The funniest book or story you can remember

[Danik 2016]

A good book can make us cry, laugh or think or sometimes all the three at the same time.
This forum is very serious these days, so I was trying to remember the funny stories and the comedies I read. Sometimes the whole book is funny, sometimes you have a serious story but with some very funny characters in it, like in Dickens, for example, or in Cervantes.
So please share your favorite funny story or comedy with us and tell us why it made you laugh.

[YesNo]

The one that comes to mind is Anita Loos's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". The movie got high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, but I think the book is far better.

[bounty]

no one makes me laugh in writing like Patrick McManus, who is one of my favorite authors. his books are collections of true, but probably somewhat embellished short stories tied together by virtue of that he's the central character and his friends and relations are guests throughout.

the first book of his I read was called "the night the bear ate goombaw" and the story of the title is one of the chapters in the book. its about his going camping when he was little with a friends family, and he got up in the middle of the night to urinate. instead of a sleeping bag, he had been sleeping in a big fur coat, and everyone in the camp confused him for a bear in their midst. of course terror ensues, but the writing of it is hilarious.

his phrasing and timing, from a humor perspective, are excellent, and the experiences he's had in life give him a wealth of comedic material from which to draw.

if you have spent any time in the out of doors as a kid or adult, I cannot recommend him enough.

[Lokasenna]

It's not high art by any measure, but Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman remains my most re-read novel, and still makes me laugh out loud with every reading.

There are so many truly funny authors out there, though, that it feels hard to cherry-pick just a few, or to make comparisons between very different styles: the riotous and filthily funny farces of Ben Jonson are miles removed from the glorious sarcasm and sharp wit of Jane Austen, but both can make me howl with laughter.

[Danik 2016]

I must say that Charles Dickens is not really coming on to me as outspoken funny. This writer, like the movie director Ingmar Bergman, made me have nightmares...and I still wonder why, for their books/scripts are humorless and super-boring. Even nature films with Sir David Attenborough as a voice-over have more humor than these books and films. I certainly can relate to Don Quixote...it contains funny elements, ahead of its time, even. But black humor, also a form of humor which cannot be denied, stems from dark deep pains, and is merely the symptom of the latter, to overcome it...like biting on the same piece of wood that will replace your leg while your leg is being cut off. Irony and ****. I despise people who do not like music and humor. They are robots to me.
A very interesting post, Steve. Maybe your sensibility relates more to the nightmarish aspects of Dickens and Bergman, which are indeed very pronounced in both authors. It is curious that you name them together. Allthough I often cry with laughter at Dickens, Bergman represents for me more the nightmare than the humour. But I agree with you: humour and specially irony stem from a very human necessity of overcome pain and suffering.

[Danik 2016]

The one that comes to mind is Anita Loos's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". The movie got high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, but I think the book is far better.
Thanks for your post. I believe I saw this comedy, Yes/No, but I didn´t know it was made after a book.
Here is the link to it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentlemen_Prefer_Blondes_%28novel%29
It seems to be an intelligent parody of the myth of Lorelei. I confess I lost the count of the men involved with this Lorelei.:biggrin5:

[Danik 2016]

no one makes me laugh in writing like Patrick McManus, who is one of my favorite authors. his books are collections of true, but probably somewhat embellished short stories tied together by virtue of that he's the central character and his friends and relations are guests throughout.

the first book of his I read was called "the night the bear ate goombaw" and the story of the title is one of the chapters in the book. its about his going camping when he was little with a friends family, and he got up in the middle of the night to urinate. instead of a sleeping bag, he had been sleeping in a big fur coat, and everyone in the camp confused him for a bear in their midst. of course terror ensues, but the writing of it is hilarious.

his phrasing and timing, from a humor perspective, are excellent, and the experiences he's had in life give him a wealth of comedic material from which to draw.

if you have spent any time in the out of doors as a kid or adult, I cannot recommend him enough.
I have already learnt a lot from you, bounty, and I am going to have a look at this author. I never heard about him but he seems to be hilarious.
Somehow your post made me remember the funny animal/family stories of Gerald Durrell, an English author and zoologist? who moved with his family from England to Greece. His most known and very funny book is: "My family and other animals".

[Danik 2016]

It's not high art by any measure, but Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman remains my most re-read novel, and still makes me laugh out loud with every reading.

There are so many truly funny authors out there, though, that it feels hard to cherry-pick just a few, or to make comparisons between very different styles: the riotous and filthily funny farces of Ben Jonson are miles removed from the glorious sarcasm and sharp wit of Jane Austen, but both can make me howl with laughter.
I shall look for this novel, I never heard about it, Lokasenna.
You are right, there are so many different styles of humour and irony, which appeal to the also different tastes of the readers. I also love Jane Austens sarcasm and the few plays of Ben Johnson I have read.
Here is the wikipedia link to it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Omens
A funny end of times novel written in the more blissfull period, when the prophecies foresaw only one Antichrist.

[bounty]

ive got my family and other animals danik, as well as his "encounters with animals"---maybe i'll pick one of 'em up soon.

in the meantime, boy, if you end up reading McManus, I hope you will let me know but I half wonder how culturally and gender bound his stories might be?

[Danik 2016]

Bounty, in some of G. Durrels books you will find episodes from other books repeated. I don´t think that so nice, but as I am a great animal lover and the money went into his animal foundation.... I just did a quick research and learned that he is already died. Here you are:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Durrell.
I´ll certainly let you know about Mc Mannus. I was wondering about this very Irish name. By the way, not boy neither guy.:biggrin5:

[bounty]

I think I have some james herriot books where that occurs. I wonder if that's a matter of publisher's decisions outside the realm of control of the author.

took a quick peek at the wiki site (thank you)---I admire people like that.

being an animal lover, have you read all of his (herriot's) books? they are amongst the few books ive read more than once.

I think a lot of mccmanus' appeal is in the settings---he's always out hunting, fishing, camping, guiding, playing in the woods, etc---things that we mostly associate with male activities.

[tonywalt]

A confederacy of dunces - James Kennedy Toole

[Danik 2016]

I think I have some james herriot books where that occurs. I wonder if that's a matter of publisher's decisions outside the realm of control of the author.

took a quick peek at the wiki site (thank you)---I admire people like that.

being an animal lover, have you read all of his (herriot's) books? they are amongst the few books ive read more than once.

I think a lot of mccmanus' appeal is in the settings---he's always out hunting, fishing, camping, guiding, playing in the woods, etc---things that we mostly associate with male activities.
I think I must have read some of them. I took a peek at wiki and the titles of his novels ring a familiar bell though I don´t remember reading them.
I probably found them at the best library we had in São Paulo for English literature. Some years later it was deactivated to make room for the PCs.

[Danik 2016]

A confederacy of dunces - James Kennedy Toole
That sounds good, Tony. I'm adding some wiki information for those that are interested.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Confederacy_of_Dunces

[North Star]

Will Cuppy's How to Become Extinct should fit the zoological humour section.

[mortalterror]

Catch 22 and Huckleberry Finn are the two funniest books I've ever read.

[Danik 2016]

Will Cuppy's How to Become Extinct should fit the zoological humour section.

I like his acid humour. It fits not only the zoological section. And the theme of species extinction is very up to date. I was surprised that the book was published in 1941.
Some quotes by Will Cuppy:
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Will_Cuppy

[Danik 2016]

Catch 22 and Huckleberry Finn are the two funniest books I've ever read.
Thanks, m.t.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22
Seems to be a great and complex war novel.
"The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on. And don't you forget that, because the longer you remember it, the longer you might live" That´s so up to date!
There is a Brazilian saying that summes up for me the meaning of Catch 22-"If you run the beast will catch you, if you don´t the beast will eat you"
As for Huckleberry Finn it's one of my favorites too!

[North Star]

I see there's already a twenty-five pager on this subject:
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?71243-Funniest-Book-Ever-Read

[Danik 2016]

Thanks for posting the link, North Star.
Being new at the forum I didn´t know about it or I would simply have posted on it.
Anyway the new thread makes a nice sequel to it.

[The Comedian]

Holy Cow! I LOVE McManus. I remember my dad reading his stories to me as a kid. I have every book of his that he ever published. They are the funniest thing. I'm shocked and enthused that someone else shares the same affection for his work.

brother C

[Danik 2016]

That's fine Comedian. :)
Here are some links on Mc Manus for those who want some more information about him:
http://www.sandpointonline.com/sandpointmag/sms95/PatrickMcManus.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_F._McManus

[DATo]

I'm really surprised that no one has mentioned Don Quixote by Cervantes.

[JudyM]

Heartburn by Nora Ephron. The novel is about how a woman copes when her husband has an affair and leaves her. It is witty and self deprecating with some wonderful New York one-liners.

[Danik 2016]

I'm really surprised that no one has mentioned Don Quixote by Cervantes.
It´s one of my favorites. Also Cervantes shorter stories contain funny elements.
About Cervantes and his Exemplary Stories:
http://www.ems.kcl.ac.uk/content/pub/b031.html

[Danik 2016]

Heartburn by Nora Ephron. The novel is about how a woman copes when her husband has an affair and leaves her. It is witty and self deprecating with some wonderful New York one-liners.
Some information about this autobiographycal novel:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartburn_%28novel%29

[bounty]

Holy Cow! I LOVE McManus. I remember my dad reading his stories to me as a kid. I have every book of his that he ever published. They are the funniest thing. I'm shocked and enthused that someone else shares the same affection for his work.

brother C

smiles...likewise brother C! and I even say things like "holy cow!" too!

[YesNo]

I picked up three books by Erma Bombeck at a library book sale and started reading "The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank". It was written in the 70's and is still entertaining.

[Danik 2016]

Some links about Erma Brombeck:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erma_Bombeck
There is a film to "The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank". The film seems to be entertaining indeed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5niTqttuqjs

[108 fountains]

Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye contains a lot of humor. Some of it appeals to me; some doesn't.

I came across Our Admirable Betty by Jeffery Farnol quite by accident. The characters are quaint, but funny, and the main character, Betty, is very engaging.

Shakespeare has a lot of good comedic moments; I think the funniest of the comedies is The Taming of the Shrew; the movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton is EXCELLENT.

But the funniest book I have ever read is Dickens' Pickwick Papers. It starts off kinda slow (you could even skip the first chapter altogether and not miss a thing), but it gets better as it goes along. The last half had me laughing out loud several times. There are many memorable scenes, but my favorite is in Chapter 33 when Sam Weller requests his father's advice and comments on a valentine that he has just written

'"Lovely creetur,"' repeated Sam.

''Tain't in poetry, is it?' interposed his father.

'No, no,' replied Sam.

'Wery glad to hear it,' said Mr. Weller. 'Poetry's unnat'ral; no
man ever talked poetry 'cept a beadle on boxin'-day, or Warren's
blackin', or Rowland's oil, or some of them low fellows; never
you let yourself down to talk poetry, my boy. Begin agin, Sammy.'

Mr. Weller resumed his pipe with critical solemnity, and Sam
once more commenced, and read as follows:

'"Lovely creetur I feel myself a damned--"'

'That ain't proper,' said Mr. Weller, taking his pipe from his mouth.

'No; it ain't "damned,"' observed Sam, holding the letter up
to the light, 'it's "shamed," there's a blot there--"I feel myself
ashamed."'

'Wery good,' said Mr. Weller. 'Go on.'

'"Feel myself ashamed, and completely cir--' I forget what
this here word is,' said Sam, scratching his head with the pen,
in vain attempts to remember.

'Why don't you look at it, then?' inquired Mr. Weller.

'So I am a-lookin' at it,' replied Sam, 'but there's another blot.
Here's a "c," and a "i," and a "d."'

'Circumwented, p'raps,' suggested Mr. Weller.

'No, it ain't that,' said Sam, '"circumscribed"; that's it.'

'That ain't as good a word as "circumwented," Sammy,' said
Mr. Weller gravely.

'Think not?' said Sam.

'Nothin' like it,' replied his father.

'But don't you think it means more?' inquired Sam.

'Vell p'raps it's a more tenderer word,' said Mr. Weller, after
a few moments' reflection. 'Go on, Sammy.'

...and it just keeps going.

[Adonais]

My Uncle Napoleon by Iraj Pezeshkzad had me in absolute fits on every second page. The characters are painted so lovingly!

[Danik 2016]

Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye contains a lot of humor. Some of it appeals to me; some doesn't.

I came across Our Admirable Betty by Jeffery Farnol quite by accident. The characters are quaint, but funny, and the main character, Betty, is very engaging.



Shakespeare has a lot of good comedic moments; I think the funniest of the comedies is The Taming of the Shrew; the movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton is EXCELLENT.

But the funniest book I have ever read is Dickens' Pickwick Papers. It starts off kinda slow (you could even skip the first chapter altogether and not miss a thing), but it gets better as it goes along. The last half had me laughing out loud several times. There are many memorable scenes, but my favorite is in Chapter 33 when Sam Weller requests his father's advice and comments on a valentine that he has just written

'"Lovely creetur,"' repeated Sam.

''Tain't in poetry, is it?' interposed his father.

'No, no,' replied Sam.

'Wery glad to hear it,' said Mr. Weller. 'Poetry's unnat'ral; no
man ever talked poetry 'cept a beadle on boxin'-day, or Warren's
blackin', or Rowland's oil, or some of them low fellows; never
you let yourself down to talk poetry, my boy. Begin agin, Sammy.'

Mr. Weller resumed his pipe with critical solemnity, and Sam
once more commenced, and read as follows:

'"Lovely creetur I feel myself a damned--"'

'That ain't proper,' said Mr. Weller, taking his pipe from his mouth.

'No; it ain't "damned,"' observed Sam, holding the letter up
to the light, 'it's "shamed," there's a blot there--"I feel myself
ashamed."'

'Wery good,' said Mr. Weller. 'Go on.'

'"Feel myself ashamed, and completely cir--' I forget what
this here word is,' said Sam, scratching his head with the pen,
in vain attempts to remember.

'Why don't you look at it, then?' inquired Mr. Weller.

'So I am a-lookin' at it,' replied Sam, 'but there's another blot.
Here's a "c," and a "i," and a "d."'

'Circumwented, p'raps,' suggested Mr. Weller.

'No, it ain't that,' said Sam, '"circumscribed"; that's it.'

'That ain't as good a word as "circumwented," Sammy,' said
Mr. Weller gravely.

'Think not?' said Sam.

'Nothin' like it,' replied his father.

'But don't you think it means more?' inquired Sam.

'Vell p'raps it's a more tenderer word,' said Mr. Weller, after
a few moments' reflection. 'Go on, Sammy.'

...and it just keeps going.
Interesting choices, 108 Fountains, it made me remember the times when Dickens made me laugh to tears.
Two typical Dickensian funny traits appear also often in Brazilian comedies, maybe because of his influence:
this playing with different levels of language comprehention and usage.
Peculiarities in pronunciation and grammar creating a specific language for certain characters.

[Danik 2016]

My Uncle Napoleon by Iraj Pezeshkzad had me in absolute fits on every second page. The characters are painted so lovingly!
An iranian Napoleon:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Uncle_Napoleon

[ennison]

Ah 108 you know comedy when you read it. Great stuff!

[thekingrat]

As I Lay Dying was pretty comedic in a dark way.

[tscherff]

Catch 22
the world according to Garp

both had me howling!!!

[milagros]

hello:

For me, Molière's Imaginary Invalid. More than once I burst out laughing

[WyattGwyon]

William Gaddis' JR is absurdly funny from start to finish.

[wcc-curtis]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book. The speaker is Hunter Thompson. He's referring to his attorney: There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.

[kev67]

The funniest book I have read in the last few years was Lionel Asbo by Martin Amis. That was quite dark as you would expect from him. I thought Scoop by Evelyn Waugh was pretty funny, the only book of his I have liked. David Lodge's Small World was his funniest. I've read plenty of other books that made me laugh, but I cannot remember them all. Some of the stories in the James Herriot books were pretty funny, I seem to remember. I quite liked George MacDonald Fraser's Private MacAuslan books and Spike Milligan's war diaries. I thought Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was funny, as well as clever.

[WICKES]

'Right ho Jeeves' by PG Wodehouse, 'Decline and Fall' by Evelyn Waugh (the funniest writer in the English language imo), and 'Crome Yellow' by Aldous Huxley.

[wcc-curtis]

There are a few lines from an Ernest Hemingway short story called Out of Season. The speaker is the town drunkard. The drunkard and two other people are on their way to go fishing. Fishing is illegal at that location:

"No one will make any trouble for me. Everybody in this town likes me. I sell frogs." :)

[KingNikolai1]

I loved Dostoevsky's "Bobok." It is a short story and provides a social commentary of nineteenth century Russia. Even without a background in Russian history, I think it captures how various people moan about their status no matter which class they are.

Although it is not a book, I highly recommend Gogol's Inspector General. It is a play which humorously deals with corruption and bureaucracy in 19c Russia. Gogol is one of my first recommendations if someone wants to read humorous works in Russian literature.

[JudyM]

I discovered this book in a charity shop and I found it hilarious. I have lent it to friends and they all agree.

[JudyM]

Also I really enjoyed 'A short history of tractors in Ukranian' by Marina Lewycka.

[Danik 2016]

Just bought Good Omens (Terry Pratched & Neil Gaiman), which promises a lot of fun.
I loved "Bobok", which I read years ago.
"Gogol is one of my first recommendations if someone wants to read humorous works in Russian literature."
Yes, humour used as a instrument of social criticism.

[Lokasenna]

Just bought Good Omens (Terry Pratched & Neil Gaiman), which promises a lot of fun.

It's superb, and not quite like anything else I've ever come across - I really hope you enjoy it!

[Danik 2016]

Thanks, Loki!
I am still at the beginning, sorting out devils, angels and humans and seeing what they all are up to. :)

[bounty]

It's not high art by any measure, but Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman remains my most re-read novel, and still makes me laugh out loud with every reading.

There are so many truly funny authors out there, though, that it feels hard to cherry-pick just a few, or to make comparisons between very different styles: the riotous and filthily funny farces of Ben Jonson are miles removed from the glorious sarcasm and sharp wit of Jane Austen, but both can make me howl with laughter.

interesting timing---on a lark I re-visited this old thread at the same time im about to by looking for my next book to read---and I just recently came across good omens and could use a laugh...

so danik---did you finish the book?

[Danik 2016]

Lol! I didn´t remember this thread from the year I joined LitNet.

Yes I finished the book and I had a lot of fun. But there is wisdom too about human choices of good or evil. I recommend it: Funny, warm, wise and very, very British.

[bounty]

im 62 pages in danik and finding it okay. sometimes a little bizarre, sometimes interesting, sometimes a little chuckle or two, and a bit intriguing.

right now both Crowley and aziraphale, are involved in the life of warlock, the little kid who is supposed to be "the adversary, destroyer of kings, angel of the bottomless pit, great beast that is called dragon, prince of this world, father of lies, spawn of satan and lord of darkness."

[Danik 2016]

I remember it took me some time, Bounty, to get used to the characters.

If I rightly remember the little kid will take its time to be born. There are other issues to be tackled first.

[bounty]

the little kid is very early in the book. he's 11yrs old now but the problem is the satan worshipping nuns messed up switching the babies and "warlock" is the wrong kid. Crowley and aziraphale have figured that out and they are on their way back to the hospital to see if they can rectify the situation.

[Danik 2016]

Yes, i remember about messing up the babies, Bounty.But I don't remember on which side Crowley and aziraphale are.

[bounty]

in the beginning of the book they have a cast of character. aziraphale is described as "an angel, and part-time rare book dealer" and Crowley is described as "an angel who did not so much fall as saunter vaguely downwards."

the haven't found the kid they are looking for yet, but he (adam) has finally appeared in the book, role-playing the Spanish inquisition with some of his neighborhood friends.

[Danik 2016]

I remember the book being very irreverent. It is one of its charms.

[bounty]

if I am understanding things rightly, Crowley actually likes humanity and he's working together with aziraphale in order to stop Armageddon. so somehow they have to find adam and prevent him from fulfilling his destiny as the anti-Christ.

[Danik 2016]

I suspect the other baby will appear too, but I'm not sure about it.

[bounty]

adam is the other baby---at first they thought warlock was the right one and when he didn't show any signs of being evil by bringing about the end of the world, they abandoned following him and went looking for the other baby by going back to the place where the babies were born, but the records had been destroyed in a fire.

the most recent development, after the faux Spanish inquisition, is that adam seems to somehow be caught up in the disappearance of 500 tons of uranium.

one of the cute/funny things about the book is how every piece of music that gets left in Crowleys car for a certain length of time turns into music from "the best of Queen."

forgot to mention, spritzer wasn't on the porch last night when I went to bed and didn't come when I called her, so she spent her first night outside since I lured her into the house last fall. thankfully she was outside the door on the mat this morning. I let her in to eat, she spent some time wrestling with bark and now she's right back outside.

[Danik 2016]

I think one of the reasons because I remember so little of the plot in spite of enjoying it is because it is a complex novel several things happening at once, and a lot of details.

I am glad to read that Spritzer is well and enjoying life outside, hopefully without bells, with occasional visits to you. Do you know if she has been neutered?

[bounty]

I know one of the fun things about all the tom Clancy novels is how he's got 3 or 4 different concurrent narratives going on that eventually all end up coming together. there is at least something like that with this book, although, sometimes you'll be reading along and go "what the heck does that have to do with the story?"

the book might be a little like Shakespeare in that it takes someone smarter than me to point out x, y and z that im probably oblivious to.

without bells! danik, how will the birds and chipmunks and squirrels and whatever else know there is a killer on the prowl if not for her bells?

yes, you might remember from last summer my telling of the kittens and the aggravation with getting the local shelters/clinics to help with her in a timely fashion before another litter came along and finally one stepped up and let me jump the line with her. I trapped her, took her in, they took her 1 1/2 hours away to a lost cost clinic to get fixed (she was in heat when they did the operation, so we couldn't have been cutting it any closer), brought her back, I went to fetch her, and then let her roam free until the weather got back in the late fall.

in the states, free ranging/wild/homeless cats that have been fixed have a small portion of their left ear clipped to that other concerned people can tell their status.

for the most part I leave the door open. sometimes she disappears for hours at a time. a lot of times she hangs around outside of house and comes and goes.

I have a momma deer who hangs out in my yard and I haven't yet seen spritzer noticing her.

[Danik 2016]

Well, its the technique used with the Brazilian Soapis. I think the authors would be flattered by your comment likening them to Shakespeare. But are you talking about references?
Poor murderous Spitzer! But there must be a lot of small animals in your yard. Some of them I even don't know.
Here in the city we usually have rats and doves. But my Tino
was such a good hunter that I had to rescue the birds he hunted through the net around the balcony.

[bounty]

oh my using Shakespeare in this instance isn't meant as a compliment.

I don't know what youre asking when you enquired about references danik---can you try again?

there is a lot, seemingly, that goes on in the book that doesn't move the story forward. I find that almost a bit tedious.

I live in the woods so plenty of woodland critters yes.

I cant remember the number but the number of birds that are killed by cats every year is a pretty large one.

[bounty]

I accidently made a double post but as opposed to just writing that and leaving the thread, i'll mention that there is some whoppin' big forest fire up in Canada, and its affecting the weather and the conditions where I live many hundreds of miles away. its hazy everywhere and the smell of smoke is in the air. it must be pretty bad...

[tailor STATELY]

re: fire in Canada - yes, it's in the news... NYC looks like some of these cities now... https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/25-most-polluted-cities-world-2023-rankings/

... reminds me of home, here in the Gold Country in the Summer - Winter months (Fire season) :(

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor

[Danik 2016]

Sorry! With references I mean the great authors or works that influence later works. For example, Homer was a reference of
many modern works of literature and cinema and so was Shakespeare.

Sorry that the novel is becoming tedious.

I heard about the fire in the news. And the admin of another forum I frequent, lives in New York City and there the air is very
bad too. All outdoor activities were called of.

I imagine that animals and plants are also feeling the effects
of the polluted air.

[bounty]

I wouldn't say these authors have been influenced by Shakespeare, nor that they make reference to his works in the book, that I can tell anyways, although maybe I missed some or im otherwise not remembering them.

I have other Pratchett books but its good bet I wont be reading another one in the future. I also have a gaiman book, stardust, which was made into a movie, that I sorta enjoyed, id be willing to give that a chance.

right now the authors are going on about witches and newton pulsifier (why the bizarre names I wonder?) is on his way to investigate some strange phenomenon that may be associated with them.

haven't looked into news about the fire up north but the sky here today is seemingly normal. a few days ago the sunset looked like something out of krypton.

[Danik 2016]

I wasn't thinking of your novel, when I suggested Shakespeare. I remember so little about the story. I think its main references are the Bible, specially Genesis and all these legends about fallen devils.

Sorry that the book isn't more entertaining.
I saw the sky of NY in the news. A yellow kind of smoke that looked terrible. And you are affected by a fire in Canada.

[bounty]

well you lost me on references danik, but that's okay.

yes, the fall of man, and some of the angels serve as the premise for the story.

you probably saw new York city? I think it was worse there than anywhere else in the state. its hard to know if the temperatures we're experiencing are on the lower verges of normal or if they have been heavily affected by the smoke. this last week the thermometer on my porch in the mornings was registering temperatures not many degrees above freezing.

in the reading last night newton crosses paths with a flying saucer manned by toad-like creatures that accost him about the buildup of acid rain.
maybe its a not too subtle jab at mankind needing to be more environmentally minded but as you go along reading, youre like "what the heck?"

[Danik 2016]

Sorry!

Yes, they showed New York City. I think not many people here, unless thei´ve been there, associate New York with the rural part of the state. But it looked terrible, like something, as you said, out of Science Fiction.
The thermometers have been running crazy here too. A mild winter would be ok but the summer probably will be specially hot, we will be able to fry eggs on the pavement, with El Niño in Charge of temperatures.

Science Fiction kind of scares me, specially if there is a risk of it becoming true as in the case of pandemics.

[bounty]

you might enjoy the author robin cook danik.

i recently watched alita, battle angel and loved it. the main character, alita, and many of the other characters, are cyborgs.

and i'll probably re-watch ready, player one sometime, much of the movie takes place in a virtual reality.

last nights reading was interesting, newton the witch hunter and anathema a witch are together and talking about agnes nutter's book of prophecy. somehow this has got to be tied to adam and Armageddon.

[Danik 2016]

I´ll take a look, Bounty, thanks!

[bounty]

ive enjoyed every robin cook book ive ever read.

the books picked up a little bit (though im cynically thinking it wont last).

since warlock isn't the anti-Christ, some of the upper demons are kinda hacked off at Crowley and a couple of them were sent to retrieve him so he can be tortured for his failure. he was able to kill one of them with a holy water trap, and right now he's being chased, through the phone lines, by the other one.

[Danik 2016]

Just looked Cook up, the inventor of the medical thriller. Never read him, but i think his books became famous here too, specially Coma.

Seems Good Omens has improved or you got used to it.

[bounty]

coma was one of the first biggies danik---been lots of others.

I recently watched a movie I can recommend to you---creepy scary along the lines of what you mentioned earlier [I[the invasion[/I] with Nicole Kidman and Daniel craig.

nah, just occasional interesting parts---hit and miss, the near ending was kinda like that when all the characters ended up at the same place at the same time and amargeddon didn't happen. I finished the book, glad to be done with it, wont read another Pratchett!

[Sancho]

Man-o-man, I’ve been posting over on the McCarthy obituary thread in General Chat, and Christ is it slow. Reminds me of my old Commodore 64 computer where I’d boot it up, feed a floppy into it, and go mow the grass or something while waiting for the program to load.

Read Coma a while back. Liked it. Has anyone mentioned Douglas Adam’s books yet?

[bounty]

its been a little while since ive peeked through the thread. I have a vague memory of someone maybe mentioning hitch-hikers guide but I remember reading that years ago and I can still confidently say (we talked about him before)---Patrick McManus is the funniest author!

[Sancho]

Hell yeah. That guy cracks me up.
Here’s one: Little Big Man by Thomas Berger
Made me laugh out loud, which can be concerning to people around me when I’m sitting by myself reading in a quiet room at the library.

[Danik 2016]

I´m not so fond of creepy and scary movies, Bounty!

Congrats that you finished "Good Omens" even not liking it much. What is coming next?

[bounty]

its all very consistent danik with your quote "Science Fiction kind of scares me, specially if there is a risk of it becoming true as in the case of pandemics."

but in so much as the purpose of art being commentary on the human condition, the movies a good one.

thank you. that's a good question. for the past few days ive just been in my elvis Presley biography and it feels a bit weird to not also be reading a fiction book. so I want to find something soon, not scarlett yet.

often in cases like this, until an inspiration comes along, i'll just default to a small western, or a star trek book...

[Danik 2016]

Well, I hope we will continue this conversation sometimes. My problem in joining "How many..." is that I can´t follow many of the cultural traits/memories you and tailor share. Much of US culture penetrated into other countries, but not all.

[bounty]

I appreciate hearing that danik, thank you, and me too.

nah---please, give it a shot, your presence there will help shape the nature of the posts and we'll all make it work. and the song title one too...

right now I just settled on an easy reading western that im enjoying. maybe some more light reading after that one and then i'll see if can find something that has an already existing thread.

oh, by the way, spritzer my homeless cat lost her flea collar! so I had to go get another one. I leave the door open in the good weather and she's been enjoying the free coming and going.

[Danik 2016]

Thanks, Bounty.

As to the Song Title one, I participated a long time in it, without knowing most of the songs. I took the titles out of extense lyrics, and just had a look at those to see if they were "publishable".
The important thing is that you enjoy your reading. If you have time take a look at the books of the German author Karl May. They are adventure stories. The most famous are the Winnetou books about US West.There are translations in the net at Gutenberg, I think.

I´m Glad to know that Spritzer is so happy and you do. ( But first thing, I got rid of that nasty collar. I have no use for that bell)

[bounty]

I don't read books online danik but i'll keep my eyes peeled for karl may when im out book shopping, thank you.

I recently watched rio 2 and really enjoyed it. among other things, the music was great.

noooo, she cant be out killing the other local critters. cat danger, warning warning warning!

right now ive got a momma raccoon and 4-5 babies sleeping under my house.

[Danik 2016]

Some of his books were edited in English, but he didn´t meet with much success it seems.
https://www.google.com/search?q=karl+may+books+in+english&ei=vjOcZPfxBeXM5OUP7v2FqA4&oq=karl+may+in+english&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQARgBMgoIABATEIAEELADMgs IABAIEB4QExCwAzILCAAQCBAeEBMQsANKBAhBGAFQAFgAYNQXa AFwAHgAgAEAiAEAkgEAmAEAwAEByAED&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Rio 2 must be cute! And more so must be the racoon family presently residing in Bounty´s Bread and Breakfast for traveling animals.

[bounty]

if you can believe it danik…

I mentioned I keep my front door open so spritzer can come and go as she likes. yesterday I was sitting at the computer table (near the door) and felt a soft pressure against my leg. I looked down and it was one of the raccoons!

[Danik 2016]

I do believe you, Bounty, and if you believe me you may soon have the whole family lodging in the upper store!:D
Animals are so quick in detecting friendliness!

[bounty]

I feed the critters in the winter time and I could be/should be doing a better job of that. when momma deer comes for a visit in my yard, ive been feeding her apples, but she doesn't have sharp teeth and claws. im okay keeping the raccoons outside. although, I was just recollecting this with someone, an old movie from my childhood, Disney I think, rascal, about a more or less tame/pet raccoon. I remember if being very funny.

[Danik 2016]

You don´t even need to watch Disney, Bounty. You have them all in your yard, animals I have never seen outside movies or the zoo.
I browsed Wikipedia on deer diet, maybe this momma isn´t so young any more.

Here is it:

"Diet
Deer are browsers, and feed primarily on foliage of grasses, sedges, forbs, shrubs and trees, secondarily on lichens in northern latitudes during winter.[46] They have small, unspecialized stomachs by ruminant standards, and high nutrition requirements. Rather than eating and digesting vast quantities of low-grade fibrous food as, for example, sheep and cattle do, deer select easily digestible shoots, young leaves, fresh grasses, soft twigs, fruit, fungi, and lichens. The low-fibered food, after minimal fermentation and shredding, passes rapidly through the alimentary canal. The deer require a large amount of minerals such as calcium and phosphate in order to support antler growth, and this further necessitates a nutrient-rich diet. There are some reports of deer engaging in carnivorous activity, such as eating dead alewives along lakeshores[47] or depredating the nests of northern bobwhites."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer

[bounty]

I suspect one of the reasons momma deer likes my place so much is there is a lot of green variety for her, like what you mentioned. I haven't kept track, but id guess she's at least 5-6 yrs old.

there are apple trees all over and the deer really like apples. its funny to watch them eat them because of course they don't have hands, and the apples are on the small side, so they'll pick up the whole apple in their mouths and munch away at them.

I have birds that come back every year to nests built on my porch ceiling, and every time I walk outside the door, they get startled and fly away. you think they'd be used to me. im hoping this summer to make some birdhouses.

[Danik 2016]

I suppose the access to your place is also easy for her and animals sense when they are welcome. Open gates, open doors, probably no fences. Here in the city we have to live behind locked iron doors. I live my cell phone usually at home, because in my quarters they get stolen at every time of the day.

I never saw a deer munching apples but then I never saw a deer outside the zoo. Apples sometimes are very big and their mouths are not so big. You told me there was something wrong with her teeth. Maybe, if you slice the apples a bit before offering she will appreciate it.

The birds have probably had bad experiences with other animals and maybe even from humans. So the general rule probably is: Avoid anything bigger than you that comes in your direction.

But living among animals must be paradise. It probably keeps you more serene

[bounty]

i fed momma deer a couple of potatoes today. when I went outside early this morning she was standing right next to my porch.

there are a couple of really nifty things I haven't mentioned yet---on rare occasions it can be almost dead silent, which is great, but more often than not, theres almost always bird song going on, which is great too.

to your point danik, its good, but would all be better if there were less people! laughs...

although, the woman across the road from me does a great job of putting food out for the animals in the winter. every day whole bunches of deer and a large flock of turkeys visit her place.

[Danik 2016]

Momma deer must be cuteness herself. Another thing I didn´t know is that deers eat potatoes. It must be really nice for animals and people around there. I only hope there aren´t any hunters because when animals are fed they become tame.

The animals we have here are dogs and doves. There are cats too, but the cats must be kept at home.
The dogs usually are dogwalked to Roosevelt Square near by and I enjoy seeing them running round in the sun.
Specially on sunny Sundays at ten o'clock there is a many voiced dog choir.
The doves use to be assembled in the morning in the expectation of breakfast. Doves are usually much maligned by humans but there are also kind humans that feed them, although it is forbidden. And they don´t demand very much. When they get food they are happy. My only quarrel with them is when they take me for an ambulant outhouse.

[bounty]

i think every urban area in the world has doves/pigeons danik, and at least most rural areas in the usa have mourning doves. their "cooing" is a part of the bird orchestra at certain parts of the day.

dogs are the best! (don't tell spritzer I said that!)

I suspect deer like apples better than potatoes but she seems to like the latter quite well too. I live amongst many hundreds of acres of forested land where lots of land is preserved for hunting. during hunting season i'll frequently hear shots but I like to think there's a good disconnect between the deer feeling comfortable eating around people's houses, and their feeling comfortable seeing people out in the woods.

I wouldn't call momma deer "cute"---she's rather got a really nice workaday handsomeness to her. the fawns on the other hand, oh my goodness!

ive got a couple photos a neighbor took, i'll try to attach.

[Danik 2016]

Yes that´s true, Bounty.And they are much maligned as carrier of diseases. It´s not their fault if the cities are dirty. All they want is to survive and they are group minded. What´s for one it´s for all. Sometimes they all disappear, leaving just one or two sunbathing sentinels. Sometimes there is a general hubub and they fly off all in the same direction.

Loved these deer pictures. They look different when they are in their own realms. But I wish you, or someone, could put a flea collar with bell round the neck of this hunters. Hunting as a sport should be forbidden.

[bounty]

happily the pigeons in my nearby city seem to do pretty well for themselves.

oddly enough, though we're many miles from the type of water that would usually be their home, we have a fair amount of gulls around.

you will probably be pleased to hear danik that one of my new part time neighbors who bought a lot of land nearby, partially with the intent to hunt on it, changed his mind after he's seen the deer close up and how comfortable they are around humans.

I just went outside a few minutes ago and fawns #1 and #2 were in the woods next to the pond just off my front porch.

[Danik 2016]

These days one can hardly see stray animals around in the region I live. Even the homeless adopt stray dogs. Sometimes the animals look better cared for as they look themselves. I remember s homeless guy that regularly came to my street with his dog. The dog was always very neat sporting a clesn winter suit when it was cold.

Yes, that's fine, one less to wear the flea collar.

Those fawns are something majestic and serene. I'm glad tey make at least some humans change their mind. Right now - I have a problem with a guy in the German forum who posted a text about torture and murder of young cats. I don't know if our culture of cruelty has been increasing of late.

[bounty]

my goodness danik---was the fellow posting a story about someone else doing such things? or was he confessing doing that himself? if its the latter, surely he can at least be banned from the site, or maybe somehow the site ownership can notify the police about him?

[Danik 2016]

It's not that easy. Seems that the user is about 90 years old, which means he grew up in Nazi German. If the story is a recollection his father did it in front of him and other children.

I wrote a PM to the new admin and to the monitor of the forum and are awaiting their answer. It doesn't help that beside myself only another user showed interest in the matter.

[bounty]

I suspect it wont matter how many people complain though danik---it only takes one person to point out something really bad that I like to think the moderators will agree with.

last evening I was on my porch and I heard all sorts of splashing in the little stream that feeds my pond. I figured it was a deer and so I went to look and I discovered a very unique collection of them in my front yard---two males (I hardly ever see them) a couple of females and at least one of the fawns.

oh---and some water-hunting bird ive never seen before that im going to have to go look up in my bird guide! he had bright orange legs, was bluish in color, a long pointy beak, and his feathers looked like a dark grey-blue shag coat, and he was perched on a branch above the pond.

meanwhile, spritzers sitting on my lap purring.

[Danik 2016]

In fact I got the answer that nothing could be done or else contents that describe human torture and killings would have to be removed as well. Unfortunately there aren´t yet laws about cyber crimes that affect the presentation and description off animal torture in the net.
I am very bad at distinguishing birds, there are not so many species here. I hope you find the name of this interesting bird.
Word must have gone round in the deer community, that there is a nice refreshing pond on your estate where one can bathe without being bothered+ apples and potatoes for free.

Moments like the one you are describing reminds one that the world must indeed have begun as paradise.

[bounty]

I suppose there is worth in talking about things from a historical/academic perspective, but that broad umbrella probably needs further scrutiny when people start talking about it from any another perspective.

I did a quick perusal of my bird book but couldn't identify the fellow. i'll have to give a more concerted effort.

you reminded me of one of the funniest cartoon strips I used to have. it was a "willy and ethel." willy is sitting on park bench with some very learned man sitting next to him, a bunch of birds on the ground in front them. the guy says "as the world's foremost expert on ornithology, I know every bird's name." willy points at a bird and asks "what's that bird's name?" and the guy says "bob." laughs...

momma and fawns were in my yard earlier today and I tossed some food to her.

theres probably something to what youre talking about danik---the woman across the street who feeds the deer in the winter time, and a couple down the road from me that do likewise, they'll have large handfuls of deer in their yards at the same time.

[Danik 2016]

Hi, Bounty. I guess you know Don Marquis and his creations like the cockroach archi and the cat his friend.

I hope , these gentle dears will be able to enjoy their freedom and the beautiful landscape for ever. There are some pictures of deer by Tyrone Cheddar buried in this forum but he took them from afar.

Hows the wetter over there. Here it has been cold, but agreeably so but the news have been remarking on the heat in US.

[bounty]

I don't danik---but maybe another fun new thing to discover?

a lot of the land around where I live is hilly and heavily forested, plus the population is declining, so there wont be a lot of development. good news for the deer and the other woodland critters.

a little hotter than usual where I am, but other places have it much worse with temperatures in the 90s and 100s. thankfully the nights are cool. but the hot makes going in my pond all the more enjoyable!

[Danik 2016]

Hi Bounty,

Nice to read you. I thought you were too taken up with your garden visitors.
I found a link of the book archi and mehitabel by Don Marquis if you want to take a look;
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1138&context=zeabook

[bounty]

we had a very brief but major storm last week and ive been without a dial tone on my phone, and therefore no internet, for a handful of days. the phone line got fixed yesterday but my internet connection actually seems a bit worse as a result of it---so I cant get to the website, but thank you. sometime when im at the library i'll look into don marquis.

on the critter front though---last week I fed momma deer a small watermelon, she ate the whole thing!

[Danik 2016]

That's ok, Bounty.Hope the weather improves up there.
Lol. Momma deer is really eating for two or more. And in the heat a watermelon is so refreshing.

[hellsapoppin]

Funniest book I ever read was Mark Twain's Practical Jokes With Artemus Ward (1872). I understand the book is now back in print after many decades. As someone who has played wicked practical jokes on others (and have had a few played on me), I know what the consequences of this activity can be. But in the end everyone has a good laugh. Some really good laughs, in fact.

[WICKES]

I have already learnt a lot from you, bounty, and I am going to have a look at this author. I never heard about him but he seems to be hilarious.
Somehow your post made me remember the funny animal/family stories of Gerald Durrell, an English author and zoologist? who moved with his family from England to Greece. His most known and very funny book is: "My family and other animals".

Yes, I agree. That's a great book.

[WICKES]

I have never found anyone funnier than Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse. Waugh is darker and nastier. With Wodehouse, you have to read him out loud. Ideally, you must read him in a refined, upper class British-English accent. Or listen to a good audio recording. But the reader must have a British-English accent (Stephen Fry is very good).