I've read a lot of books where the prose is kind of straight-faced, and it seems most of the entertainment comes from what the characters say and do.
I remember reading the A Series of Unfortunate Events books and just sensing the narration enjoyed itself so much, I could visualize it as a cartoon in front of my eyes, despite the story's actual bleak contents.
Can anyone recommend anything that achieves the same thing? Not necessarily the same style as Lemony Snicket. Just that it puts similar effort into how it's written.
by -Sawnderz-
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dungeon crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Jane Austen has some wonderfully snarky narration (“free and direct discourse”), particularly in her younger works like “Love and Freindship.”
You’d probably enjoy Terry Pratchett, he writes a lot of great, satirical, creative, fantasy in the Discworld universe. There are a ton of books but it’s not a series where you really need to start at the beginning, I’d recommend checking out either **Mort** or **Guards! Guards!**.
For something darker, more cynical, gritty, violent, and character-driven — But still quite funny a lot of the time — check out **The Blade Itself** by Joe Abercrombie, and the rest of The First Law series. Lots of fun banter, sarcastic takes on life/the human condition etc. The audiobooks are also really top tier, if you’re into that at all, narrated by Steven Pacey.
Another author I’d recommend with a really whimsical, unique, sometimes kind of philosophical, style, is Tom Robbins. Check out **Jitterbug Perfume**, and if you enjoy it then definitely check out everything else he’s written, starting with Still Life With Woodpecker, and Even Cowgirls Get The Blues.
The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey. Recently read it and the prose reads like the author had a lot of fun writing it.
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, as well as The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. The narrator is amazing. It is by far the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to.
If you liked series of unfortunate events you would probably like Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
Pratchett is, in my view, the best choice for this, but since he’s already been recommended a couple of other suggestions: Douglas Adams’s work is similarly fun and creative with its narration, and I really enjoy Mick Herron (author of Slow Horses) – he has a great turn of phrase.