.

A Confederacy of Dunces is not for everyone. It's a little crude, and a lot absurd. Which is, apparently, just my thing! I loved it but some of my friends were just grossed out.

Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman, read it years ago and it made me laugh repeatedly. My favourite character was DEATH, and I used to look forward to the dialogue written in capitals.
I've got a signed copy of Going Postal by Pratchett. He stayed long past the two hours until he'd seen everyone. The kids who couldn't afford the new book bought the paperbacks of older books. He signed every book, new and old and spoke to each person who waited to see him in Auckland, NZ.

Wow, I REALLY don't like David Sedaris. I don't know if he's just not "my kind of humor" or what. I was deeply disturbed and upset by Holidays on Ice. I find him completely not funny. Although SO many do! It's what makes life interesting.

Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaimen, Christopher Moore, Carl Haaisen, Dave Barry, Kurt Vonnegut... there are so many and I love them all. There is nothing more amusing to me than biting satire.

I have yet to read Choke, but I do own it... I'll get to it eventually.

I was remiss in not giving a huge thumbs-up to Don Quixote!! I read it a few years ago and it was absolutely wonderful...well-written, super-entertaining, and very very funny. Some of the scenes really did have me laughing out loud. I went into the book only knowing the typical stuff about Don Q - something to do with a crazy spaniard fighting windmills...but I still just loved the book...and such a classic.

btw - if I remember correctly, the book comes in 2 pretty large "parts"...with something like 700-1000 pages per part. I found "part II" a bit redundant and (I claim it's) not necessary to read, so that makes the whole project a bit more manageable - just read Part I, and you can still confidently mark off Don Q as "read".

I think it's one of the books that should be read before you die...(since reading it afterwards doesn't count!!)

Terry Pratchett, Carl Hiassen, and Christopher Moore always make me laugh. Good Omens is one of my fave books ever!

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," "Slaugher-House Five" of course, The Onion's Atlas is called "Our Dumb Earth" and it's a riot for the worldly reader.

Anything by David Foster Wallace. I laughed helplessly reading INFINITE JEST.

As a side note: Empire Falls by Richard Russo is loosely based off my hometown (and Russo's) of Gloversville, NY. There are many amusing characters in that town. =)

Kim,

I live in the same general area as Gloversville myself (Oneida)that is one of the things I like about Russo , is that his settings ring so true. and then he moved to Camden, Maine--another place where I have spent a lot of time. I met him once when he was doing a reading at a college--he seems like he would be a great guy to go out for a few drinks with!

Ah, I love Christopher Moore. I've only read two of his books, but they're great!

If you like your humor heavy on the literary allusion, Jasper Fforde is your man. He has two series - the Thursday Next series, which kicks off with The Eyre Affair, and the Nursery Crime series, which begins with The Big Over Easy. Get the audiobook editions if you can, because they're truly fantastic.

ANY Terry Pratchett. Hysterical books.