Audiobooks discussion

Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" cracked me up when I first heard it.

Love Bryson's books, but I have to read them...his voice is like nails on a chalkboard for me.

Some other obvious ones:

Anything by David Sedaris (my favorite so far is Me Talk Pretty One Day)

Bossypants, Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys, and others of that ilk

In the category of poignant and funny...books that masterfully blend humor and heartbreak:

Books by Richard Russo... Nobody's Fool is one of my all-time faves

This is Where I Leave You was one of the best books I read in 2015

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is written in "stream of consciousness." I fully expected to hate it, but ended up loving the audio. Dion Graham does an amazing job with the narration, and the story is true to its name with moments where I laughed out loud.

The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Divine Misfortune

are some of my favorites in the genre

Saeed wrote: "The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Divine Misfortune

are some of my fa..."

I would add A Dirty Job...love that one! Can't believe I forgot it on my list.

Also some parts of books are funny, like The Martian, and some books are more amusing than outright funny, like many of Catherine Aird's books.

Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series is fun. I have two favorite series that would certainly NOT be classified as humor, but I almost always laugh out loud at least once while reading a book. Those are Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files, and the JA Konrath Jack Daniels series.

Great topic! So many books are serious or depressing. I'm always on the lookout for humor.

I loved A Confederacy of Dunces on audio and laughed practically every time the main character spoke. I don't think I would have appreciated it as much in print.

I like humorous mysteries, like the #1 Ladies Detective Agency, Her Royal Spyness series, the Chet & Bernie mysteries by Spencer Quinn, etc. I like romances with some humor in them, but I'm not sure I have a specific series to recommend. St Mary's series starting with Just One Damned Thing After Another is fantasy/time travel with humor.

Another fantasy series with intermittent humor is by Michael J Sullivan starting with Theft of Swords. And more directly humorous is Off to Be the Wizard. It was all the reviews saying how funny it was that got me to try The Martian.

Recently I enjoyedWishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb and read very well by him. If you grew up in the 60's, it's especially recognizable.

The two books in recent memory that have hurt me with laughter:

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

I received an email from Audiofile today and there's a memoir coming out by David Spade, narrated by David Spade, Almost Interesting. It sounds like it would be quite funny, but I couldn't find it on Audible, unless there are publishing restrictions for Canada.

I love sarcastic humor and because of this fact I can't get enough of the Hard Luck Hank series. It took me an hour or so to warm up to the first book but they've only gotten better. The series is perfectly narrated by Liam Owen.

I think the funniest thing I've listened to in a long while is Where the Hell is Tesla? by Rob Dircks.

Be forewarned: There is a surfer-type dude that uses the F-bomb quite a bit in the first quarter of the book and then only occasionally after. Admittedly, that was a repellent in the beginning but it was offered for review and like it or not, I always finish a review book. I'm very happy I did. There's a bit of history, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, romance and loads of fun. The author narrated and really did an incredible job even if there were a couple of first-time narrator baubles. Please feel free to read my review.

I agree! That book made me laugh several times. Like you I was a bit dismayed by the liberal use of the F bomb in the early parts of the book, but I am glad I stuck it out. I got it from the author as a Listen and Review book as well, and I really enjoyed it.

Jeffrey wrote: "I agree! That book made me laugh several times. Like you I was a bit dismayed by the liberal use of the F bomb in the early parts of the book, but I am glad I stuck it out. I got it from the author..."

Jeffrey, Did you know there is a Book 2 out? I'm looking forward to listening to it.

Penelope wrote: "Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" cracked me up when I first heard it."

This is the first one I thought of, too. I also enjoyed the early Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich.

I find Jennifer Crusie very amusing, too, especially Welcome to Temptation and its sequel Faking It, and Charlie All Night.

Also amusing are the Burglar books by Lawrence Block.

David Sedaris goes without question, and he's one of the few authors out there who can read his books and make them even funnier. He's really a comedian.

Speaking of comedians, I have been overall pretty disappointed with memoirs by Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling, among others. They seem like cash grabs which would be fine if they were, you know, kind of funny.

I don't particularly need try-hard comedy books, but like others have said, I prefer "fun" stories from time to time. Liane Moriarty usually has some humor in her stories, but my favorite that comes to mind is Linda Francis Lee when read by the sublime Susan Bennett. I have NO idea why she isn't a more well known narrator. Maybe because so few people can write those really funny arch novels?

The two I liked were The Ex-Debutante and The Devil in the Junior League. Does anyone have any recommendations for books like those?

This is the kind of humor I enjoy, although I do know it may not be for everyone

Celia Rivenbark if you can find the ones she narrated herself I highly recommend them! Some of her titles include
Belle Weather: Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fits and Conniptions

Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank: And Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom

Bless Your Heart, Tramp: And Other Southern Endearments

We're Just Like You, Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle

You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl: Observations on Life from the Shallow End of the Pool

Rude Bitches Make Me Tired: Slightly Profane and Entirely Logical Answers to Modern Etiquette Dilemmas


I also enjoy the humor of Laurie Notaro her books are narrated by Hillary Huber who has great comedic timing!

MissSusie wrote: "This is the kind of humor I enjoy, although I do know it may not be for everyone

Celia Rivenbark if you can find the ones she narrated herself I highly recommend them! Some of her ..."

Those titles alone make me want to check them out... and I don't usually go for those kinds of books. ;)

Although I haven't read any, my librarian friend is trying to get me into Christopher Moore's books. She finds his writing style to be quite humorous.

Kdbrand wrote: "Although I haven't read any, my librarian friend is trying to get me into Christopher Moore's books. She finds his writing style to be quite humorous."

I loved the first one I read (A Dirty Job). I found that book absolutely hilarious. I read several others, but eventually after a few I couldn't even break a grin at them...I think I'm in the minority on that.

Powder River Rose wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I agree! That book made me laugh several times. Like you I was a bit dismayed by the liberal use of the F bomb in the early parts of the book, but I am glad I stuck it out. I got it..."
I did not know there is a second book out. What is it called?

I'm not real big on classics, but I absolutely loved this one. It is so funny!

Three Men in a Boat

Sophie Kinsella is a author for humorous books.

Mara wrote: "Sophie Kinsella is a author for humorous books."

True, the Shopaholic series, which is very good on audio. And so is the Bridget Jones series

Jo Ann wrote: "I'm not real big on classics, but I absolutely loved this one. It is so funny!

Three Men in a Boat"

I agree -- very funny.

I loved Crazy Rich Asians and the sequel China Rich Girlfriend. I laughed so hard I cried.

I loved TWENTIES GIRLS and I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER both by Sophie Kinsella.

Jeffrey wrote: "Powder River Rose wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I agree! That book made me laugh several times. Like you I was a bit dismayed by the liberal use of the F bomb in the early parts of the book, but I am gla..."

Where the Hell Is Tesla?: Part Two

If you get it before I do, let me know what you think please.

Agent to the Stars, The Android's Dream, and Redshirts by John Scalzi are all funny, read by Wil Wheaton. But they also have great humanist messages.

MissSusie wrote: "This is the kind of humor I enjoy, although I do know it may not be for everyone

Celia Rivenbark if you can find the ones she narrated herself I highly recommend them! Some of her ..."

I've read several of her books, and do have to say that her latest one I didn't find as funny. The negative reviews were fairly well deserved in my opinion. So, start at the beginning and work your way forward.

Powder River Rose wrote: "https://www.dropbox.com/sh/28ezqrlho9......"

The audiobook of Where the Hell is Tesla is a combination of part 1 and part 2. I believe the original ebook was released as two parts. So if you've heard the audiobook you've heard both parts.

This One links to the combined part 1 and part 2.


Update: Then again maybe not. I'm going to email the author and ask for clarification. The description for Part 2 covers events that were in the audiobook I listened to, but for some reason some of the other reviewers have it in their heads that part 3 is on it's way. This is the problem when segmented ebooks get turned into audiobooks or novels. It's why we ended up with Wool: THE OMNIBUS and then it's sequels Shift & Dust.

J. wrote: "Powder River Rose wrote: "https://www.dropbox.com/sh/28ezqrlho9......"

The audiobook of Where the Hell is Tesla is a combination of part 1 and part 2. I believe th..."

You may be right. The description sure leads one to believe that in paperback they are two separate parts where in the audio it's all one laugh out loud story.

I emailed the author. I did see in a previous email that he told me he would be returning to this "universe" in 2017. Whether that means a sequel or an extension of what we already have...only Rob can answer. I'll let you know what I hear.

I'm a fan of Bob. He's my hero. His adventures start here: The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross.

Powder River Rose wrote: "J. wrote: "Powder River Rose wrote: "https://www.dropbox.com/sh/28ezqrlho9......"

The audiobook of Where the Hell is Tesla is a combination of part 1 and part 2. I..."

The author says the audiobook is a combination of parts 1-3, so we're good. He said when another book is released it will be a sequel with a different name.

How about Drama Queen by Joe Cosentino, narrated by Michael Gilboe. It is a hysterically funny murder mystery with a gay twist (though I think anyone with a zany sense of humor would enjoy it). It is available on Audible.com.

Harold wrote: "How about Drama Queen by Joe Cosentino, narrated by Michael Gilboe. It is a hysterically funny murder mystery with a gay twist (though I think anyone with a zany sense of humor woul..."

Loved that book, and I give the narrator high marks. I have reviewed it here on Goodreads.

I agree with several books in this list and will check out several.

My last funny listen/ read was Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

Kdbrand wrote: "Although I haven't read any, my librarian friend is trying to get me into Christopher Moore's books. She finds his writing style to be quite humorous."

It is my dream as a narrator to one day be able to narrate a Christopher Moore book!

My apologies. Didn't know. M

J. wrote: "Powder River Rose wrote: "J. wrote: "Powder River Rose wrote: "https://www.dropbox.com/sh/28ezqrlho9......"

The audiobook of Where the Hell is Tesla is a combinati..."

Glad to hear that...okay everyone...this is a really funny yet interesting book but the audio version is fantabulous.

Jasper Fforde - the Tuesday Next books, etc.

Douglas Adams - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Terry Pratchett - Discworld books