The world is not a paradise and there is nothing we can do about it. But we can find some carefree place where we can relax and unwind. Don’t worry, there are plenty of satirical and humorous books out there. They are waiting for you and in return will give you a sincere smile and a good mood.
What is the genre of comedy fiction? A comic novel is a work whose purpose is to have subtle or fairly understandable humorous notes. To put it simply, comedy should make you laugh, and if this seems obvious to you, it is not always what it may seem at first glance.
Whether you prefer comic novels, memoirs, essays, or poetry, humor has been a constant presence in literature for centuries. It has made literature more inclusive, socially challenging, and undeniably amusing. So, without further ado, here is the list of funniest books of all time that are guaranteed to have you cackling with laughter.
Table of Contents
1. The Burnout By Sophie Kinsella
Sophie Kinsella has always been a trailblazer in the romantic comedy genre. One can’t help but laugh with (and sometimes at) her flawed, funny, and relatable female protagonists present across all her work. And her latest masterpiece, The Burnout, is certainly no exception to this. The story revolves around Sasha, a woman exhausted by the chaos of her life who decides to enroll in a wellness retreat. It is during her time there that she crosses paths with a fellow guest who has his own peculiar recovery methods. With her quintessential wit, Kinsella fearlessly addresses a timely topic, delivering a delightful love story that shines through.
2. Black Buck By Mateo Askaripour
We’re talking about a satirical novel starring a young hero. He had just left Starbucks for a young tech startup with uncertain prospects. As he settles into his new role, a stark reality hits him – he’s the only Black person on staff. With his success as a salesperson comes a growing despair over the racial imbalance he witnesses. Fueled by ambition and determination, he hatches a plan. His mission? To mentor and empower young people of color, helping them infiltrate the predominantly white-collar workforce. This book fearlessly explores themes of race, ambition, and identity, all while maintaining a dark humor that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.
Black humor is often found in this genre. There are especially many humorous books on story-reading apps like FictionMe. Here you can find books with both sweet romantic comedies and rude, dark humor. Why choose just one? The FictionMe platform even has books that combine different types of humor. Overall, the novel app has notable advantages in terms of accessibility, portability, and additional features such as voice playback of the book.
3. A Short History Of Tractors In Ukrainian By Marina Lewycka
When Nikolai, an 84-year-old man, starts living with Valentina, a much younger woman from Ukraine, his estranged daughters Nadezhda and Vera are forced to come together and figure out how to rid their lives of this outsider. Valentina, with her sitcom-like character from the mid-Seventies, fits surprisingly well into Lewycka’s story that effortlessly oscillates between comedic moments and deeply poignant ones, all while exploring Nikolai’s firsthand experiences of famine, war, and terror. A book that can be devoured during a rainy weekend.
4. Diary Of A Drag Queen By Crystal Rasmussen
Tom Rasmussen spent his childhood in Lancaster and it was quite eventful. The revealed memoirs will give interesting facts and experiences from the life of the transvestite Tom, as well as his second personality – Crystal. The tales range from shocking, recounting a traumatic attack by a stranger, to amusing and heartfelt, like trysts in a Portaloo and unique sexual experiences that involved drinking out of toilets. Singer-songwriter Sam Smith commented, “This book changed my life. It is the queer bible I’ve always needed.”
5. Catch-22 By Joseph Heller
This may be the first dark humor book I ever fell in love with. I read it in college during a phase of engrossing myself in war literature. Since then, I’ve revisited it multiple times, and every read remains a delightful ride. Despite its subject matter being World War II and the grotesque bureaucracy that trapped soldiers in combat, even when their sanity was barely intact. Remarkably, this classic satire is now over 60 years old! If you wish, you can even create your own AI novel with dark humor or reimagine an already well-known book. This is a good way to develop your creativity.
6. The Pumpkin Eater By Penelope Mortimer
On a therapist’s couch, an unnamed woman paints a picture-perfect life. She envisions an architect husband, Jake Armitage, and an indeterminate (yet undoubtedly extravagant) brood residing in a magnificent mansion, perched high above the bustling city.
But… is this reality? The veneer begins to crack as the four-times-married Mrs. Armitage collapses in the iconic Harrod’s, losing her grip on her once-steady self. Penelope Mortimer’s semi-autobiographical exploration of the hollowness that married life imposed upon her is somber yet sharp. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but once you acquire the taste, “The Pumpkin Eater” reveals its uniquely and bitingly humorous nature. Interestingly enough, Mortimer’s astonishment at receiving a rare praise led her to promptly vomit.
7. Pineapple Street By Jenny Jackson
Succession, the wildly popular HBO show, has taught us a valuable lesson: we simply can’t get enough of indulging in the opulent lives of the affluent. This brand-new debut in 2023 is no exception. Picture the Stockton family: skillful tennis players, masters of hosting glamorous parties, and living in their exclusive abode on Pineapple Street, nestled within the bustling city of New York. They effortlessly navigate their captivating world, filled with charm and wit. Prepare yourself, because this book will have you chuckling alongside them with its clever and amusing narrative.
Conclusion
When you have read all of the above or just the ones you liked the most, you will have to look for new books. Here it will help you to understand who are the humorous female writers. Well, this is all relative, but the merits of Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, E. M. Delafield, and Richmal Crompton are generally recognized. You can read their novels, and most likely you will not be disappointed.
