Any instance in a book that was so funny that it had you rolling on the ground?

Question

I just finished this novel Star Trek, First Adventure. In it a ham actor does 'To be or not to be' before the Klingon Director, his own version of it. Its the last act and till then the performance had been going downhill. After the soliloquy, the Klingon jumps and begins to howl (their way of cheering) and his entire fleet does the same.

You all get a thumbs up. Except John. Because you have to be really irreverent to try and change 'To be or not to be'. Then while doing my M.A. I came across this Skinhead Shakespeare version of Hamlet. Read it. Even vampire books can be funny, imagine this old vampire bending over this nubile lass going, 'hello my pretty' and his dentures or fangs fall out. So maybe I'll vote one of your answers, but have fun.

Answer 1

I was reading the beginning of Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. The chapter was called "Dudley Demented". It was really funny some of things he said :

Dudley: "He [Mark Evans] cheeked me."
Harry: "Yeah? Did he say you look like a pig that's been taught to walk on its hind legs? 'Cause that's not cheek, Dud, that's true."

"How long have you been 'Big D' then?" said Harry.
"Shut it," snarled Dudley, turning away again.
"Cool name," said Harry, grinning, "but you'll always
be Ickle Diddykins to me."
"Shut your face."
"You don't tell her to shut her face. What about 'popkin' and 'Dinky Diddydums,' can I use them then?"

"Not this brave at night, are you?" sneered Dudley.
"This is night, Diddykins. That's what we call it when it goes all dark like this."

"What do you mean, I'm not brave in bed?" said Harry, completely nonplussed. "What- am I supposed to be frightened of - pillows or something?"

Answer 2

i read indoors ( now the thought of ME a science fiction fan READING a STAR TREK novel sets me to HOWLING ! check the shelves dude there is some good work in the field but these unoriginal serial novels are not it ) ( nothing wrong with Star Trek itself just the books for the masses

also avoid anything with Vampire in the title and you may also want to search out and destroy Hidden Relms books ( something like that ) then and only then will you have a future as a reader

Answer 3

I think there are several really funny writers out there:

Neal Barrett, Jr. - my favorite story in the world is "Ginnie Sweet Hips' Flying Circus", His Pink Vodka Blues, Dead Dog Blues, Hearafter Gang are all hilarious.
Jennifer Crusie - Romantic comedy sends me off the couch laughing
Selina Rosen - Blue collar SF/H which will make you snort soda through your nose - check out "Prom Date" in The Bubba Chronicles, or "Queen of Denial" from Meisha Merlin
Joe Lansdale - though he's known for horror, some of his stories will make your sides ache.
Most of the stuff published by Yard Dog Press is very funny.
Bob Asprin's first Myth books were a hoot. So were his first Phule books.

Answer 4

There are some very funny books out there. Hit the Road by Caroline Cooney was funny as was All The Way by Andy Behrens and Rash by Pete Hautman. It all depends on what a particular person finds funny. The books that got me in trouble at school was a set of books by Richard Lederer called Anguished English and More Anguished English. I was the library aide and was cataloging them. I started reading them and couldn't stop laughing...of course in the library no one is supposed to be making noise...let alone those 'in charge.' Needless to say, my laughter convinced students to want to check out those books as soon as they were done being processed :)

Answer 5

Read anything by either Steve Martin or George Carlin. Their books will have you rolling. I remember years ago reading Steve Martin's book (I forget the title) of a short story he wrote called 'How to Fold Soup'. Oh Yeah, the title was 'Cruel Shoes' and there was a story with that title in the book too that was funny.

Answer 6

The only thing that I can name is the stories in the Reader's Digest magazine. Not the jokes column, but the ones like Life in these united states. I've found that I can't read this in public, because there's always something that strikes me as sooo funny.

Answer 7

It's a very funny (maybe not rolling on the floor funny, but still funny) satirical work. It's called "The History of Lesbian Hair" by Marie Dugger. It's a short, paperback work. It was released in the early 90's so I'm not sure how available it is.

I like dry, satirical humor.
I think it's really funny.

Answer 8

Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett both crack me up. I think it's the earnestness of the characters.

Also, the stories the readers send into Reader's Digest. I like the work ones best, usually.

Answer 9

I love the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. Don't read them if you are out in public. I've gotten a group of kids to read these at school and they tend to disrupt reading class.

Answer 10

The Baynes Clan series by John S. McCord. These are westerns but they had me laughing til I was crying.