Recommendations for “laugh out loud” books? Fiction or nonfiction.
A very good friend has just been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. She is going to need some lightness and laughter in her life. Recommendations for “laugh out loud” books? Fiction or nonfiction. Thank you!
Anything Davis Sedaris
Anything by Sophie Kinsella especially Yhe Shopaholic Series and The Undomesticated Goddess
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Norah Ephron. I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloan Crosley.
Yes to Nora.
Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.
Stephanie, Grandma Mazur, and Lula!!! ❤️?
Yes these are great pick me ups
The Rosie project.
I second David sedaris. Also aj jacobs
Laurie Notaro!
Mug Bug series, or Fortune Series by Jan Deleon. Janet Evanovich Series. (One for the money is the first). Hoot by Carl Hiaasen.
The books by Anne George, crazy sisters who solve crimes. When my husband was going through 2 months of radiation and i was spending about an hour a day in the waiting room, an oncologist friend gave me the set. Said oncology waiting rooms needed laughter and I did LOL while reading.
Old, but if not read: If a life is a bowl full of Cherries, What am I Doing in the Pits; The Grass is Always Greener Over th Septic Tank – both by Erma Bombeck. Probably anything by Erma Bombeck.
Have you ever found “ the egg and I” by Betty Macdonald? She wrote Mrs Piggle-Wiggle for children- but her books for adults( there were 4 of them I think) were timeless and really funny. She was the fore mother of Erma Bombeck and co.
No I haven’t heard of her.
But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn…Ali in Wonderland and Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth…Enslaved by Ducks: How One Man Went From Head of Household to Bottom of the Pecking Order by Bob Tarte…Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson…Too Soon to Say Goodbye by Art Buchwald …Growing Up Laughing: My Story and the Story of Funny by Marlo Thomas…Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon by Spider Robinson…Belles on Their Toes by Frank B Gilbreth…Supreme Courtship by Christopher Moore…
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. The first book of his that I read and it made me laugh out loud at times!
Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum Series. From novel #2 on.
So Sorry For Your Friend, And You!!! Wishin’ You Both—-Good Vibres As Ya’ll Begin This New Phase!!! This Is Trish!!!
Anything written by Haven Kimmel. A Girl Named Zippy is my favorite!!
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: (A Mostly True Memoir) Jenny Lawson
YES YES YES! And Furiously Happy. Jenny Lawson is hilarious. Get the audiobook because it’s read by her and makes it even MORE funny. You’ll definitely laugh out loud.
SisterChicks On The Loose!!! This Is Trish!!!
Shopaholic series.
Any book by Bill Bryson and Sophie kinsella
Neighbours from hell series
Wallbanger
Seduction and snacks
A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. The movie didn’t capture the humor. It’s best read.
So very sorry for your friend and hope she will not suffer as time passes. ?❤️?
Bill Bryson. Stuart McLeans Vinyl Cafe series
Ok, so you didn’t ask for this type of suggestion but I also recommend reading Radical Remission, Surviving Cancer Against All Odds. I’m about 1/2 way through it now. I don’t have cancer but I have ALS, which is terminal, and this book has a lot of POSITIVE stories about people with terminal cancer who beat it! It’s really uplifting and inspirational. I’m enjoying it. So maybe when your friend is ready, they can read it. I’d never suggest anything negative, so please trust this one is a good read!
Mick N Tai, you might want to read Every Note Played by Lisa Genova. She is a Harvard neurology professor and has written several novels about health conditions from Alzheimer’s (Still Alice) to autism. This one is about a classical pianist with ALS. Heartbreaking but insightful.
@Chan finally! I’ve tried to ask ppl on Goodreads about this book. But no one would respond. I read Tuesdays with Morrie and a couple of other books about ALS. There’s nothing quite like experiencing it first hand, though. Is the book very sad? I just hesitate to read it if it’s too sad. The book about Morrie was pretty positive, and I was in better shape at the time that I read it. Part of this disease is a big mind f–k, so I’m on the fence about reading it. I do love the idea of it, bringing awareness about the disease for ‘regular’ people…
@Mick, it is sad. A world-renowned concert pianist is attacked by this horrific disease. He goes through all the stages and loses the ultimate battle, but it is a beautiful story of courage, compassion and the kindness of an ex-wife. I would read it. PM me as you are reading if you need to vent.
For funny stuff-
Anything by Jenny Lawson or Chelsea Handler.
You Deserve a Drink by Mamrie Hart had me belly laughing.
I also like to read Tucker Max – BUT – don’t read him unless you really, really, REALLY like crude humor. Here’s a complete douche. But funny. I warned you!
Definitely Jenny Lawson books
Anything by Lorna Landvik. One is “Patty Jane’s House of Curl.”
The Rosie Project!
Loved the Rosie books
Ben Aaronovitch, Terry Pratchett
Vikkie Claflin..she also has a website (http://laugh-lines.net/)
The Virgin Romance Novelist was HILARIOUS
Have you heard of ChemoAngels? Look it up I’ve been one since 2001 & they need new Angels & patients. All confidential of course.
All the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich
Jasper Fforde’s Nursery Crimes books – the fourth bear and the big over easy. Hilarious
Three men in a boat by Jerome K Jerome
If It’s Not One Thing, It’s My Mother.
Dear Farenheit 451 by Annie Spence.
Fannie Flagg ?! ?
I thought of her as well!
Not light hearted, but life changing. The Truth about Cancer by Ty M. Bollinger. My uncle was diagnosed with cancer and we went on a 6 week juice diet. He ate normally but he had a juice every day. Lots of kale, apples, spinach and carrots were the normal main staples. He went back to the dr a couple of weeks ago and he is in remission. He also found he a lot of energy and started taking daily walks, something he was initially unable to do. Another book is Reboot with Joe 101 juice recipes by Joe Cross. This is where I got the recipes I made for him with my juicer. I only made juices that stated cancer as a medical condition.
Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime”
Finger lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich and Goblin Quest by Jim C. Hines both had me laughing so hard my husband asked me what was so funny. I couldn’t even answer him I was laughing too hard. I know it’s not a book..but “Nailed It” on Netflix is sidesplittingly funny. No one I’ve recommended it to that’s watched it hasn’t found it hilarious.
Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
If she doesn’t mind some bad language…The Book With No Name by Anonymous.
The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson.
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Miss Fortune series by Jana DeLeon
How to be happy
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Any books by Jen Mann, like I Just Want To Pee Alone, People I Want to Punch in the Throat (3 installments…original, holidays, and working with…) Jenny Lawson is great, too. Lastly, Diary of a Princess and others from the late Carrie Fisher. She is hysterical on the audiobooks.
Yup, People I want to Punch in the Throat!
For a romance-twist that are easy reads, check Vicki Lewis Thompson nerd series. Each one made me laugh numerous times.
Stephanie Plum books
Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes or Crazy in Alabama…
The sweet potato queens
The Mitford series is delightful! Father Tim a riot.
& Barnabas!
@Kayrene great suggestion. Soothing reads
Books by Dorothea Benton Frank
James Acaster Classic Scrapes. Hilarious!
Dorothea Benton Frank – I agree.
Fannie flagg
Anne George and her Southern Comfort sisters series (8 books)
The Father Tim Mitford series is a chuckle out loud series and a place that is comforting and calming.
I was just scrolling through and saw this audio book recommended.
Chris Moore. Especially “Lamb”
A Walk in the Woods
Bridget Jones