September / Comic Novel Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

In September, we will be reading a "comic" novel.

Please post your nominations in this thread.


A comic novel is a work of fiction in which the writer seeks to amuse the reader, sometimes with subtlety and as part of a carefully woven narrative; sometimes, above all other considerations.

One of the most notable British comic novelists is P. G. Wodehouse, whose work follows on from that of Jerome K. Jerome and George & Weedon Grossmith's Diary of a Nobody. Nor can Saki's work be ignored, although his career was cut short by World War I. A. G. Macdonell and G. K. Chesterton also produced flights of whimsy that delighted their reading audiences in their day. Other, more contemporary UK authors of this kind include Tom Sharpe, Kingsley Amis, Terry Pratchett, Richard Gordon, Ian Ross, Douglas Adams, Evelyn Waugh, Eric Sykes, Leslie Thomas, Stephen Fry, Mike Harding, Joseph Connolly, and Ben Elton.

Notable American comic novelists include Hunter S. Thompson, John Kennedy Toole, Robert Clark Young, James Wilcox, Carl Hiaasen, Joseph Heller, Peter De Vries, Flannery O'Connor, and Terry Southern.
from wikipedia

[Michael T]

I'll start with... God Knows by Joseph Heller

[JBI]

The Studhorse Man by Robert Kroetsch.

[Michael T]

if I can nominate a second... Only When I Larf by Len Deighton

[papayahed]

The Studhorse Man by Robert Kroetsch.

Does Hazard ever pee in a proper toilet???

[JBI]

Does Hazard ever pee in a proper toilet???

Is he ever mentioned peeing anywhere? Either way though, that is all in keeping with Bakhtinian notions of the carnivalesque - the comedy itself is bawdy, but the humor is all there. albeit, often inappropriately - I'll take it you didn't like the book :(?

[papayahed]

Is he ever mentioned peeing anywhere? Either way though, that is all in keeping with Bakhtinian notions of the carnivalesque - the comedy itself is bawdy, but the humor is all there. albeit, often inappropriately - I'll take it you didn't like the book :(?


So far there are two mentions of urination one in his fireplace the other outside the museum. The fireplace one made me take notice. I'm not finished with it yet but there are some laugh out loud moments however I feel like I'm missing things.

[papayahed]

I nominate: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith.

[Thespian1975]

Carry on Jeeves - P G Wodehouse

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. God Knows by Joseph Heller

2. The Studhorse Man by Robert Kroetsch

3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

4. Carry on Jeeves by P G Wodehouse


if I can nominate a second... Only When I Larf by Len DeightonOnly one nomination, I am afraid.

[islandclimber]

of course someone has to nominate something by Jerome K. Jerome...

Three Men In a Boat

[bouquin]

I would like to nominate
A Confederacy of Dunces -- by John Kennedy Toole

[Dark Muse]

Villa Incognito ~ Tom Robbins

[aeroport]

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

[Nikhar]

Artemis Fowl: Graphic Novel.

[Scheherazade]

Artemis Fowl: Graphic Novel.Comic in the sense that it is amusing. :)

Nominations so far:

1. God Knows by Joseph Heller

2. The Studhorse Man by Robert Kroetsch

3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

4. Carry on Jeeves by P G Wodehouse

5. Three Men In a Boat

6. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

7. Villa Incognito by Tom Robbins

8. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

[Nightshade]

I would say Yes manI laughed till I cried when I read that but unfortunately it is not fictitious.

[haraf_ish]

Pig Tales by Marie Darrieussecq. I'm not sure if this could be categorized as a comic novel. It's humorous but very dark. The tale is set in a dystopic society...the protagonist is a woman who became a pig in the latter part of the story.

[LMK]

How about Rumpole of the Bailey by Sir John Mortimer in the dry humour column?

And under the heading of pulp funny (I-may-never-admit-in-public-I-read-it-let-alone-laughed) I nominate Tim Dorsey's...hmmm...tough one, Orange Crush or start at the beginning with Florida Roadkill?

~L

[eyemaker]

Scoop- Evelyn Waugh

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. God Knows by Joseph Heller

2. The Studhorse Man by Robert Kroetsch

3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

4. Carry on Jeeves by P G Wodehouse

5. Three Men In a Boat

6. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

7. Villa Incognito by Tom Robbins

8. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

9. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh


Pig Tales by Marie Darrieussecq You need at least 50 posts to be able to nominate.

How about Rumpole of the Bailey by Sir John Mortimer in the dry humour column?

And under the heading of pulp funny (I-may-never-admit-in-public-I-read-it-let-alone-laughed) I nominate Tim Dorsey's...hmmm...tough one, Orange Crush or start at the beginning with Florida Roadkill?

~LPlease choose only one book to nominate.

[Scheherazade]

I hope A Confederacy of Dunces wins; I have been meaning to read this for so long.

[Dark Muse]

I would not mind reading A Confederacy of Dunces, there are a few choices on this list I want to read. I just hope Pride and Prejudice and Zombies does not win.

[caspian]

I just hope Pride and Prejudice and Zombies does not win.

I saw my friend reading that. Is it bad?

[Dark Muse]

Well I just don't have a personal inclination to read the book, but I have heard from several people that basicaly it just takes the original Pride and Prejudice word for word, and throws in a few zombie scenes here and there.

[damaris77]

I hope A Confederacy of Dunces wins because I was planning on reading it anyway

[Jozanny]

I hope A Confederacy of Dunces wins; I have been meaning to read this for so long.

I have read it Sche, and think it is one of the best comic novels to come out of the US in the later 20th century, but I would not know how it would translate for the English. Toole isn't Waugh.


Unfortunately, I am not in the mood to revisit the book; the author's suicide deters me somewhat, but I also remember the novel fairly well; it is still too fresh.

[Scheherazade]

Yay, finally something I am interested in is leading in the poll!

:D

[MN Dave]

I hope A Confederacy of Dunces wins because I was planning on reading it anyway

Me too. Because I have a copy and haven't read it yet. :nod:

[Scheherazade]

Got my copy from the library already!

:p

[Dark Muse]

Hopefully I will have a copy in time for the discussion I have plans to go to the bookstore but I haven't got around to getting there yet.

[Scheherazade]

Have been reading some interesting but equally depressing stuff recently so really hoping that the book chosen for September will prove a good change.

[lugdunum]

Have been reading some interesting but equally depressing stuff recently so really hoping that the book chosen for September will prove a good change.

Same here :)
I have to read rather dull stuff for work so I'm really looking forward to reading a comic novel, hoping that the chosen book will be fun enough to compensate.

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Scheherazade]

Going twice...