Books to Warm You Up & Make You Smile
When it's this cold out there's nothing better than staying in. And when you're in, there's nothing better than entertaining oneself with fun books that make you smile.
Here's our list of funny fiction (plus 2 memoirs) that is, to paraphrase the New York Times' review of The Optimistic Decade, funny and light even under the weight of seriously great storytelling.
Read a blurb about each below, or click on a book to see more info about it.
"I love everything about it, from its evocative dust jacket & Guernsey setting, to its witty prose & its fine cast of book-minded characters."
— From Ev's Past Picks 2
"Hodgman's stories are...the literary equivalent of great stand-up. His comedic timing and absurdity are perfect."
— From Tim
Remember the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' stories from your elementary school library? Try out this Interactive Romance Novel. "Options abound in this quirky spoof that will beg to be re-read over and over as you explore every avenue."
— Harper's Bazaar
Clavin and Hobbes have been known to cheer up even the darkest of days.
"A clipped, funny, painfully honest narrative voice lights up Wang’s debut novel."
— Publishers Weekly
(This particular book is non-returnable)
"It is that rare thing: a satire that has a love of what it satirizes while also functioning as a modern fairy tale about, of all things, the magic of certain carbohydrates."
— Jeff Vandermeer, The Lost Angeles Times
"Good humor assured with the events of the bizarre gang of the residence Darcourt in Montmartre."
— Cucina Italiana
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Meet Carl, the giant statue (robot?) from outer space who likes to listen to Queen and just might be here to save the world. If only April and Andy can use their social media marketing skills to spread the word...
If we had a tourist-destination city on the moon, then just like any other city, it would have laws and law-breakers, right? Meet Jazz, your sarcastic protagonist and narrator who is a young smuggler, saboteur, and a little reckless, but very entertaining.
"An in-depth and very funny look at a 57-year-old American's attempt to learn French in an intense year of self-designed language study"
— From Catherine's Past Picks 1
A witty near future science fiction novel where the elderly are recruited for the army and given shiny new green bodies. Old Man's War is a satirical novel about human ambition, greed and trademark body modifications!
"This is the height of satirical fantasy, Terry Pratchett became famous and beloved for imparting wise and worthy social commentary via spot-on, laugh-out-loud humor, unique and personable characters, and plots with great mysteries."
— From Zazu's Past Picks 2
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" Part techno-thriller, part techno-satire, Cohen’s debut is a funny, engaging read..."
—Diana Platt, BOOKLIST review
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"Abel, who previously worked as a reporter, is a perceptive writer whose astute observations keep the book funny and light even under the weight of its Big Ideas."
—Zoe Greenberg, The New York Times