I'm looking for books that have a Looney Tunes or Tex Avery style of writing; that means a fast pace, eccentric characters, witty dialogue, and goofy slapstick humor, or whatever the book equivalent of that would be! I mainly want fiction novels/books that are for adults/general readers, but I'll take other things like comics or really good kids/YA stuff, even non-fiction if that somehow exists!
(P.S. The Dover Boys short is a GREAT example of what I'm looking for!)
by Asparagusstick
4 Comments
Edgar Cantero! Tex Avery is a big influence on his style—high octane slapstick action that dives into the absurd.
This Body’s Not Big Enough for Both of Us—twin brother and sister share one body with two minds. They are a detective hired to save a kid from a gang war…the description can only go so far. It’s a wild one!
Meddling Kids—a group like the Scooby Doo Gang/Enid Blyton’s famous five reunite as messed up 20-something year olds to solve the one case that broke them apart.
The Supernatural Enhancements—Cantero’s take on a haunted house
Piers Anthony might appeal to you if you like fantasy. There’s a series of books called Incarnations of Immortality, first book On a Pale Horse. All his work has the characteristic you describe, these were just some of my favorites of his.
The Harry Potter books are full of eccentric characters and whacky scenarios. I don’t like JK Rowling’s political views at all and will never give her another cent of my money to buy any of her books now that her views are public, but the books are great for this.
If you like rom-com Jennifer Crusie is great for this; I’d recommend her collab with Bob Mayer, Wild Ride. It’s one of her few fantasies, most are contemporary humorous romance. All her books have funny scenes but this one has more sheer goofiness as well as great characters.
Carl Hiassen
Watching Monty Python is always good for this, if you want a break from reading.
Midsummer Nights Dream by Shakespeare and Much Ado About Nothing as well.
If you like The Dover Boys, I’d go with P.G. Wodehouse
Assistant to the Villain is kind of like this if you enjoy fantasy. There’s not too much substance to it but then there’s not too much substance to a Looney Toons show either. It’s adult but does read like YA