10 books that are entertaining and funny.
Many pieces of literature are rather serious, however good they may be. So reading a book that is a great piece of literature but at the same time also funny is a rather rare joy. Here are my 10 favourites.
City of Thieves by David Benioff (2008)
Inspired by the story of his grandparents, David Benioff writes a wonderful, entertaining and extremely funny tale of a young man trying to survive in Leningrad of 1942. Those who know Benioff as one of the main writers and producers of the series Game of Thrones will not be surprised by the humour and depth of his writing.
Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (1926)
While there is always some kind of humour in Hemingway, this is arguably his funniest novel. Following a group of British and American expats who live in France and travel to Spain, this film is mainly about dialogue and atmosphere. It is full of Hemingway magic.
Emma by Jane Austen (1815)
Often overshadowed by Pride and Prejudice, this novel is possibly Austen's funniest. Emma Woodhouse is a young heiress who is busy arranging the lives of others, while being blissfully unaware of her own emotions. This creates plenty of humour, and some of the funniest supporting characters Austen created add to the fun of this novel.
PS New adaptation in 2020! (see Tiny Tip #37)
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple (2012)
One of the funniest books I've read in the last few years, this is an unusual story of a woman who dislikes many elements of modern society: crowds, socialising, neighbours, smalltalk, you name it. Told mainly through a series of hilarious mails and other documents, this novel challenges many elements of our world in a funny way.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)
A classic of English literature, this novel is still entertaining today. While many people know children's book versions or film adaptations today, the original novel itself is full of magic and humour. The story follows a young girl named Alice, who is bored in her garden and follows a rabbit into a mysterious world. Not a boring page in this novel.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)
A young American is struggling after he gets expelled from a boarding school, and is trying to find out what to do with his life. A main source of humour in this novel is that the reader sees into the mind and thought process of the protagonist, who shares his opinions in very informal language. Captures the Fifties in New York in a humorous way.
Eight White Nights by André Aciman (2008)
If you've read and/or watched Call Me by Your Name, you know that Aciman is a giften writer who creates special atmospheres. In all his novels, there is some humour, but especially in this one. Two young people meet at a party in New York, and find that they can talk for hours. Their witty conversation, which continues during the next eight days, creates the wonderful humour of this story.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (1895)
This is actually a play, and in my opinion the funniest one ever written. Two men in the London of the Victorian age use fake people as a pretext to avoid social and family obligations, and get into trouble. Filled with situational comedy and comical dialogue, this masterpiece is still extremely entertaining to read today.
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh (1993)
A cult novel with fans of the crazy world Welsh created, Trainspotting is an essential Scottish novel. Using plenty of slang and various dialects, it collects anecdotes of a group of junkies in Edinburgh who get into all kinds of strange situations. Rather intense as well besides funny, and the acclaimed film version (1996) is even more violent.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy by Lawrence Sterne (1759)
An unusual novel for its time, Tristram Shandy (as its long title is usually abbreviated) is an extremely creative and funny novel. The protagonist is also the narrator, and he does not really tell the story of his life in a linear way. He rather goes on randomly about his family and his opinions, doing so in a hilarious way. Still fun to read more than 250 year after publication.