AB Reading group - July Book of the Month suggestions please

[sunny-dave]

I am arbitrarily choosing "Books that will make us laugh" as the genre for this month - after a few comments about the 'grim' nature of June's shortlist I thought we should lighten the tone - interpret this as loosely as you wish :+)

Please add your suggestions for specific books to this thread - give a bit of detail about each book (or a link to a synopsis on eg Amazon).

Feel free to endorse other people's ideas - I'll pick a few books for a selection poll in a week or so ...

dave xx

[sunny-dave]

Vile Bodies certainly does it for me - an absolute classic.

[AB Editor]

Or Saki? Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

That might be good. Lots of short stories.

[friedgreentomato]

shades of grey

[sunny-dave]

Any offers from the evening crew?

[Canary42]

Catch-22 and Notes from a Small Island get my vote.

[excelsior-1]

'my family - and other animals' by gerald durrell

durrell is a naturalist, his fascination with animal life began at a very early age.
the book chronicles his life growing up in a number of villas with his family, and his exploration of life at each location.
he injects humour into the chapters with ease .. without giving too much away, my favourite part is the episode involving baby spiders at the dinner table

[nannybooby]

Just remembered another The Wrong Boy by Willie Russell. Its about a young lad growing up int north ,it helps if you know who Morrissy is but the book is very funny espesially the game the boys derive for catching flies , and his nan. Well worth reading.

[shoota]

J.P. Donleavy - 'The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B'.

[sunny-dave]

Now I remember enjoying that Shoota :)

[webbo3]

agree with a couple of others, Bill Bryson, either A Walk in the woods or Down Under, Brysons, funny and interesting tale about his trip across Australia.


Dave.

[Tilly2]

Three Men in A Boat. Jerome K. Jerome. I laughed 'til I cried when I first read this. Not good for discussion, as it's not a book with themes or underlying meanings. However, it's certainly a book that made me laugh.

[sunny-dave]

Agreed Tilly - have you ever tracked down the sequel "Three Men on the Bummel" - not quite as good, but still a very funny book.

Just looked and it's *free* for Kindle download.

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

and only a couple of quid for the paperback.

[Tilly2]

Type Your Answer Here...Yes, dave have read that as well. As you say, not quite as funny.

McCarthy's Bar is also hilarious. Pete McCarthy, now deceased, sadly.

[sunny-dave]

I've picked six - a mix of non-fiction and modern/classic fiction - the esteemed Ed will set up a poll for us soon.

dave xx