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What is your favourite funny book? I have to go with "Solomon Gursky Was Here" by Mordecai Richler.

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applegrove Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 04:55 PM
Original message
What is your favourite funny book? I have to go with "Solomon Gursky Was Here" by Mordecai Richler.
Funny all the way through and I think Mordecai's best book.
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dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 04:58 PM
Response to Original message
1. Catch 22 and A Confederacy of Dunces.
Tho Florence King can make me cackle for hours.
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applegrove Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 05:08 PM
Response to Reply #1
5. Oh great. I have Catch 22 on my bookshelf. I'll look so forward to it now.
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dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 05:12 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. It is one of those books you read again and again over time.
I first read it when I was 25, then again 10 years later, and again a few years later, and now it is time to read it again. Each time I appreciate the universality of the theme, and find new things in it.
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ohiosmith Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 05:00 PM
Response to Original message
2. Easy:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/7/7c/20110510223953!Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas.jpg
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frogmarch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 05:01 PM
Response to Original message
3. Almost everything by Terry Pratchett
Edited on Fri Jul-29-11 05:02 PM by frogmarch
Wyrd Sisters is probably my favorite.
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Forkboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 05:03 PM
Response to Original message
4. The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie.
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dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 05:17 PM
Response to Reply #4
34. Very good one, that is.
:thumbsup:
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Forkboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 05:57 PM
Response to Reply #34
37. He can pretty much do no wrong.
He's been awesome in everything from A Bit of Fry and Laurie to Blackadder to House, and even his book is top notch. Supposedly there's going to be a movie made based on it, and a follow up novel, but he keeps pushing it back due to his obligations for House.
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dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 07:17 PM
Response to Reply #37
38. Do you/did you ever watch I Q with Stephen Fry?
Mr. Dixie has introduced me to Blackadder/Laurie/Fry ...well, everything. Books, shows, old stuff, new stuff.
A great treat.
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Forkboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 07:39 PM
Response to Reply #38
39. No, I haven't.
But I shall look for it. I love Fry as well (his books are all really good, too).

Thanks for the heads up! :)
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hifiguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 05:10 PM
Response to Original message
6. Tom Sharpe's
"Riotous Assembly" and "Porterhouse Blue." I laughed till my sides hurt. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster for something a bit less raucous.
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MerryBlooms Donating Member (940 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 05:15 PM
Response to Original message
8. I still catch myself laughing at 'Skinny Legs and All' - Robbins.
My paperback is definitely on its last skinny leg.
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gratuitous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-29-11 05:42 PM
Response to Original message
9. Roy Blount Jr.'s "What Men Don't Tell Women"
There's also Ed McClanahan's "Famous People I Have Known," which can darn near make me wet my pants, it's so funny.
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grasswire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 05:15 PM
Response to Reply #9
19. I had forgotten Roy Blount.
I have his books on my shelf. Must be time to get acquainted again. His thoughts on New Years Eve have made my family laugh and laugh for a couple of decades now.
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HeiressofBickworth Donating Member (25 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 02:07 AM
Response to Original message
10. Years ago
I remember sitting on the bus going to to work reading Farley Mowat's Never Cry Wolf and laughing out loud. Other commuters who were engrossed in newspapers or snoozing didn't share my amusement, however.
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sarge43 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 04:33 AM
Response to Original message
11. In God We Trust, Jean Shepherd n/t
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grasswire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 05:16 PM
Response to Reply #11
20. and "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories"
What a writer!!!
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AsahinaKimi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 04:37 AM
Response to Original message
12. The Princess Bride
Edited on Sat Jul-30-11 04:39 AM by AsahinaKimi
of course! Written by William Goldman.
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Aristus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 05:18 AM
Response to Original message
13. "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy"
One of the funniest books every written. Not 'ha-ha, laff-out-loud' books. Just thought provoking.

And funny.
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MorningGlow Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 07:53 PM
Response to Reply #13
23. Adams' series gets another vote from me
Discovered them in high school and still love reading them again every few years.

Also Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman. :thumbsup:
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Rhythm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 11:39 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. I was going to suggest one or the other of those... but especially
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-suhAgHOAvY0/TV0dEREd2qI/AAAAAAAAAEc/xt9jpqJTJAM/s1600/Cover+-+Good+Omens.jpg
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peacefreak Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 03:37 PM
Response to Original message
14. Island of the Sequined Love Nun
by Christopher Moore & just about anything else by him.
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sakabatou Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 04:51 PM
Response to Original message
15. "When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?" by George Carlin
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skypilot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 04:56 PM
Response to Original message
16. "Naked" by David Sedaris
Funny as hell and on a second reading I noticed that it is also beautifully written.
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GoCubsGo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 05:13 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. Pretty much anything he writes is funny.
And, they're even funnier when he reads them as audiobooks.
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MiddleFingerMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 04:58 PM
Response to Original message
17. A Confederacy of Dunces & almost anything by Tom Robbins...
.
.
.
... "especially Skinny Legs and All".
.
.
.
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grasswire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 05:19 PM
Response to Original message
21. Marc Acito "How I Paid For College" was hilarious
Rarely does a book surprise me into laughing out loud, but this one did.
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pokerfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-30-11 05:46 PM
Response to Original message
22. Candide


O che sciagὺra d'essere scenza coglioni!

Also:

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

Letters From The Earth by Mark Twain

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

The Boat Who Wouldn't Float by Farley Mowat

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OjAfXAhDL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg
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solara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 11:46 AM
Response to Original message
25. "Harpo Speaks" by Harpo Marx
Edited on Sun Jul-31-11 11:46 AM by solara
IMHO, it is hands down one of the funniest books ever written and fascinating as well. He gives a very witty and unusual overview of New York in the early 1900's and of his famous family as well. Not many know that Harpo was an honorary member of the Algonquin Round Table and his stories about the "Wits of the 1920's" are funny but also touching and wonderful. I still laugh out loud when I think of some of the images he creates. Arthur Adolph "Harpo" Marx (November 23, 1888 – September 28, 1964) was quite possibly the funniest of the Marx brothers.

Well worth the time to track it down.
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mucifer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #25
30. I LOVED that book. When I got my dog from the pound, I named her Harpo!
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solara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 01:39 PM
Response to Reply #30
31. That is so great!
:hi:
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Ohio Joe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 12:41 PM
Response to Original message
26. Have a Nice Day by Mick Foley
By far the funniest book I've ever read.
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Initech Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 01:05 PM
Response to Original message
27. Pretty much anything by Dave Barry
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Curmudgeoness Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 01:10 PM
Response to Original message
28. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Maybe because when I read it, I had a friend who thought he wanted to walk the App. Trail.
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Iggo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 01:18 PM
Response to Original message
29. Cruel Shoes -- Steve Martin
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Faygo Kid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 02:22 PM
Response to Original message
32. Anybody here know of P.G. Wodehouse, and Jeeves and Wooster?
I can't believe they have not been mentioned. Off to the Drones Club for a drink.

What ho! Or whatever.
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nutsnberries Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
33. Cosmic Banditos - A.C.Weisbecker
makes me lol.
:crazy:
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Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 05:30 PM
Response to Original message
35. "The Twits" by Roald Dahl.
Redstone
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mzteris Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-31-11 05:52 PM
Response to Original message
36. Pat the Bunny...
I swear I thought this said "what is your favorite bunny book"!
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Manifestor_of_Light Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-01-11 01:51 AM
Response to Original message
40. Memoirs of an Amnesiac - Oscar Levant
Brilliant pianist, best friend of George Gershwin, and all around curmudgeon/smartass

Rally Round the Flag, Boys is pretty funny too. Has a character named Noblesse Oblige.
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