Funny Books, through the lens of ten types of comedic writing - booktube reviews..

[@RaynorReadsStuff]

This is great. What a fabulous discussion. I know what you mean about humorous books, sometimes I find them hilarious, sometimes not so much. Enjoyed this very much 😊

[@GenreBooks23]

Thanks Debs!

[@ObscureBookAdventures]

From what I understand humor is one of the most difficult genres to write in.

[@GenreBooks23]

Yep, time, language, nationality- all of these just don’t help comedy writing!

[@ObscureBookAdventures]

@@GenreBooks23 It’s strange as I don’t think as a Dutch person Dutch humour is funny. I often feel, when I watch Dutch comedy shows, that Dutch humour is laughing at the expense of some one else. I think the British and Belgians are much funnier than us. I don’t know why but the Belgian and British humour is very much alike. They both can be Pythonesk absurd at times.

[@book-ramble]

Lol. Bored of the Rings... Frito Bugger! Goddam! Wonderful stuff.

[@GenreBooks23]

If you like BOTR, then you must try “Doon”, if you’ve not already read it (and Dune)!

[@book-ramble]

@@GenreBooks23 Yes... I must. With "Doon' I did not know of its existence!

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

Brilliant, Gavin! I'm disappointed that Bored of the Rings didn't quite work as well as the others for you.

[@GenreBooks23]

Three out of four is not bad though :) I think maybe it was something that landed better when it first came out - I’m sure many of the late 1960s US consumer brand references went straight over my head!

[@apilgrim8715]

For funny, I always recommend "The Old Philosopher" by Eddie Lawrence.

[@GenreBooks23]

Has never heard of him- thanks for that!

[@Maeve_Ever_Books]

Loved this discussion!! I love books that make me laugh but, there are definitely some books that I know are supposed to be funny that I don’t find that funny.

[@GenreBooks23]

I don’t mind a book that is trying to be comedic, but a book that just assumes it’s succeeding (when it’s not) is difficult to plough through..

[@Maeve_Ever_Books]

@@GenreBooks23 I agree completely.

[@faithbooks7906]

This is an excellent analysis. The only one I’ve read is The Confederacy of Dunces which I thought was brilliant. No Bed for Bacon sounds intriguing. I have not read the other two nor have I read what they are lampooning (shamefully!). Have you read The Reduced Shakespeare Company?

[@GenreBooks23]

I saw the Reduced Shakespeare back in 1993! Shocked that it’s still going, but glad to see it. Thanks for reminding me!

[@KatJack-vl8xj]

"A Confederacy of Dunces" ties with "My Life and Hard Times" by James Thurber on my comedy hit list. I'm also a big fan of Barbara Pym -- I'd choose "Excellent Women" as a good example of her work. Then of course there is the great Irish satirist Brian Nolan. "At Swim-Two-Birds" as Flann O'Brien and "The Best of Myles" containing his best newspaper columns. "Adventures in the Skin Trade" is a picaresque unfinished novel by Dylan Thomas. Nancy Mitford's "The Pursuit of Love" and "Love in a Cold Climate" are classic comedies. "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is funny no matter how many times I read it. Last but definitely not least is "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" by Laurence Sterne. It defies description.

[@GenreBooks23]

Pym is new to me, thanks. When I’m in a bookshop, I can never remember who the good Mitfords were!

[@AaronReadABook]

Comedy is an odd thing in books. I've never read a stand-up comedian's book that was great, so even the experts struggle with it. I have read Confederacy of Dunces many years ago and remember enjoying it. I think only Wodehouse, Pratchett, Austen, and maybe Patrick O'Brian consistently make me laugh. Lucky Jim is very funny if you haven't read that.

[@GenreBooks23]

I suppose stand ups use novels to show their serious sides, or campaigns. Ben Elton and “Stark” maybe?

[@AaronReadABook]

@@GenreBooks23 I've not actually read a standup novel, just non-fiction stuff like autobiographies. Elton was such a good TV writer I imagine his books might be decent.

[@GenreBooks23]

@@AJT222-1 Billy Liar I have read, but must get to the Amis! Thanks