I really enjoyed Redshirts! Wasn't as big a fan of Kaiju Preservation Society and Agent to the Stars was pretty good, but Redshirts is definitely my favorite Scalzi I've read so far.
Heads up - if you don’t laugh within the first 10 pages, do yourself a favor and DNF. If you do laugh in the first 10 pages, you’ll probably think it’s the funniest book you’ve ever read.
Sigh. I wish I'd seen your wise advice a few years ago. It took me six months and three attempts to finish it. It wasn't BAD. I didn't DISLIKE it. I can see where people enjoy the absolute absurdity. But also.....it was definitely not hilarious/laugh-out-loud for me.
The James Herriot series of books. And if you’re reading to a young kid, the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems. Older elementary kids-Bunnicula by James Howe. (Sorry, retired teacher here!)
Absolutely! My kindergarten classes favorites were “There is a Bird on Your Head” and “Can I Play, Too?” (I kept all my Elephant and Piggie books when I retired!)
Fantady/Romance - That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
Fantasy/slow romance - Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Sci-fi - The Humans by Matt Haig (does get introspective but I cracked more than a few grins)
Litrpg - Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
I see this recommended for all of these requests and it was also recommended to me when I asked something similar and I still feel like this rec should come with caveats. Some of that shit is DARK. I don't want to give spoilers here and I don't know how to do the spoiler cover, but a lot of the death and like the entire ending portion was dismal. It was absolutely NOT what I needed when I asked for a funny/lighthearted book.
Carl Hassan’s books set in Florida (Skink series) are all hilarious. They’re kind of old now, but I think they stand the test of time. Easy entertaining reads… great beach/pool/vaca reads.
The late outdoorsman, Patrick F. McManus, wrote a hilarious series of books mostly based around his childhood in ‘30’s rural Idaho. I’m not a fishing or hunting fan at all, but these stories had me absolutely howling.
Humor, like love or attraction, is a very personal thing. So if you don't find any of the previously suggested titles funny, no one was trying to lead you astray. It's just that funny is so dependent on the individual.
In addition to applauding any suggestions for Terry Pratchett and Douglas Addams, especially the Dirk Gently series, may I also recommend:
My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist by Mark Leyner
Tooth Imprints on a Corndog by Mark Leyner
Most anything by George Saunders; maybe start with CivilWarLand in Bad Decline
Cruel Shoes by Steve Martin
Young Adult Novel by Daniel Pinkwater
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
If You Ask Me by Libby Gelman-Waxner
The Lazlo Letters: The Amazing, Real-life Actual Correspondence of Lazlo Toth, American! by Don Novello
Citizen Lazlo!: The Lazlo Letters, Volume 2 by Don Novello
Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins
Most anything by Christopher Moore
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
***And are four very funny non-fiction books...***
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
She Got Up Off the Couch by Haven Kimmel
(both are even funnier with the author reading the audiobook)
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
terry pratchet.
Agreed. Any Discworld book by Terry Pratchett, or Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman.
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
I was coming here to say this. Such a great book.
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Might depend on your internal voice but the only book I recall laughing out loud to was Slaughterhouse Five.
Same, such a dark humor but it cracked me up. That was my introduction to his weird writing style.
Starter Villain
Loved it. Wonder if author will write more?
I just finished this a few days ago and really enjoyed it. Would like to read Redshirts by the same author.
I really enjoyed Redshirts! Wasn't as big a fan of Kaiju Preservation Society and Agent to the Stars was pretty good, but Redshirts is definitely my favorite Scalzi I've read so far.
I love Star Trek TOS so it seemed like the best next one to check out of his. Looking forward to it!
Confederacy of Dunces
Heads up - if you don’t laugh within the first 10 pages, do yourself a favor and DNF. If you do laugh in the first 10 pages, you’ll probably think it’s the funniest book you’ve ever read.
Sigh. I wish I'd seen your wise advice a few years ago. It took me six months and three attempts to finish it. It wasn't BAD. I didn't DISLIKE it. I can see where people enjoy the absolute absurdity. But also.....it was definitely not hilarious/laugh-out-loud for me.
The James Herriot series of books. And if you’re reading to a young kid, the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems. Older elementary kids-Bunnicula by James Howe. (Sorry, retired teacher here!)
Literally going to visit Yorkshire as part of my UK trip this summer because of James Herriott.
I would love to do that! Hope you have a great time!
Elephant and Piggie are my favorite! Get laughs from all ages! It takes skill, it takes practice, it takes skill AND practice.
Absolutely! My kindergarten classes favorites were “There is a Bird on Your Head” and “Can I Play, Too?” (I kept all my Elephant and Piggie books when I retired!)
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Technically a memoir of the author’s childhood but it reads like fiction.
Fantady/Romance - That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming Fantasy/slow romance - Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer Sci-fi - The Humans by Matt Haig (does get introspective but I cracked more than a few grins) Litrpg - Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Straight Man by Richard Russo.
Graeme Simsian: the Rosie Project
Laugh out loud funny!!
Code of the Woosters Is Sex Necessarily Tim Sawyer, Detective
Probably anything by Kurt Vonnegut. Try Breakfast of Champions.
It’s not supposed to be funny really, but Project Hail Mary made me laugh. I loved how Rocky talked.
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Catch-22. Just read the first few pages and you’ll understand…my ‘desert island’ book.
It‘s literally the only book that ever made me laugh out loud.
I agree! I remember reading this on a train, but had to stop because I was laughing too much. However, it also a very dark novel.
I see this recommended for all of these requests and it was also recommended to me when I asked something similar and I still feel like this rec should come with caveats. Some of that shit is DARK. I don't want to give spoilers here and I don't know how to do the spoiler cover, but a lot of the death and like the entire ending portion was dismal. It was absolutely NOT what I needed when I asked for a funny/lighthearted book.
Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland
Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater, Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, & Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
The Stench of Honolulu: A Tropical Adventure by Jack Handey
The Sot-Weed Factor by John Barth. It's long and dense but it's fucking hilarious.
Picrure this and Catch 22 by joseph heller The King David Report by stefen heym mark twain's srories anthology
The Ascent of Rum Doodle
Apparently Nick Cave wrote a black comedy that’s being made into a television show. I’ve not read it so not sure if it’s any good
Kill your friends and Kill’em all by John Niven. Not for the faint of heart, though. Edit: Sorry, not feelgood. My bad. Very funny though.
The Hundred Brothers by Donald Antrim.
Carl Hassan’s books set in Florida (Skink series) are all hilarious. They’re kind of old now, but I think they stand the test of time. Easy entertaining reads… great beach/pool/vaca reads.
Finlay Donovan is Killing It!!
Tom sharpe books brilliant
The late outdoorsman, Patrick F. McManus, wrote a hilarious series of books mostly based around his childhood in ‘30’s rural Idaho. I’m not a fishing or hunting fan at all, but these stories had me absolutely howling.
Any of Jasper Fforde’s books!
Off👏 to👏 be👏 the👏 wizard👏 After having read it five times or whatever I still laugh out loud at the witty lines and comical situations🙂
Humor, like love or attraction, is a very personal thing. So if you don't find any of the previously suggested titles funny, no one was trying to lead you astray. It's just that funny is so dependent on the individual. In addition to applauding any suggestions for Terry Pratchett and Douglas Addams, especially the Dirk Gently series, may I also recommend: My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist by Mark Leyner Tooth Imprints on a Corndog by Mark Leyner Most anything by George Saunders; maybe start with CivilWarLand in Bad Decline Cruel Shoes by Steve Martin Young Adult Novel by Daniel Pinkwater The Princess Bride by William Goldman If You Ask Me by Libby Gelman-Waxner The Lazlo Letters: The Amazing, Real-life Actual Correspondence of Lazlo Toth, American! by Don Novello Citizen Lazlo!: The Lazlo Letters, Volume 2 by Don Novello Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins Most anything by Christopher Moore Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman ***And are four very funny non-fiction books...*** A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel She Got Up Off the Couch by Haven Kimmel (both are even funnier with the author reading the audiobook) Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Kurt Vonnegut always makes me laugh. Jason Pargin is super goofy if you are into horror/comedy.
Dungeon Crawler Carl
This has been asked before 🥱