Totally MAD : 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity

So I was perusing this slowly when Sparky arrived home from college. He spotted it...and the book disappeared for a week. I never finished it, and it's massively overdue, so I'll have to find it later to finish it. :D

The Old Gray Wolf, by James D. Doss

I've really come to enjoy these books, which are really good stories (mysteries) while also being full of silliness and general amusement at the ridiculousness of people. This is supposedly the "final novel in the series," and that makes me very sad. I'm fairly happy for Sarah, though.... :-)

The Woman Who Died a Lot, by Jasper Fforde

OK, so every time I finish one of these, I say I have to reread all the old ones so I can understand what's going on this time. And it's happened again here. However, at least Thursday saves the world (again) in this one.

Feet of Clay, by Terry Pratchett (on CD)

Clever wordplay and funny names aside, this is a pretty deep book about how to define life, and the acceptance of those who are different from what you expect. Nice. Plus, I found out that even female dwarves have beards which is a nice little factoid to have.

Calling Invisible Women, by Jeanne Ray

Odd Hours, by Dean Koontz (on CD)

OK, this was a very weird book. I haven't read any Koontz before, but I have to say that this character, Odd Thomas, has me hooked. He's funny and smart and can see ghosts. Sort of Melinda Gordon without eyelashes and lingerie and oh, the ghosts don't actually speak.

This one was about a group of lunatics buying atomic bombs and how Odd stops their plot.

Peter and the Starcatcher: The Annotated Script of the Broadway Play, by Rick Elice

Lovely book that includes the script but also lots of notes from those involved in creating the story and show, as well as deleted scenes of interest that give a very interesting view of how the show evolved. I wouldn't mind seeing this (ahem). The only quibble I have is that the commentary in some of the notes got just a little precious at times.

The Second Book of General Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know Is (Still) Wrong, by John Lloyd

Oh, trivia how I love thee! I think I'll see if I can find the first book. I didn't get all the sidebar humor--it's very British. I think I learned stuff, but for the life of me right now I can't think of anything. Ah, the best part of trivia is that it moves into my brain and takes up lodging without any stress on me at all.

Cadillac Beach, by Tim Dorsey (on CD)

Hmm, I'm not sure what to say about this except that once I got the hang of Serge's (ahem) temperament, I found it more enjoyable. A bit hard to follow, especially on CD, because it jumps around from place to place, person to person, and back and forth in time. At the end, I'm not even sure I remember what happened to the stolen gems, but that's because that's not the major part of the story. Except it is. Fun. ALMOST made me want to visit Miami and environs...almost.

Funny as hell, but also irritating as hell, much like Serge himself.

Deader Homes & Gardens, by Joan Hess (on CD)

Good Omens : The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (on CD)

Have wanted to read this book since it came out, but it never quite made it into my lists. So now I have. It would have been better to read it with my eyes: there are a lot of perspective changes that are NOT signaled well by the narrator. Still, a pretty funny-yet-thoughtful book about Armageddon.

Yes, I know, that's unexpected, but look at the authors' names. The plot mostly revolves around a book of predictions from the 17th century that has been passed down through the writer's family after her death--she was burned at the stake as a witch. Also involved are an angel and a demon who are quite amusing, a Witch-Finder Army (of one two) and an 11-year-old in the center of things who is the son of Satan.

It's amusing. Made me want to read more Pratchett.

The History of the World According to Facebook, by Wylie Overstreet

Heh, pretty well done, if superficial and silly.

Cain, by José Saramago

Weird. Good. Needs to be read slowly and carefully.

The Darwin Awards Countdown to Extinction, by Wendy Northcutt

People are completely stupid sometimes. The joy of this book is that it is equal opportunity about Teh Stoopud--the author tells a nearly-award-winning story on herself.

A Dead Man's Tale, by James D. Doss

One of the things I have become more aware of in this series is the use of humor and sarcasm. Generally, the further one is from the "action" in the book, the more loosey-goosey and relaxed--and even downright silly--is the writing. There is some choice goofiness going on in the description of Samuel Reed, the Dead Man of the title, whose Charlie and Scott are hired to prevent. They do, only to find they've been snookered by a pro. Fun(ny) book. Aunt Daisy is particularly devilish in it.

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise, by Julia Stuart

Last Words, by George Carlin with Tony Hendra

Very good, very sad that he's gone. Glad he worked on this so hard before he died.

Hell is Other Parents, by Deborah Copaken Kogan

AWESOME funny!!!!

Curiosities of Literature, by John Sutherland

Fun. Lots of random literary trivia.

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, by Sally Koslow

Chick lit meets The Lovely Bones. Funny, silly, lightweight with enough 'nutritional value' to keep me reading.