A Walk in the Woods- Bill Bryson

Raney- Clyde Edgerton

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas-  Hunter Thompson

I'm a big fan of laugh out loud books, all of these qualify.  I'd love to discuss them in detail, please PM me, if you'd like to.  Chris

Just curious. Are you REALLY a repo man John? :P

I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a discussion, but I like:

Dave Barry - I read his column for years, even as a pretty young kid, and Big Trouble was one of the funniest books I've ever read.

Patrick F. McManus - writes humor for Field and Stream magazine, and his stories are hilarious...especially if you did a lot of camping as a kid, like me.

Scott Adams - Writes the Dilbert comic strip.  I've read his other books as well relating to workplace humor.

Why discuss in PM's?  That is what is so wonderful about Hidden Gems...the discussions.

Chat away---

tell me the books that have made you laugh so loud others were embarassed!

Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck was funny--but only if you are a woman over 40.

Bill Maher's New Rules was funny--but only if you agree with his politics.

The funniest book I've read in awhile is LAMB--The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

I lent this book to a friend that was getting ready to board a plane to head back to the U.S. and she said she kept everyone awake with her laughing out loud.  It is one book I couldn't read while my DH was sleeping next to me, or else he would waken which is no small feat.

I've mentioned these in other threads, but CATCH-22, THREE MEN IN A BOAT, Graham Chapman's A LIAR'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY and the greatest of them all, MOLVANIA -- there ya go.

I'm not allowed to read P.G. Wodehouse in my father's presence any more because he says I smirk too much and it makes him nervous.

I agree with Jocelyn. Lamb was the funniest book I have ever read. I would sit and giggle to myself and my DH thought I was losing it. :-P

Has anyone read Hunter Thompson?  It is not for everyone, but funny to those how love him.  He was played by both Bill Murray and Johnny Depp in the movies.

Laurie Notaro's books aren't especially well-written from a technical standpoint, but she has a description of getting her teeth stuck in a caramel apple while sitting in the drive-thru window at the bank...I don't know if I've ever laughed so hard at a book! Wish I could remember which book it was in...!

Humor is such an individual perception. I loved Bryson's A Walk in the Woods and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. I had to stop and read parts to my husband because he wanted to know why I was laughing hysterically. I've read Lamb by Christopher Moore but only found it mildly amusing while others here found it LOL funny. The other series that had me laughing out loud is the Stephanie Plum series by Evanovich. Some books are hit or miss but overall they make me LOL several times. No one has mentioned David Sedaris . . . I know he is popular but IMHO he is kind of creepy, definitely not someone I find funny. I'll have to check out Hunter Thompson and my husband did a lot of camping as a kid so he would probably love McManus!

anyone read john dies at the end? i just finished it last night and i'm still trying to put how i feel about it into words. the only thing i've come up with so far is "kick ass".

I love Bill Bryson and A Walk in the Woods is one of my all-time favorite books.  Another hilarious one is The Year of Living Biblically...I think it's by A.J. Jacobs.  I found it LOL funny.

ETA...I forgot about Homer Hickham's memoir triology:  Rocket Boys (aka October Sky), The Coalwood Way, and Sky of Stone.  They were all hilarious!!

*Walk in the Woods is great!  If you laughed at that you'd also laugh out loud at Bill Bryson's "In a Sunburned Country".  Bill Bryson is just generally funny- I've read all his travel books.

http://www.amazon.com/Sunburned-Country-Bill-Bryson/dp/0767903862

*Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams

*Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz

*If you like Clyde Edgerton, you might also like *"Mama Makes Up Her Mind: And Other Dangers of Southern Living" by Bailey White.  She is a hoot!

www.amazon.com/Mama-Makes-Up-Her-Mind/dp/0679751602

(edited for review links)

Eileen,

I have all of Bryson's travel books.  I might pick up In a Sunburned Country next.  :)

I was laughing pretty well listening to Marley and Me til stupidme got to the part where I realized it said 'memoir' or something of that sort and couldn't fi nish since I have a lab :-(

David Sedaris reading aloud his story "Nuit of the Living Dead" from Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch by Hollis Gillespie

can't think of others right now -- been reading too much tragic stuff lately, I guess.

Susanna,  I agree with you about laughing through Marley and Me and then as you predicted of course crying at the end. It was still a great book and I think you missed a lot at the end even though of course it was sad.

Hickgal-

I love Kite Runner, Water is Wide (and all Pat Conroy) and Walk in the Woods (and all Bryson travel).  I've been waiting for Book Thief (on my wish list).  Seems I'd better look into Christy!!!   LOL

Eileen

augusten burroughs -- but not if you don't like david sedaris!