I prefer comedy over other genres most of the time when it comes to television and movies, so I figured the same would be true for books. I’ve read or attempted to read several well know and well regarded comedy books; The Magic Christian, A Confederacy of Dunces, Catch 22, Good Omens, and a few of the Terry Pratchett Disc World books. I feel like I just don’t get it or I’m missing something. Most of the characters just seem absurd and unbelievable. I don’t even find most of the characters’ ridiculous dialogue and logic to be very entertaining. Of the books I’ve read (or listened to) I’ve enjoyed the Terry Pratchett ones the best, but even those haven’t left me terribly eager to churn through the rest of his novels. For books like The Magic Christian and Confederacy of Dunces I got bored by the lack of an actual plot and couldn’t find the main characters or their motivations believable. I’ve certainly caught myself laughing (audibly or to myself) much more during moments of comic relief in books that aren’t considered to be particularly comical. I want to like this genre, but have yet to find a book that I really enjoy. Maybe I just leave ‘comedy’ to television and movies, which I am fine with, but I thought maybe some of you could enlighten me to what I might be missing.
by Bwbowe
7 Comments
I think comedy is a broad genre. The books you listed that you don’t like are all absurdist. If you don’t like absurdist TV or movie comedies, you aren’t going to like it in books either. What kind of comedy do you like in TV and movies?
Can you list some of the books where you ended up laughing at certain parts, even though they might not be considered strictly comedic? That would probably help us figure out recommendations for you.
Likely it’s subjective taste?
Have you tried the Isaac Steele Chronicles?
Check out Christopher Moore’s books. They’re closer to the comedy we experience in other media.
Humor is different for everybody. that’s why there are so many comedians with such varying styles. Personally I think PG Wodehouse is funny, A Confederacy of Dunces isn’t. I love witty dialogue and clever word play. You’re enjoying a different type of humor in books – that’s fine. Just read the books you find funny and you can ignore the rest.
Comedy is subjective and Confederacy may be the funniest book I’ve read. You can try other authors, David Sedaris, Christopher Moore, Tom Robbins is hilarious to me. I also think Vonnegut, Percival Everett and Pynchon are funny at times too, though not really comedy writers.
To Say Nothing of the Dog is funny
Deacon King Kong
The ones you’ve listed are satire, which may not be your thing x
Try Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Was the first book that I laughed out loud, but not necessarily a straight comedy novel.