The Humour Club discussion

Our monthly Dose-O-Discworld used to be quite popular, but has now fizzled to two readers.

The Wodehouse read has reeled in some new blood and that's exciting.

Now, I'm asking you, our members...what would you like to read?

More Wodehouse?

A different author every month?

Harlequin romances that we could mock?

You name it - we might consider it.

Or mock it.

Another funny author many may not be familiar with is Tom Sharpe.

Joel wrote: "Another funny author many may not be familiar with is Tom Sharpe."

I have his Ancestral Vices in my stack.

Since the year is rapidly drawing to a close, I guess we'll go with a Discworld read in January, and maybe do a poll for February's read.

Unless anyone has any better ideas...?

I second that, Melki. I'm ready for another Discworld treat!

I keep drawing a blank when I think of who is funny to read? Why is that? (Dumb blond jokes aside). I haven't read any of the Discworld books. If I jump in on whatever one you're reading will much go over my head because I'm unfamiliar with the series?

By the way -- Thank you Melki! Glad you didn't say "cute."

Lisa, I think you can jump into Discworld anywhere. There may be some sense you are missing some inside jokes, but you'll pick stuff up. Though I have enjoyed reading through the series in order, once I figured out the general look of Discworld, the order didn't matter. I just like watching the writer evolve. Or not.

Lisa wrote: "I keep drawing a blank when I think of who is funny to read? Why is that? (Dumb blond jokes aside). I haven't read any of the Discworld books. If I jump in on whatever one you're reading will much ..."

Going Postal is up next and it sounds like it might be a good place for a novice to jump in. There seems to quite a few new characters and a minimum of references to previous adventures. PLUS - lots and lots of 5-star reviews. C'mon, Lisa. Be one of us. One of us! One of us!

As long as I don't have to dash across the street in front of an oncoming car, OK, I'll do it! I'll order it now.

Alright! After the holidays, going postal seems like a distinct possibility!

Melki wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I keep drawing a blank when I think of who is funny to read? Why is that? (Dumb blond jokes aside). I haven't read any of the Discworld books. If I jump in on whatever one you're readi..."

Happy New Year!

I have pretty much the same question as Lisa with a slight twist. I've decided to start a comedic novel book blog where I'll review comedies. Having never read a Discworld book, is it okay to jump in and read and review Going Postal, or should I at least read the first book of the series first?

John wrote: "Melki wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I keep drawing a blank when I think of who is funny to read? Why is that? (Dumb blond jokes aside). I haven't read any of the Discworld books. If I jump in on whatever on..."

I don't recommend the first book. If I hadn't been reading it for this group, I wouldn't have finished it. From what I've gathered from reading other reviews, this one is a perfect starting place. Good luck with the new blog!

Awesome. Thanks, Melki!

Agree with Melki about the first book, though maybe not quite that bad. At some point go read it just to see where it all came from, but it's not the best place to start.

If y'all want to start tossing out names of books you'd be interested in reading during the coming months, one of us will get a poll going for February.

*Note to Authors: Do not push your own book here, OR have a sock puppet do it for you. I HAVE A FULLY-CHARGED CATTLE PROD AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT! We're trying to figure out a fair and balanced way to have a Humour Club author group read and when we have the details ironed out, we'll let you know.*

I'll suggest a few titles to get us started.

Paint Your Dragon - Tom Holt

The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse - Robert Rankin

Ancestral Vices - Tom Sharpe

Now you...

I don't have any brilliant suggestions, but I want to say that "The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" may be the best title ever.

Melki wrote: I don't recommend the first book. If I hadn't been reading it for this group, I wouldn't have finished it. From what I've gathered from reading other reviews, this one is a perfect starting place.

Melki: I was shocked that you didn’t recommend reading The Color of Magic because it was the first Discworld book I read, and I turned out just fine. I thought about replying to your comment and telling you how wrong you were and how much I enjoyed that book, but then I remembered that I was afraid of you, so I figured I’d write to Terry Pratchett and tell him what you said and how horribly wrong you were, and then he would write back to me and tell me how sagacious and erudite I was, and then I would look up those words in the dictionary and be very proud, and then my good buddy Terry would say real snarky-like, “Melki, what the hell kind of name is Melki anyway?" and I wouldn’t know and Terry would think I was stupid, so I decided not to write him if he was going to be that way, and just let the matter drop. Then, today, I was reading Sir Terry’s new book about his experiences being a professional writer (A Slip of the Keyboard) and on page 60 he said--now get this: “And so I have been learning as I go, and I now find it rather embarrassing that people beginning the Discworld series start with The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, which I don’t think are some of the best books to start with. This is the author saying this folks. Do not start at the beginning of Discworld.” So, I am writing to let you know that I think Terry Pratchett is appallingly wrong. And what kind of stupid name is Terry for a grown man, anyway?

Pseudonymous wrote: "Melki wrote: I don't recommend the first book. If I hadn't been reading it for this group, I wouldn't have finished it. From what I've gathered from reading other reviews, this one is a perfect st..."

I'm always right, Nemo.

Just ask my husband.

Rebecca wrote: "I don't have any brilliant suggestions, but I want to say that "The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" may be the best title ever."

It may indeed be one of the funniest books ever, too. Rankin has a brilliant way with titles, from 'Raiders of the lost car park' to The dance of the voodoo handbag'.

Dang. So many books, so little time. I have 5 hardbacks at the head of my bed just now, and three books started on 3 different e-readers (don't ask).

I'm going to be posting a poll for February's read in the next day or two, so stay tuned.

Mr. Will's suggestion- The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse sounds like a winner, but since I have yet to participate in a group read, that's my one and a half cents worth. I'm staying right here, Melki.

Pseudonymous wrote: "Melki wrote: I don't recommend the first book. If I hadn't been reading it for this group, I wouldn't have finished it. From what I've gathered from reading other reviews, this one is a perfect st..."

Nice. Thanks, Pseudonymous. So I will definitely start with Going Postal, but I'll be running behind y'all as I've gotta complete Catch-22 first which I just started reading a short time ago. But I'll be looking forward to all your comments.

All right - The February Poll is up!

I went with wacky titles. Used copies of all books seem to be available, and I believe most are also on Kindle - in the US, anyway...I'm not sure about the UK.

To vote, just click on POLLS, and make your selection. Voting ends on 1/23.

Thanks to the two of you who voted. We WILL be reading

The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse next month.

I believe Joel is planning another Wodehouse read for March, so hopefully participation will rise to three or four members for that read.

Oh well. You and I can always have a good book club meeting, complete with wine, whine, and chocolate.

Very very happy with that choice! I'd recemmend everyone to get the book, it's hilarious!

Oh, and i've already got it so I can do the group read free.

I just put a hold on the only copy in our library system.

Glad to have represented part of that landslide majority. It is on my list for next month. Ah, Will, I believe you'd mentioned this novel in an earlier post and the title itself was so good it swayed my vote. However, having only recently heard good reviews of Robert Rankin, I thought that I'd give him a try.

This one has been in my stack for at least two years now, so I'm glad I'll finally be forced to read it.

Melki! You are so going to regret doing that to yourself.

I got my copy yesterday and look forward to some humor. My latest reads have been thrillers and I can use the change.

Robert Rankin is so funny. Looking forward to the read. I'm out to look for a copy since my library doesn't carry it.

Also, looking forward to another Wodehouse read. "Leave it to Psmith" was a lot of fun.

Rebecca wrote: "Dang. So many books, so little time. I have 5 hardbacks at the head of my bed just now, and three books started on 3 different e-readers (don't ask)."

HA! You read like I do. Change books by location and mood. A book for upstairs and one for downstairs and one in my purse and one in the car. It's fine unless there are similar story lines, but it takes forever to get through a book.

Sonya wrote: "Robert Rankin is so funny. Looking forward to the read. I'm out to look for a copy since my library doesn't carry it.

Also, looking forward to another Wodehouse read. "Leave it to Psmith" was a..."

Glad you'll be joining us, Sonya. The more the merrier and all.

Sonya wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Dang. So many books, so little time. I have 5 hardbacks at the head of my bed just now, and three books started on 3 different e-readers (don't ask)."

HA! You read like I do. Cha..."

Yes! Though when one or another reaches that critical tipping point where I can't set it down, then all the others get shoved aside until it's done. Then the process begins again...

Hmm...I totally missed this topic! I promise to keep my eye out to vote next month. In the interim I shall find this one for February.

I'm presently reading 2 books. The Rankin,and a Douglass. Which will win?

I'm waiting for the results with bated breath!

Judging from posts in some of the other topics, I'm thinking this group might enjoy a humorous crime read in April. (Or March, if Joel doesn't want to do a Wodehouse.) I have a few ideas, but I'm open to more book suggestions. If there's a lot of interest, we'll do a second. And maybe even a third...

Melki wrote: "Judging from posts in some of the other topics, I'm thinking this group might enjoy a humorous crime read in April. (Or March, if Joel doesn't want to do a Wodehouse.) I have a few ideas, but I'm..."

Might I suggest McCall & Company: Workman's Complication? It's a funny PI novel, the first in the series by Humour Club member Rich Leder and…oh dang, sorry, that's me. Anyway, it's a fast, funny read and a rocking good mystery too. We're probably not allowed to offer up our own books to Group Reads, so apologies for that, but I'm a new member (you can find me at Limericks), and I didn't know any better, and I thought: oh shoot, they're talking about a funny crime kind of thing… Again, apologies.

Sounds good to me, as long as it isn't jasper fforde.

Lovely bloke, can't stand his comedy crime/fantasy stuff

Rich wrote: "Melki wrote: "Judging from posts in some of the other topics, I'm thinking this group might enjoy a humorous crime read in April. (Or March, if Joel doesn't want to do a Wodehouse.) I have a few ..."

Your book sounds like it would fit the criteria, Rich, but with so many authors in this group, it would be unfair to promote one over the others. We're thinking of doing a Humour Club Author read, but details need to be ironed out...such as, the author may have to make his/her book free, (gulp!), to members.

Melki wrote: "Rich wrote: "Melki wrote: "Judging from posts in some of the other topics, I'm thinking this group might enjoy a humorous crime read in April. (Or March, if Joel doesn't want to do a Wodehouse.) ..."

Thanks, Melki. I understand. I like the idea of a Humour Club Author Read. Sounds fun. Plug in the iron...

If someone is ironing, I've got this pile of stuff here..

Will wrote: "If someone is ironing, I've got this pile of stuff here.."

Go to the pub. Maybe one of your daughters will do it for you.

I stand more chance of winning the lottery.

More a satire, but clever and deeply funny in parts (and it's a classic!); how about "Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships", better known as "Gulliver's Travels"?

As a classic satire, I'd suggest:

England, their England by A G Macdonell
http://www.amazon.com/England-Their-C...

Obama's budget just came out. Some suggest that's satire.