Book Suggestions - Sacramento, CA

Anything by Jenn Lancaster is laugh out loud hilarious. I would start with the first one, Bitter is the New Black and work your way through them. She has 3 so far. (http://www.jennsylvania.com/)

I'd like to also add my recommendation to Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and anything by Ann Lamott. (They were touring together this year, by the way). Eat, Pray, Love isn't funny, per se, but she injects humor into it and it is a beautifully written, totally NON-depressing read that will give your group lots to talk about.

Have fun!

L.

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I'd recommend,Feint of Art by Annie Kincaid. I don't often go for 'mysteries' but this one kept me smiling, laughing and reading until I was done. Female lead, adult humor but nothing risque. It really is just what you asked for. Highly recommend. This is the first in the series. Please let me know if you liked it!

http://www.amazon.com/Feint-Art-Annie-Kincaid-Mysteries/d...

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The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella (I've heard all her stuff is funny).

About Water For Elephants: yes, good and lighthearted, but not exactly funny, and if you've been on a heavy book streak, I wouldn't read that one now... maybe give it a month.

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BOoks by Merrill Markoe--It's My F---ing Birthday and Walking in Circles Before Lying Down.

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A Total Waste Of Makeup is a great book, I have passed it around many of my friends and we have all loved it. I am actually starting a book club with my friends so if you have any suggestions I love to here them.

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I recommend any of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. If you don't laugh out loud with most of those ... you have no sense of humor. There's a series of 14 books ... they don't have to be read in order but I'd start with One for The Money.

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Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophia Kinsella, all her books are light and humerous.

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I second the Janet Evanovich books--ANY of them.

Also, Jasper Fforde has a Nursery Rhyme series that, once you get used to the "My name's Joe Friday" style are actually really pretty funny.

There's another book series called "The First Wives' Club" and "Switcheroo" (I forget the author) but these are FUNny.

Have fun--where's your book club located?

M.

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My favorite suggestion would be "A Girl Named Zippy." It's a memoir of sorts about the author's childhood experiences in a small Midwest town. It is written in her pre adolescent voice, and is at times quite poignant, but always sweet and funny. I highly recommend it.

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Anything by David Sedaris. His books are the only books that have ever made me laugh out loud.

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Dear S.,

"Operating Instructions" by Anne Lamont. Early in her writing career Lamont had an affair with an older man. She conceived and wanted to keep the baby. The man would not acceept any responsibility. With the help of her friends she keeps the baby.

This book is a chronicle of her experience with the pregnancy, this new human being' development during the first year and her day to day struggle to write to pay to support herself and her baby.

As a mother I could relate to her worries about "proper" mothering , the joy of watching this baby learn what babies do during a first year, her agonies about trying to make ends meet. I found it hilarious, touching and a great read. I have given it as a gift to several mommies after their new baby is about 6 months old.

If your book group passes on it, get it and read it yourself.

Enjoy.
Merylyn (aka Mommie Salami)

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Almost anything from Calvin Trillin -- especially "American Fried: Adventures of a Happy Eater," A"lice, Let’s Eat: Further Adventures of a Happy Eater," and "Third Helpings." You can buy them separately or all together in one book called "The Tummy Trilogy." He's a brilliant satirist w/ an amazing, deadpan sense of humor.

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Dear S.,
How cool you are in a book club! I love reading, but most of my friends are so darn busy they are lucky if they have the time to read the newspaper.
You may think this sounds strange, but if you want to laugh, find anything by Erma Bombeck. I just love her writing style. She passed away quite some time ago, but no matter how many times I read her stuff, I still enjoy it.
I went camping with a bunch of friends and our kids a few years ago and took one of her books with me. I ended up reading it aloud one night by the campfire. Even the kids enjoyed it.
"If Life is a Bowl of Cherries....Then Why am I in the Pits?"
It was written a while ago, maybe even when some of you were very young. If born yet. But the things about her children and her husband, etc. You can still relate.

Have fun!

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How about "Water for Elephants" by S. Gruen? It's not fluff, but overall was an interesting read and light-hearted. I don't want to spoil the plot, but if you haven't read it yet, I'd recommend it.

Right now I'm in the middle of "His Majesty's Dragon" by Naomi Novik and can't put it down. Normally I'm not into science fiction at all, but it's well written and it just sucked me right in.

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Try some of Erma Brombeck's Books

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Hi S.,
Here are a few light and happy summer reads:
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg
Can't Wait to get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
A Girl Named Zippy (can't remember the author...Kimmel?)

Hope you enjoy whatever your pick is! I can't wait to see other suggestions posted.

~Ramona

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon was very good, but a quick read. It is written from the perspective of an autistic boy and the author makes it incredibly believable that the autistic boy actually wrote it! Very entertaining.

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I love Janet Evonovich's books - her Stephanie Plum series and her new series Motor Mouth. They make me laugh out loud and are quick to read.

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Try some Dr. Seuss, such as The Sneetches (underlined). It is definitely not just for children!

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I just finished Eat Pray Love, and really enjoyed it.

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If you have a lot of dog lovers in the group "Marley and Me" is laugh out loud funny.

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I read quite a bit and have really enjoyed all the books written by Jennifer Weiner. She wrote the book that was made into the movie In Her Shoes. I also love Sophia Kinsella as others have mentioned and all titles by Cara Lockwood. Easy and quick, light reading. Enjoy!

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Hi S.,

I have to fourth and fifth the motion of Janet Evonovich's books, Stephanie Plum series. They are light and laugh out loud funny! Props to you for having time to read a book! I have been a mystery book junkie my whole life, however with 2 small children now, I barley get through a couple of pages of some toddler parenting book before I pass out!
The last book I did manage to read was EAT LOVE PRAY. I rarely read anything BUT mysteries and yet I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. It is funny, spiritual, interesting, thought provocing. The author also has a web site with actual pictures of people and the places in the book and most important the real life out come of love, and her life after the journey.
Whatever you all choose, sounds like there are some good ones that Mamas on here have suggested, as they say..lose yourself in a book!

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Hi S.,
Frank B. Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey's book, Cheaper by the Dozen is a real hoot. It's nothing like the modern movie with the same title (other than 12 kids). It's really, really funny and also a nice peek back in history. It's not fiction and I don't know if your book club only reads fiction or not, but it's worth adding to your book list even if you normally only read fiction. The sequel, Belles on Their Toes, is good, too, but I think the first book is the best.

Hi S.,
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner (anything by her is great) is very funny (although- part of it is sad), also I haven't read it yet, but a friend of mine gave me Mommies Who Drink. Just the title is funny! Good luck!
A.

OMGosh! The Little Lady Agency! It is so light and funny, I just loved it! It is by Hester Brown, and she has a follow up, called, Little Lady Big Apple! There are also some books by Sophie Kinsella called the Shopaholic books, those are hillarious!!! Example, the second one is called "Shopaholic takes Manhattan, but will she have to give it back?" LOL I loved them all!

Our book club read "Something Borrowed", I can't remember the author. It is hilarious, and a quick, light read. There is a sequel that everyone went and grabbed immediately. I believe it's called "Something Blue" CUTE!!

Hi,

I can't remember the author, but the title is The Three Miss Margarets. Great novel and will have you in stitches.

I just finished a really good book called Gordath Wood by Patrice Sarath........It's not funny, it's adventerous, with strong women, handsome men, horses and swords.....Can't beat that combination.....It's a fantasy book, but would appeal to all types.....You can find it at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com........Oh, and no, it's not depressing, but it will keep you wanting to come back to see what happens next in the story.........

This one sounds good and funny!

Are you There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea

by Chelsea Handler
Hardcover 272 pages
Simon and Schuster
April 22, 2008

Borders

Chasing Harry Winston. I don't recall the author's name, but she wrote "The Devil Wears Prada". It's not the type of life I would lead, but it's a fun, quick, easy read.

Notes from the Back Seat by Jody Gherman (spelling?)

Or anything else by her