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Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by SubGenius on Thursday August 17, 2023 @12:09AM (#37157091)
I read through most of PG Wodehouse this year.

'Ukridge' is perhaps the funniest collection of stories ever written, it's magic. I love all the books set in Blandings. While the Jeeves books were not my favorite when I was younger, I really really enjoy them now.

Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by wenc on Thursday August 17, 2023 @12:26AM (#37157209)
I've always been a fan the Jeeves series -- Blandings not so much.

I also like the Psmith books. I need to try Ukridge.

Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by SubGenius on Thursday August 17, 2023 @01:41AM (#37157681)
I've only read the first Psmith book set in Blandings - Leave it to Psmith. It's absolutely hilarious.

If you like Ukridge, then you could also read 'Love Amount the Chickens', which features the Ukridge character.

Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by harry8 on Thursday August 17, 2023 @06:04AM (#37159469)
The other Psmith books are a growing up progression to that one. Psmith was his adopted daughter's fav so he stopped while young and beautiful like she did. Mike and Psmith is a proper YA school story which was where Wodehouse started. Psmith in the city something of a sequel. Psmith Journalists the nearest Wodehouse ever got to literature with a social point to make, definitely worth the read. Leave it to Psmith is, imho his masterpiece and the best written novel I've read. Sadly the last we hear of Psmith.

All should be out of copyright by now.

Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by esperent on Thursday August 17, 2023 @01:14AM (#37157524)
Wodehouse is amazing. Tied with Pratchett for the best humorist writer in my opinion.

I've searched a lot to find more humorist writers but it's a very limited genre. Most comedy writing is too cynical for me. By contrast Wodehouse and Pratchett manage to be funny while also being uplifting.

Does anyone have any recommendations for not-too-cynical humorist authors beside these two?

Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by SubGenius on Thursday August 17, 2023 @01:35AM (#37157645)
Have you read 'Three Men in a Boat' by Jerome K Jerome? It's a classic. I love how fresh and contemporary it still is. Perpetually re-readable as well. There is a follow-up book that's great too.
Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by __rito__ on Thursday August 17, 2023 @06:25AM (#37159585)
This book made me laugh the most- among older English books.

I can vouch for it that it will make you laugh really hard.

Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by esperent on Thursday August 17, 2023 @06:44AM (#37159707)
I have, many many years ago. Thanks for the suggestion, I'm sure it's time for a reread.
Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by jemmyw on Thursday August 17, 2023 @02:15AM (#37157878)
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. Not as good as Wodehouse or Pratchett but I found the series amusing and not cynical.
Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by KaiserPro on Thursday August 17, 2023 @04:22AM (#37158701)
Death and Croissants, Ian Moore: gentle humorous crime thriller. Follows a divorced slightly unsuccessful middle aged man who has emigrated from Britain to france and runs a B&B. he bumps into a glamorous but mysterious woman who he struggles to keep up with. best listened to by the author.

gentle, fun and not cynical. Some of the characters are, but the series is not cynical, its slightly naive in it's own way.

Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by metadigm on Thursday August 17, 2023 @07:24AM (#37159968)
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole is one of my all-time favorites.
Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by thorin on Thursday August 17, 2023 @07:55AM (#37160238)
Douglas Adams is pretty similar to Pratchett, humour wise.
Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by graboid on Thursday August 17, 2023 @03:23AM (#37158324)
Always have been interested to read something of that author. Would you say that these books are accessible for a non-native English speaker? I often read in English, but I fear I might struggle to catch subtle word-plays and the like...
Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by KaiserPro on Thursday August 17, 2023 @04:02AM (#37158579)
> catch subtle word-plays

In jeeves and wooster, there isn't much word play. It is somewhat antiquated english though, and wooster likes shortening words (the metrop, instead of metropolis/london, "thos" instead of thomas (almost pronounced "foss" but with a th sound))

Its not hard like oscar wilde, but its not overly easy. You _might_ want to try watching the Fry and Laurie version first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkLulnrecAQ

Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by graboid on Thursday August 17, 2023 @04:17AM (#37158658)
Thanks! I guess I am okay with antiquated English. I've put it on my list!
Re:Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? by mbg721 on Thursday August 17, 2023 @10:52AM (#37162607)
Life can be delish, with a sunny disposish!