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Recommended reads
A masterpiece of comic writing, and an absolute must on any serious list of funny books. This has become such an established classic that it's possible to forget just how fresh, angry and relevant Joseph Heller's debut novel still is. Crammed full of insanely quote-worthy conversations and observations, this is the story of Captain John Yossarian's attempt to survive the madness of World War II while serving as a B-25 bombardier in the US Army Air Force. First published in 1961 the New York Times described it as: "Wildly original, brilliantly comic, brutally gruesome, it is a dazzling performance that will probably outrage nearly as many readers as it delights."
Christopher Moore's first novel "Practical Demonkeeping" published in 1992 was an impressively crazed debut and his ten subsequent books have established him as one of America's greatest absurdist writers. "Lamb" was Moore's sixth book and the story of Jesus' missing years told through the eyes of his friend Levi bar Alphaeus (aka "Biff") finds him in fine form. Locus magazine's glowing review concluded: "Like the best of comedies, Lamb is filled with tragedy, love, loss, beauty, anger, and, above all, an unfailing and intelligent sense of humour."
This corrosive satire takes on the excesses of marketing and consumerism in a near future Australia. A famous shoe manufacturer sets up a series of shootings at shops launching its new line of trainers. An executive explains: "We take out 10 customers, make it look like ghetto kids, and we've got street cred to spare...I bet we shift our inventory within 24 hours." Jennifer Government arrives to investigate. The New York Times said that "Barry is obviously up to more than letting an amusing thriller unfold against a heavily branded backdrop. At times, he even seems to be aiming for a kind of ad-world version of Dr. Strangelove...he unleashes enough wit and surprise to make his story a total blast."
The absolute master of comic dialogue with one of his very best novels. Bertie Wooster is temporarily leaving Jeeves:
"'I shall miss you, Jeeves.'
'Thank you, sir.'
'Who was the chap who was always beefing about losing gazelles?'
'The poet Moore, sir. He complained that he had never nursed a dear gazelle, to glad him with its soft black eye, but when it came to know him well and love him, it was sure to die.'
'It's the same with me. I am a gazelle short. You don't mind me alluding to you as a gazelle, Jeeves?'
'Not at all, sir.'"
"'I shall miss you, Jeeves.'
'Thank you, sir.'
'Who was the chap who was always beefing about losing gazelles?'
'The poet Moore, sir. He complained that he had never nursed a dear gazelle, to glad him with its soft black eye, but when it came to know him well and love him, it was sure to die.'
'It's the same with me. I am a gazelle short. You don't mind me alluding to you as a gazelle, Jeeves?'
'Not at all, sir.'"
A writer of cookbooks tries to cope with her husband's infidelity. Subsequently famous for screenplays such as "When Harry met Sally" and "Sleepless in Seattle" Nora Ephron's autobiographical novel, published in 1983 is a superb example of comedic writing with a heart. Harper's Bazaar called it "...warm, witty and wise", and underneath all the zingy one-liners there's real pain here (and recipes for Key Lime Pie).