tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post6588651494417760227..comments2024-03-10T04:29:20.044-04:00Comments on Mad Genius Club: As funny as a funeralSarah A. Hoythttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-79205901360725297972009-10-19T21:32:10.981-04:002009-10-19T21:32:10.981-04:00A funny comfort read of mine is Patricia Wrede'...A funny comfort read of mine is Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles. So what if they're children's books, they're delightful and hilarious. If you're looking for something easy and escapest, pick up Dealing with Dragons. Best wishes on your mother's health.<br /><br />"Lady" DawnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-34869160552288157432009-10-19T21:29:00.891-04:002009-10-19T21:29:00.891-04:00Dave,
Hugs. thoughts and prayers are with you.
S...Dave,<br /><br />Hugs. thoughts and prayers are with you.<br /><br />Sorry not to have thoughts on topic. I have the flu. which means thinking not happening.<br /><br />SarahSarah A. Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-32404674363568879942009-10-19T20:40:26.710-04:002009-10-19T20:40:26.710-04:00Hi, Dave. Humour is a funny thing. I always thing ...Hi, Dave. Humour is a funny thing. I always thing of it as a tension release - with the mental tension from a disconnect between two 'states'/logical premises that don't match - but a great physical tension release as well.<br /><br />My heart goes out to you, Dave. After 18 months of visiting Mum in hospital here before she went, I know exactly how tough this can be. I hope your mother revives enough to communicate.Chris McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883058490702361466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-6224952967068322502009-10-19T19:29:59.419-04:002009-10-19T19:29:59.419-04:00Sorry to hear about your mother, Dave.
I think on...Sorry to hear about your mother, Dave.<br /><br />I think one aspect of comedy is that it is rooted in contrasts - conflict, the unexpected, the way turning a corner and coming upon a breathtaking view can make you laugh as well as gasp.<br /><br />A peeve of mine is the way a fairly serious show with occasional hysterical moments will become popular, realise the humour has something to do with it and then try to be that funny all the time - which it can't. It can only be that funny, that bright *because* of the shadows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-87137157641052701932009-10-19T18:33:48.810-04:002009-10-19T18:33:48.810-04:00Most of my choices have already been named and dis...Most of my choices have already been named and discussed -- Pratchett, Freer, Hoyt, Evanovich. Others I laugh at are the early Diane Mott Davidson "Goldy" mysteries and Anne George's mysteries (Murder on a Bad Hair Day, Murder on a Girls Night Out, etc). Evanovich, Davidson and George are light reads, quick reads and the sort I want those days I don't feel good and don't want to tax what few brains cells are occupied. Pratchett and Freer are the ones I study as much as I enjoy because their craft is so far beyond where I am and where I can every hope to be. Hoyt, well, what can I say? I want to be Sarah when I grow up as a writer ;-)Amanda Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02927312739323222344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-31761621675171156652009-10-19T18:24:12.923-04:002009-10-19T18:24:12.923-04:00Pratchett, obviously. He's got a way of lookin...Pratchett, obviously. He's got a way of looking at things sideways and getting to the core of all sorts of things at the same time. <br /><br />There's this fellow called Freer who's pretty good, too, and some writer by the name of Hoyt who doesn't write humor per se, but manages a lot of very funny writing anyway. <br /><br />Tom Holt when he's on form, particularly the earlier books (Expecting Someone Taller), although not nearly as good as that Freer fellow.<br /><br />Roald Dahl has some good ones, in the Victorian Grotesque style (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory etc). <br /><br />Of course, one person's funny is another person's boring - or worse. I can't watch Mr Bean, for instance. It's like fingernails on a blackboard. But I adored Blackadder the Second and Blackadder the Fourth. And if I see in a book or anywhere else that someone is being set up to be made a fool of (as opposed to the normal lack of hap), it's lost me. I want to laugh <i>with</i> the characters, not <i>at</i> them.<br /><br />Dave - humor is a way of taking the edge off the bad. My thoughts are with you and your family. When you're finished with them, could you please send them back? Good ones are so difficult to get these days :)Kate Paulkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034983693134240754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-88297895504673722172009-10-19T15:07:40.560-04:002009-10-19T15:07:40.560-04:00We understand, Dave.
JE has an true dog owners a...We understand, Dave. <br /><br />JE has an true dog owners appreciation of what dogs will eat. If you need a fast funny read, she's highly recommended. Nothing to strain the brain, pure candy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-72187584065812861532009-10-19T14:35:38.066-04:002009-10-19T14:35:38.066-04:00Thanks guys. This is taking 8-12 hours out of my d...Thanks guys. This is taking 8-12 hours out of my day (5 hours drive) so forgive me not answering everyone. It's emotionally draining and I could use a few laughs...<br />St Bernards can eat computer chips... But a labrador would be expected to.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-30556545512690189292009-10-19T12:09:21.798-04:002009-10-19T12:09:21.798-04:00Jim Butcher. Magical battle to the death - against...Jim Butcher. Magical battle to the death - against the Billy Goats Gruff.<br /><br />Janet Evanovich. Tense kidnapping, and the Saint Bernard eats the computer chip they need for the ransom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-30615441044300293302009-10-19T11:27:19.263-04:002009-10-19T11:27:19.263-04:00Dear Dave
Sorry to hear about your mother. My fath...Dear Dave<br />Sorry to hear about your mother. My father went the same way.<br />JohnJohn Lambsheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04598696442104566164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-44425890816105740152009-10-19T11:24:02.485-04:002009-10-19T11:24:02.485-04:00One of the funniest books I've read in a long ...One of the funniest books I've read in a long time was Christopher Moore's A Dirty Job. I haven't picked up another one by him for fear it might not be as good. Weird, huh?<br /><br />I also love Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. It's suspense, but it's funny stuff. The main character is adorable and well intentioned, but manages to screw things up terribly sometimes.<br /><br />I believe that people find funniest what they can relate to. Most of us are well intentioned, but yet we screw things up on a regular basis. While we don't think it's funny, those standing around us may. Funny is a matter of perspective.<br /><br />I personally love dry and sarcastic humor. I don't write humor as well as I'd like, but I sure envy those who do.<br /><br />And, also, Dave, good wishes for you, your Mom and your family.<br /><br />Linda DavisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-39710092449000814702009-10-19T08:48:59.110-04:002009-10-19T08:48:59.110-04:00Oh, if I want to be aboslutely certain of getting ...Oh, if I want to be aboslutely certain of getting a laugh out of a book it will be by Ringo and Taylor, Bujold's Vorkosigan saga, or some guy named Freer. ;)<br /><br />I'm sorry to hear about your mom Dave. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-18888703684346204762009-10-19T08:10:34.208-04:002009-10-19T08:10:34.208-04:00I think that, in its most extreme form, laughter i...I think that, in its most extreme form, laughter is a defense mechanism that gives the body an alternative to running through the streets screaming its lungs raw.<br /><br />Some of the most humorous stuff I've run across have been Sir PTerry, Douglas Adams, Spider Robinson, and these Flint/Freer books about rats and pyramidsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-60984702128738911452009-10-19T06:35:50.145-04:002009-10-19T06:35:50.145-04:00I've been following your posts about your moth...I've been following your posts about your mother, Dave. Just letting you know.<br /><br />Douglas Adams, Pratchett and Tom Sharpe. Yes.<br /><br />Saki, especially his story 'Shredni Vashtar' (spelling?) about a boy and his cruel Aunt. (Saki was raised by a pair of cruel Aunts, who would arrange an outing just so they could punish him by not taking him. Very Victorian.)<br /><br />Fritz Leiber's 'Isek of the Jug', a satire on religion.<br /><br />And I read the original Witches of Karess books and loved them.<br /><br />Humour is a very Tetchy creature.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.com