Books to make you smile

By Molly Humphrie

What better time of year to treat yourself to a funny book?

I have a tendency to devour mystery books full of excruciating forensic detail that can give me actual nightmares. Sometimes I have to step back and remind myself there are funny books out there that are the best relief from the hectic pace of the holiday season. Here are a few suggestions to give you the gift of a laugh and a smile to make the season bright.

"Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog" by John Grogan. The title says it all: Marley, an enormous yellow Labrador, flunks out of obedience school, is pathologically and destructively afraid of thunderstorms, eats couches and gold necklaces, yet is loved and cherished by his family. I laughed aloud as I read Grogan's recollection of the time Marley is tied to an outdoor restaurant table and spots a miniature poodle that he must greet and sniff. Grogan finds himself chasing a moving table down the sidewalk, scattering customers and chairs in pursuit of his overly affectionate dog.

"The Dog Says How" by Kevin Kling. Kling is a storyteller extraordinaire whom I first discovered on the radio. His book is a collection of autobiographical vignettes that recall his Minnesota childhood, his life in a traveling circus (really!) and his recovery from a near-fatal motorcycle accident. The recollections are funny, poignant and inspiring. His childhood memories are universal: waiting for the radio to announce your school in the list of snow closures, swinging at a pitch in baseball even though his coach wants him to get a guaranteed walk, the disappointment of receiving substandard items that seemed really cool when they were advertised in the back of comic books.

"Holidays on Ice: Stories" and "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" by David Sedaris. Sedaris has the gift of looking at his own life, childhood and family with a detached yet intimate humor. He acknowledges that his very untypical family had love, laughter and lots of embarrassing moments. I love the story in which his mother cannot take one more snow day being home with all his sisters and she locks them out of the house when they go outside to play in the snow. His "SantaLand Diaries" story is a hilarious description of his job as a Macy's elf working the line of those tired children and parents waiting to see a grouchy Santa. These books are also wonderful as audio books that are enriched by the performance of Sedaris reading his own work with great enthusiasm and delight.

"Shopgirl" by Steve Martin. This is the same Steve Martin of "Saturday Night Live" and comedy movie fame. He is also a prolific and talented writer. He has written many short stories and a few novels. This book is a modern and sentimental novella that won my heart. The lead character Mirabella is an artistic, melancholy yet funny woman in her 20s who is trying to find her own way. Martin's description of the Los Angeles dating scene is subtly sarcastic and extremely funny. Although the love story may not culminate in a traditional happy ending, the reading of this book still leaves you sighing in contentment.

"Skinny Dip" by Carl Hiaasen. A husband's scheme to murder his wife by pushing her overboard off a cruise ship goes crazily awry when she survives with sheer determination and plots sweet revenge. Hiaasen is scathingly funny when describing the development and destruction of South Florida's natural habitats. His characters seem to rise from the swamp of the Everglades and hopefully will be returned there by the heroes of the book.

You can find still more funny books and audio books by searching the Library Catalog. There are listings under the subjects of "American Wit and Humor," "Humorous Stories," and "Humorous Fiction," to name a few. Check with your local librarian for other suggestions.

Enjoy!

Molly Humphrie is a librarian at the West Seattle and Delridge branches.