Pick-a-Shelf discussion

So let's see what you read this month (December). What humor book did you read? Was it truly laugh inducing? Or perhaps you failed to see the humor in what others had tagged as humor. What was the funniest part? Let's hear it.

I started reading "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" by Jean Sheppard. I wouldn't say it is laugh inducing, but it has definitely caused a smile or too. His writing is very clever. I will post a passage when I have the book and computer handy at the same time.

Nice choice for December Jim.

Lynne wrote: "I will post a passage when I have the book and computer handy at the same time."

Please do, Lynne! I wanted to read that at one time but didn't have easy access to a copy. Maybe post something from page 46. :)

Luann, I am really enjoying it. Maybe I could send it to you when I finish.

That so nice of you, Lynne! Before I said yes, I did a quick check on my library's website and now they have a copy! They didn't have one a few years ago when I was wanting to read it. So I put a hold on it and should get it sometime this week. But thanks so much! Without your offer, I wouldn't have thought to look for it.

Ok, so I finished two books today ...

Bad Mother A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace

This book starts out really funny, at least to me being a mom, about all the things we think people are thinking of us and how crazy life really easy. She finds a great way to make us all laugh at ourselves and the crazy things we do as moms. The end is a little less humor and more memoir about the tragedy and triumphs in her life. Quite interesting none the less. 3 1/2 stars

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

What can I say? Sedaris always has a way to make me laugh out loud, no matter where I am. He has a beautiful way of making you realize that we all have crazy families and we should keep laughing about it to stay sane! Wonderful memoir! 4 3/4 stars

I'm glad to hear that Natasha. I have that one on my shelf, too. I love Douglas Adams sense of humor.

Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams
3 stars

It's a bit unfair putting this review right under Natasha's because Dirk Gently is really good and unfortunatly Mostly Harmless isn't.
I love Adams' sense of humour and the crazy unpredicable nature of his books. The first four books of the Guide are some of my all time favourite reads however Mostly Harmless is a weak link.
It might be that the characters spend most of the book separated or that Marvin and Zaphod are completely missing. But there is something that the others books have which this one does not which makes it a bit dissapointing.
I smiled from time to time but it didn't make me laugh.

Under the Duvet Shoes, Reviews, Having the Blues, Builders, Babies, Families and Other Calamities by Marian Keyes 5/5

I have always loved Marian Keyes and I have had this book for ages but as I thought it was just short stories, I never got round to reading it as short stories are not my favourites. However, when I found out that they were about Marian Keyes own life, I became really interested in reading it and I loved it. Marian Keyes has such a brilliant sense of humour and this is a laugh aloud book, it makes it such an easy book to read.

I finished The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 today. It is hilarious, vulgar, and demented. 4 stars!
Can't go wrong with crazy people, zombies, and a fruit bat. I will not give away any spoilers, but if you like anything Christopher Moore, then this book is for you. I couldn't stop laughing and chuckling the whole time. If you know crazy people, then you too will be laughing!

I want a fruit bat for Christmas!

I read Ella Minnow Pea A Novel in Letters and loved it! I gave it 4 stars.

Kim L wrote: "I read Ella Minnow Pea A Novel in Letters and loved it! I gave it 4 stars."

I loved that book too. I thought it was such an inventive premise for a story!

So - what is going to be funny (as in weird) is my review. I read Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella as my first book off of the humor shelf. The weird thing is...the book wasn't funny BUT I'm still giving it 5 stars because it was an excellent story with excellent characters. There may have been a few places where I laughed, but not as many as in The Undomestic Goddess. There were even a few places where I cried. I guess I was expecting it to be more like the TV show "Samantha Who?" which was hilariously funny the first season.
I will say, though that I enjoyed this book the most of all of the Sophie Kinsella books that I have read so far.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - ****

This is lighthearted and just lots of fun - the author said she got the idea from a boy at a school she was visiting, who asked her to write about a moving castle. In addition to the constant moving and rotating, the castle boasts a color-coded doorknob. By turning the knob to a different color before you open the door, you step out in a different location - traveling made easy!

But of course all is not sweetness and light. There's the Wicked Witch of the Waste who puts a spell on Sophie, making her an old woman, and who is responsible for the disappearance of the King's brother and a wizard, among others. And then there's the green slime, which oozes everywhere when Howl is in a foul mood!

Kim L wrote: "I read Ella Minnow Pea A Novel in Letters and loved it! I gave it 4 stars."

This sounds really great and unique. I have added it to TBR.

I have it on mine, too. Someone suggested I might like it if I liked the Thursday Next books.

Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore - *****

I loved this book. Absolutely LOVED it. I wasn't so sure, because I was worried there would be a whole lot of Bible references that would go over my head. Nothing that I didn't already know what included. What a fun look into what might have happened during Christ's "missing" years through the eyes of his childhood best friend, a sarcastic sinner named Biff. This book made it onto my all-time favorites list.

Melissa wrote: "Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore - *****

I loved this book. Absolutely LOVED it. I wasn't so sure, because I was worried there would..."

I loved it too, and I was worried I would find it sacreligiuos. But it wasn't at all. I loved what Christopher Moore says in his Afterword, "If reading a book like this can shake your faith, it probably wasn't very strong to begin with". I think Jesus would have found the book humorous too.

Lynne wrote: "Kim L wrote: "I read Ella Minnow Pea A Novel in Letters and loved it! I gave it 4 stars."

This sounds really great and unique. I have added it to TBR."

Same here!

Lynne wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore - *****

I loved this book. Absolutely LOVED it. I wasn't so sure, because I was wor..."

Lynne and Melissa - I have got to read this book! Lynne, do you have it?

Sorry, I don't. I borrowed it from a friend. THe library probably does though. He is a very popular author.

I'm sure they do, just thought I'd ask you first.

Lyn, I hope you can get it. It was really an enjoyable read. I didn't think I would finish it nearly as quickly as I did! There were times that I really did laugh out loud. And, of the three I've read so far, that was by far my favorite!

I've never read anything by him, but he is supposed to be really funny.

Lamb is my favorite Christopher Moore book! Multiple re-reads just make it better.

Photojim, that's awesome, because I was just thinking to myself, that while I don't normally re-read, I think this is one I might actually want to!

Those of you who read Lamb may find the humor in this. I had a medical procedure done last week that required a Foley be placed for a couple of days. When it came time to remove the Foley, the student nurse assigned to pull the tubing so to speak, told me to take a deep breath in, then let it out. Then a deep breath in, then let it out. I said, "Hey look, a seagull!" just before she pulled the Foley. I may have been the only one who found this amusing. I certainly laughed.

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris 4/5

My favourite of the series so far, really enjoyed the storyline and I'm starting to like Sookie. I'm confused as to why these books are on the humor shelf though because I don't think they are actualy that funny although Eric is pretty funny sometimes. Can't wait to read the next one now.

Pollyanna - it is really interesting sometimes how a book gets shelved by someone, huh??

I finished The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore last night. I will give it 4 stars. I won't post a summary, but I'll put what I liked about it. I was familiar with almost all of the characters, so it made it much easier to get into. Moore has such memorable characters and suck odd storylines. I thought the story dragged in some places, almost too much description in some places. I need to go read Island of the Sequined Love Nun so I can get to know Tucker and Roberto a little better.

I liked Island of the Sequined Love Nun as well. And you certainly will get to know Tucker and Roberto a bit better.

Lyn wrote: "Pollyanna - it is really interesting sometimes how a book gets shelved by someone, huh??"

Yeah I know it was shelved as humor by 15 people. I shelved these books as young adult and supernatural.

Pollyanna wrote: "Lyn wrote: "Pollyanna - it is really interesting sometimes how a book gets shelved by someone, huh??"

Yeah I know it was shelved as humor by 15 people. I shelved these books as young adult and sup..."

I shelved them as 2009 Reads, Read, and Paranormal.
I too don't get the Humor category, but it is what it is.

It took me longer than a week to get through this. Granted, I had some other things going on, but I don't remember the last time I took so long to read something.

At times funny and at times choppy. I liked some of the characters and disliked others. Some of the dialog was believable and some just fodder for groans. I guess that is what happens when you have three authors working on the same storyline.

As the story goes, in 1929, an archeologist dug up a Mesopotamian temple and woke up the seven sleeping priestesses within. He moved the whole thing to Ohio where the priestesses set about waking up the goddess within. Skip ahead a couple of generations and the goddess returns.

The current generation of priestesses includes Abby, Daisy, and Shar as our heroines. Since the dogs all are characters as well, we have Bowser, Bailey, and Wolfie. Finally as heroes we have Christopher, Noah, and Sam respectively. Add another dozen or so characters and dogs and there is really quite the crew involved.

All in all, I liked it. A bit far fetched and choppy, but overall, fairly fun.

It should be noted that I don't have a humor shelf. However, if I did, I'm on the fence as to whether or not I would place this upon said hypothetical shelf.

Jim - Am I missing something, or did you NOT post the name of the book you just read?

Lyn M wrote: "Jim - Am I missing something, or did you NOT post the name of the book you just read? "

I did. I pulled it off of the general Humor shelf. But much as the Sookie Stackhouse discussion above shows, what one person finds as humorous does not necessarily match up with what other people find as humorous.

So I read the book because it was supposed to be a Humor book. I also read it because it qualifies for the Ohio portion of a challenge in another GR group. I am certain that it fit the Ohio portion. I'm just not as certain that I would have shelved it as humor. I guess you just don't know until after you read a book if it really does qualify.

So what book is it??

HA! Sorry, I copied it from my review and totally spaced. Then I didn't understand what was being asked. I'm a bit slow these days. I don't suppose I can blame painkillers?

The name of the book is Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich.

Thanks! Just think, you added more humor to the thread ;-)

Thanks for asking Sara. I was wondering, but I was feeling pretty stupid, so I didn't want to ask again.

Jim - Sorry my question was kind of vague. I've copied from my review before and I have to remember that it doesn't send the title of the book and author.

I think we are now all on the same page (or thread if you want a bad pun)

Lyn, I was thinking exactly the same when you wrote it earlier and I reread the posts multiple times to make sure I wasn't stupid either ;-)

I was with you guys. At first, I thought Jim was talking about Sookie, but his description did not match. Then I just was lost. So glad you guys asked!

Sara - So did I, I read each post and even read the other thread to see if he had listed it there in some way. It's good to know that I am not losing it!!

Sara☺ wrote: "Thanks! Just think, you added more humor to the thread ;-)"

LOL - this humor thread is as fun to read as a humorous book!

Funnier than the book I read, Luann.

Hmmm I've just finished Club Dead too, and had no idea it was on this shelf. Another quick, guilty pleasure read. I like Sookie as a heroine because she isn't dumb and fumbling, (unlike Stephanie Plum) and is quite cynically humerous in her own way.

I'm glad you all got enjoyment from my gaff. *Is properly embarrassed*

I interpreted the question as being, 'why did you read this book if you didn't think it was humor? Did you not name the shelf from which we are reading this month?' Like I said, I blame drugs.

@Sunflower: " I like Sookie as a heroine because she isn't dumb and fumbling, (unlike Stephanie Plum) and is quite cynically humerous in her own way." - I couldn't agree with you more. I talk to my books all the time. I tell Plum, "You are an idiot." and she just bumbles on in her idiotic ways. I start to tell Stackhouse the same thing and she says, "Wow, I'm and idiot. I guess if my pants are on fire, I'll just call this a bun warmer and hope I live through it."

No worries, Jim, I was kind of vague. I should have just asked what the book's name was!

I finished You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister yesterday. Definitely more firmly in the humor category. Sort of like Richelle Meade's Succubus books but lighter (yep I said lighter than that). Aisling Grey is the bumbling American in Paris on her first delivery job for her uncle. Of course she has troubles and finds herself involved in a murder mystery with demonic implications. Demons, dragons, and the rest of the supernatural community turns out to be real and Aisling has powers of her own. Contrived? yep. Believable? nope. Fun? definitely! I'll read the other three in this series in the future that is for sure.

I finished The Stupidest Angel A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore today. I did not enjoy it as much as previous books I've read by Moore. It seemed rushed in places I wish were more detailed, and it dragged in other spots. It certainly wasn't bad; it just wasn't my favorite book by this author.

Moore's usual wit and snark were out in full force, and there were some passages of comedic genius. However, I felt this was definitely a book written specifically for fans. The characters weren't detailed fully enough for the book to serve as an introduction to Moore by any means. Not to say it wasn't funny; it was just a bit brusk and lacking in "fleshing-out".

I'd give the first 2/3 of the book 3 stars and the final 1/3 4 stars if I could. Things really picked up in the later chapters. Since I have to choose, I will give it 3 stars overall, as I found it just really made me long for other books by the author - books where the characters I love best are more fully realized.