I watched "The Adventures of Mark Twain" on TCM this morning and it got me to thinking about any number of things. How popular writers aren't appreciated by the literary folks, how publishing hasn't changed much in all these years, and how writers are always trying to reach for what they feel is unattainable because they don't feel like they're good enough.
But what really struck me was the lack of humor in today's writing. Oh yes, there's humor, but it's mostly black humor, not the kind that has its roots in the everyday process of living. We tend to look at the dark side when we're writing instead of the silly situations that we all fall into going through our day.
I miss books like Booth Tarkington's Penrod series, Ralph Moody's "Little Britches" and the best of the best, Will Rogers. These were the writers I grew up reading and I miss this kind of humorous book, the kind that takes the little things in life and makes us laugh and cry. They take us to the core of humanity and dare us to look ourselves in the face. The same way Mark Twain did in "Huckleberry Finn" and "Tom Sawyer".
What about you? Do you miss books that are just good, clean fun to read, the books that find the humor in everyday life, or do you think they're not relevant in today's world? Are we trying so hard to show the "realities" that we're missing all the good things in life?
The floor's open. What do you think? Have you found any humorous books or short stories out there on the shelves? If you have, please share. Tell us what you think about writing humor or just reading it. What do you find funny?
10 comments:
I recently read The Financial Lives of poets by Jess walter and it was one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. Its also very much rooted in the current economic issues so its a very modern book.
The opening chapter is laugh out loud funny.
I still love Wodehouse. Doubt that will change. It's as far from my life as I can imagine and all the better for it!
Joe Keenean's Blue Heaven, Runyon.
For laughs in a world which is very much like mine- or like mine was - Charlie Williams!
I think Dave Barry's hilarious. I realize that not everybody does. John Green's YA novels are very funny.
Carl Hiaasen and Donald Westlake,though I'd generally say they're both more humorous than laugh-out-loud funny.
I miss a writer like Jean Shepherd, who could make childhood the crazy, warm, mystifying, frightening experience it was.
Charles Willeford's Hoke Mosley series was hysterical.
It would be hard for me to find the current economic crisis funny so I'll have to see what Walter does with it.
David Lodge's academic novels are funny--but maybe you have to live the life. But these are all old books.
Thanks, Brian and Paul! Lots of titles to check out.
Bill, I love Barry's columns, are his books just as funny? Most of the old books I remember as being funny were in my jr. high school library. I wonder if humor for children is more accepted than for adults.
Loved Hiaasen until he started getting preachy about Florida's environmental problems, Michael, and I'm just starting to dip into Westlake.
Just started Miami Blues by Willeford, Patti. And you're right about people finding the situations they're more familiar with as being more humorous. Its rather like being part of an inside joke.
Sandra-the next two in the series are much funnier. Wait till you see.
There is one Hoke Mosely book that i laughed so hard i was crying tears. I forget which title. Patti will probably remember --- it's the scene with Hoke and the german shepherd. You will laugh out loud. Then you'll want to find someone and read that scene to them. It's that funny.
Regarding contemporary humor - hard for me to come up with any. Going back in time aways, the A.A. Fair Lam and Cool books are chock full of dialogue that is funny as all get out. I love those books. I use them as a sorbet in between batches of either "serious" books or crime novels.
I like dark humor, yes, but Penrod will always hold a place of honor in my heart. Glad to know that others remember him with fondness, too.
I've heard of the A.A. Fair Lam and Cool books, Frank, but I've never run across any of them but I'll keep looking. Thanks for the reminder!
I like dark humor, too, Naomi, but sometimes I just need something light and frothy.
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