Humour Books > S Humour Books

Advantages: The Santaland Diaires, gives 'freaks' a voice
Disadvantages: Some stories are too dark and disturbing to be funny

Barrel Fever is a collection of short stories that have come from the twisted mind of David Sedaris and some essays that have come from the equally twisted life of David Sedaris. His humour is bleak, dark, disturbing and also laugh-out-loud funny. In his stories Sedaris writes as a horny teenager, a waster, an unloved suicidal woman, a father who's doesn't bother with hospitals because he believes he can treat everything himself - each one an American ...
...the wonderful Santaland Diaries, detailing Sedaris' time working in Macy's as an elf - you'll never think of the department store Santa in the same way again! His humour is very near the bone and sometimes Sedaris goes too far and repulses his readers. But in the end the writer's unusual way of looking at things and clever obsevations save the day making this a must-read book. ... Read review

Advantages: Strange and funny.
Disadvantages: Maybe too strange for some.

...reading from this particular book, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and after that I “ran” to my favourite online bookstore to place an order. David Sedaris (born 1956 in Binghampton, NY) is a talented humorist and for inspiration he often uses his family, his Greek heritage, his homosexuality and the problems that come with moving to another country as he now lives in France with his partner Hugh. However, he is also a radio commentator ...
...I soon will. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Demin is a collection of autobiographical stories from his past and even though the “characters”, i.e. his family members, are the same throughout, they are separate stories instead of one long one. Growing up in a family with four sisters and only one brother, and being gay at that, is a good basis for many stories that might seem mundane on the surface, but told with the dry sense of humour that David ... Read review

Advantages: Looks pretty
Disadvantages: Not really original or interesting

...of an English women called Gemma Boevry who comes to live in France with her husband. Some of Joubert's info comes from Gemma's diaries while the rest is conjecture and the results of is spying or overhearing conversations. At times he gets things wrong and then the pictures will contradict his text, they give a more accurate view of Gemma's life. The plot is not particularly inspiring. Gemma finds her marriage to Charlie boring, she is fed up with ...
...and leaves for England. Gemma now meets Patrick, her former boyfriend. She apologises to Charlie and rejects Patrick's advances. Charlie comes back but she chokes to death. The plot is vaguely based on Madame Bovary and Joubert obsesses about the parallels between Gemma and Emma Bovary's lives. I think the literary allusions are supposed to give the book a sense of humour. Unfortunately they quickly become boring, after smiling at the first few mentions ... Read review

Advantages: Great Story in the best Tom Sharpe tradition
Disadvantages: Can be hard to follow the convolutions of the plot

This forms a sequel to the popular novel 'Porterhouse Blue' which was televised with David Jason as the irascible college porter Skullion. in this sequel Skullion has been appointed as Master of the college, in keeping with the tradition that permits an outgoing Master to name his successor. shortly after the appointment Skullion suffers a 'Porterhouse Blue'. a severe stroke brought on by the excesses of the college dining tradition. The College's ...
...just about anyone who has a chequebook, the Widow of the late Master is determined to prove that he was murdered and that the college is responsible. It helps to have read Porterhouse Blue before embarking on this one, it will help you to understand the references to exploding gas filled condoms, the conflict of tradition against equality and, God forbid, the quest for academia. The style is satirical, off the wall and sometimes downright black. ... Read review

Advantages: One of the funniest books I have ever read
Disadvantages: Could cause offence, need to read the prequel first

Indecent Exposure, written by Tom Sharpe and published in 1972, is the sequel to his previous work, Riotous Assembly (see reviews written by myself and others). Set in the fictitious South African town of Piemburg it once again bases itself on the local police station. The hapless station Kommandant, Van Heerden, though keen to uphold the Afrikaner notion of law and order in apartheid South Africa holds a fascination for all things English. Under ...
...absurd humour and silly plots that will have you fighting for breath from laughter look no further. The only note of caution I would make is that it would be advisable to read Riotous Assembly first. Indecent Exposure, however, is possibly the funniest book I have ever read. ... Read review