Humor Books

I had not heard of James Thurber (I'm not from Northern America :)) until one of my friends on a study abroad program brought this book to our apartment and we started reading it out loud to each other. I loved it so much that I've read it three times already. Thurber's playing with the language is so amazing, cute and fascinating that it makes you speak "his way" after you read the book. :) And all his ideas are wonderful! This all makes the book one of a kind, really.

read it, lest you end up being slit from your guzzle to your zatch! a book for all ages, and any age. Fairy stories with a twist of Thurber.

I really do like this book. I like fairy tales, especially the kind like Ella Enchanted and Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. In the pictures the wicked duke looks so hilarilously silly! The prince is handsome and the princess pretty, of course! The Golux's hat is indeed indescribable and the woman Hagga cries jewels instead of tears. He! He! He!

The Thirteen Clocks, by James Thurber, is a perfect book. The only way it could be better would be by being longer. The story is classic in its simplicity, so elemental that anyone can easily find a way inside. The big setting - a castle - the big players - a Prince, Princess, and wicked Duke (very wicked) - the big themes - courage, redemption, selfless sacrifice, and just a whiff of magic. Best of all, the big problem - time is frozen. Our enterprising Prince must do the impossible to win the hand of Princess Saralinda. This is road-tested material but Thurber breathes new life into it, making it fresh and irresistible. The musicality of his language is delightful, there is so much joy and play in the words, they giggle and dance like water gliding over stones in a stream. His rogue's gallery of secondary characters is just too good; each is slightly more improbable and splendidly cracked than the last. Most of all, this story ends exactly as it should, the resolution is not forced, it's simply correct. The Thirteen Clocks is a slice of heaven that can be enjoyed by anyone able to read. Thurber, it turns out, really was as good as he claimed. This lasting jewel proves it.

Watch out for the Todal

James Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks is a delightful tale for people of all ages. I was first introduced to this seemingly conventional story at age five when my father read it to me as a pleasant bedtime story. It was not until I could read for myself that I began to notice what sets this story apart from so many other children's stories--its characters and great dialogue. Even re-reading it now, as a college student, I immensely enjoy its refreshing humor. Thurber uses a simple storyline, poetic devices, and clever characterization to make The Thirteen Clocks enjoyable to any and all ears.

The Thirteen Clocks is enjoyable for kids of all ages (meaning grown-ups as well) because it follows the basic and familiar "prince saves princess" storyline. Prince Zorn of Zorna must win the hand of Princess Saralinda by bringing back a thousand jewels to her uncle in "six and sixty days" (32). Though it seems that six and sixty days are not ample time for him to complete such a task, Zorn of Zorna miraculously succeeds. This follows the plot of most classic fairy tales I can think of (excluding Rumplestiltzkin and Beauty & the Beast). There are so many prince-princess stories because every child (and deep down, every adult, too) wants to be a prince or princess. There is something appealing to human nature about glory, fame, wealth, beauty, and general happiness, all of which are presented as direct benefits of being royalty. Also, everyone loves a happy ending where justice is served--the good guys win and the bad guys suffer. The Thirteen Clocks does indeed include a happy ending of this nature. Not only is the story simple enough, but it is also relatively short (my copy is seventy pages with fairly large text) and includes pictures. Bedtime stories are, by nature, short stories. When parents concede to read just "one more bedtime story," they do not want it to take all night. Furthermore, it is simply easier to understand a story when you sit down and read the entire thing at once. Children admittedly have short attention spans. The rest of us adults do too, but we pretend to have a more mature mind, especially when it comes to paying attention. The Thirteen Clocks appeals to everyone, young and old because it is a familiar and somewhat simple tale.

All audiences can also appreciate The Thirteen Clocks for its musical language as seen by the poetic devices of rhyme and rhythm. In the beginning of the story, Prince Zorn of Zorna disguises himself as a minstrel and sings of various things whose mention are forbidden by the evil Duke. A villager tells the Prince that one of the Duke's spies will "die because to name your sins, he'll have to mention mittens. I leave at once for other lands, since I have mentioned mittens...You'll never live to wed his niece. You'll only die to feed his geese" (17). The rhyme combined with the absolute hilarity of this statement amuses the reader and is rhythmically pleasing. Smaller children may not catch or understand the substance of this passage completely, but they will enjoy hearing the rhyme scheme (AAABB) and rhythm pattern (8-7, 8-7). Literary enthusiasts will take note and admire the patterns evident in Thurber's writing. Another great example of Thurber's amusing and rhyming style is, "'It's odd,' the Golux muttered to himself. 'I could have sworn that she had died. This is the only time my stomach ever lied'" (54). Here again, Thurber amuses his audience by using this constant pattern of rhyme and rhythm. Humans love to find patterns--it brings sense and order to the sometimes chaotic world we live in. By creating this literary and somewhat musical pattern, Thurber's tale appeals to both the young and old.

The Thirteen Clocks is appealing because its characters, the likes of which have never been seen before in literature, add excitement and flavor to this familiar story. There are three truly out-of-the ordinary characters--the Golux, who is "always on hand when people are in peril" (18), Hagga, the weeper of jewels; and the unpleasant Todal. Of these, the Todal is the most outrageous character. The Todal is "made of lip," "looks like a blob of gulp," and "smells of old, unopened rooms" (36, 29). This creature is "waiting for the Duke to fail in some endeavour such as setting you a task that you can do" and is "an agent of the devil, sent to punish evil-doers for having done less evil than they should" (29, 30). There is no monster as quirky, interesting, and terrifying as the Todal in real life or in a book. By presenting his readers with such bizarre characters, Thurber appeals to their sense of humor, as well as to their sense of terror. The creativity and flair for language possessed by Thurber are most obvious in the descriptions of his characters. This sets his tale apart from others with similar, but seemingly less lively stories. More than anything else, The Thirteen Clocks is enjoyable because of its uniqueness in characterization.

This truly wonderful and shockingly good fairy tale is full of enough excitement and goodness to be appropriate for a bedtime story. Yet Thurber's true talent lies in his creative and imaginative abilities which allow for readers and listeners alike to enjoy this book. It is set apart from other fairy tales by its clever use of words and unparalleled characters. Buy this book (though I would suggest the hardcover edition with colored illustrations) or run to your local library before the Todal gulps you!

My wife has always been a fan of Peanuts, and I found these to be perfect. She's so happy each time she opens a new one.

I received this set as a gift for someone else & ended up keeping it myself because I didn't want to part with it! Really nice little set of books, it's so much easier to have everything neatly compiled like this. I'm looking forward to getting the rest of the set.

When I first heard that "The Complete Peanuts" was going to be published, I could not wait for the first one. The wait was very rewarding; not only could I read the comics and see the characters as they grew in the strip, but I could also see the flow of the strip with the Sunday comics in the proper order. Schulz would often continue a story line in the Sunday comics, which many strip writers do not. As a child I had over 150 of the small paperbacks, watched all the specials, and loved the lessons in the story lines. As an adult, I watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" with my family every year and still read the comics to start my day off right. If you have a love for Peanuts and want to rediscover the characters, buy a few sets or the whole series and connect with them again.

I am so glad I purchased these books. I love Peanuts and it is wonderful to have a collection in chronological order. I have really enjoyed seeing the early stages of Peanuts as they were evolving into the familiar characters. As my finances are slim, I cannot get all the books at once, but I will be getting the subsequent years as soon as I can afford them. The packaging of the books is also very attractive and of good quality. They will last for many years and many readings.

Who doesn't like "Peanuts"? Well Charles Schultz hated the name "Peanuts" but that's another story altogether. Collected here are the entire daily strips and Sunday strips for the first four years of the comic. Most of them have been complied over the decades but more than most are seeing the light of day for the first time since they originally ran. Here we saw the genesis of Charlie Brown and Snoopy and the introduction of Lucy Van Pelt and Schroeder as infants. Things were very embryonic at this stage and Schultz was still finding his footing with his characters behaviors and future neuroses but still manages to make you laugh.

If you a fan and your looking to start a collection here is your chance. Enjoy.

A very enjoyable read and inspirational. I went out purchased a sketch pad and started drawing after finishing the book!

This is a great book! I read it in an hour and a half. I enjoy knowing the process people take in order to deal with life's occasional hiccups that knock the world out from under you. It helps to know that you're not the only one sometimes. It's always a relief when the person works it out positively and thinks enough to want to share it with others. Thank you, Danny!

love it, love it, love it !!!!
a wonderful inspiring little book.
perfect smaller size (6"x8") to carry along with your sketchbook to keep you encouraged in your drawing.

I suppose I had some misperceptions of this book. I was assuming there would be more inspiration that would cajole me into journaling and artwork. I also thought is was he who was disabled - it was his wife. There was little mention of how his wife's diability figured into the whole pictue of his life. As a disabled person, I thought there would be some insight into overcoming disability to do what you want. I do however, love the way he draws and journals. In the end I saw this as a simple journal that anyone might have done. I still have his other book and I have higher hopes for that.

i loved it! i recived the book for valentines day and finished in a day...its very intresting to examine dannys drawing and learn about his life in nyc..

I will be one of the few dissenting opinions here. While the author certainly lets us into his life with honestly and humor, the fact that nearly of his pets treat him and his wife with what appears to be contempt makes this entire book seem like 3 hours of looking at a car wreck. And while a normal, well-adjusted life wouldnt make an interesting book, I lost sympathy for the author and his wife when some of their pets deaths were due to lack of proper maintenance of their housing. In addition they seem to have some sort of weird co-dependency with the most abusive animals such as the older parrots, enduring much pain for little return and yet insisting on always replacing them so the level of abuse stays the same, while treating the few animals that actually return love on a regular basis as somehow less important.

If you want to spend three or more hours looking at car wreck then buy this book.

I'm not normally a nonfiction reader, but Bob Tarte's Fowl Weather is a great book to break away from the fiction habit. This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will restore your faith in the human race to know there are people out there (besides yourself) that truly care about, and nourish, God's creatures. Bob Tarte and his wife, Linda, go above and beyond in their nurturing of wild, and not so wild, animals. Bob relates his adventures with them in a funny, honest and totally involving manner. From Moobie, the white, picky cat, (who I loved) to Stanley Sue, the endearing parrot, to Bertie, the bunny, Bob writes about all of his pets with intelligence, humor and obvious affection. - Lisa, the Librarian

I thought Enslaved by Ducks was wonderful. I didn't see how a sequel could match it. But Tarte has come through with something just as funny if not more so. I could barely go to sleep at night worrying about how he was going to resolve his next dilemma. What else could go wrong? Apparently, anything and everything. Tarte's writing is exceptional. I truly think he could find a discarded potato chip bag on the side of the road and create a page-turning story out of it. NPR recently reviewed this book in their "Under the Radar" feature on their website.

Whether Bob was out standing in his field, in the barn, out by the river or in the house he gave me hysterical laughter every time I opened this book. A true tale of an animal loving guy, woven within a true story about real life. It truly inspires! Highly recommended (as well as Enslaved by Ducks)

I finished reading this book several days ago, but I had to recover somewhat from the death of not only one of Bob Tarte's favorite pets, but a favorite of his readers as well, in order to review it.

The final scene of the book, when a "real" goodby is said to this wonderful being, rather than a call from a vet, is one of the most moving I have read in literature. I dare you not to cry when you read it.

Of course this book is more serious than Enslaved by Ducks because difficulties arise, as they do from time to time in life, in bundles. But still there are so many moments when one is roused to hilarious laughter that they are countless.

As a Southern Californian, I found life in rural Michigan to be fascinating. I guess I never thought about Michigan, never having been there, as being more than a state with a lake, enormous auto manufacturing plants, and Detroit where social problems come to light from time to time in newspaper headlines. Interesting too to know what a Michigan winter is like. In short, I feel almost as if I have travelled there.

But above all there is the wonderful and glorious parade of natural life spread out like a banquet for the reader to admire, revere and become acquainted with. Not only do they live with a highly skilled writer, they live with two people who love them unquestionably a great deal.

It's been a wonderful journey reading these two books. Unforgettable, really!

I am a homeschool mother. Homeschooling was recommended to me for my 8 year old by an educational consortium of public school administrators, psychologists, and independent Dr.'s in the fields of child development, biology, and classic studies. This book, "Goodnight Opus", is hands down, my favorite children's book. I have bought countless copies for friends and aquaintances. I have read it to grown men who keep my yard, neighbor ladies, and numbers of children in the kid sections of 4 local libraries. While it would be silly to correlate this book to my child's level, know my child - now 15 - is working on her 2nd college degree. My original copy is displayed in my library on it's own library stand. 1993 should be ignored completely - the book is timeless. Berkeley Breathed should be one of my closest friends!!

Both charming and mesmerizing, Berkeley Breathed has created an endearing bedtime story for his greatest creation, Opus. Even at 30+ years old, I can still sit down on any given night, and take 10 minutes out of my evening to be swept away to to the marvelous Milky Way and remind myself that sometimes, it is perfectly normal and quite a bit of fun to depart from the text, even if just for awhile.

love the pictures in this!! its got so many little details- you notice something new every time. and its crazy imagination that today's children's books are seriously lacking. my favorite part is with abe lincoln- "he said he himself had chased a few dreams. now that he's marble- he wished for small things. "and what," i said "would you most like to do?" "a swan dive" he said- so we stripped and did two...

Wonderful story, fantastic art. A childrens book from my favorite cartoonist in the whole world, and my two year old son won't go to bed without a reading. This book is an instant classic.

Berkeley Breathed is one of the best autor's one could come by. She has great enthusiasm and vision; it's like you're inside the story. "Goodnight Opus" has a great array of language for readers of all ages and abilities.

This book is a must read for Boomers that lived in and through the '60s, and should be required reading for their children! Everything you'd want to know about a Boomer, from how he dresses, to how he talks and makes decisions is in this little known book.

Anyone aspiring to rule the world should be forced to read this book at the end of a "pointed stick".

It's also one the funniest books I have ever read. The first part of the book exploring world history through the lens that each great culture has had the absurd notion that they were (are) "the most chosen nation" is priceless.

I first read this book in the mid '90s. It's still funny and important. It's required reading for my teenage children.

SG

The amount of work that went into this brilliant piece boggles my mind. Long, drawn out, stunningly comedic, the passages are cleverly cross-referenced to other verses, something akin to a thousand page inside joke. I have read exactly one book that I consider funnier than this one, that being Christopher Moore's "Lamb: The Gospel of Biff, Christ's childhood friend".

The Boomer Bible begins with bad history: the kind of history that Boomers learned, but didn't pay attention to. It goes further into the invention of the Boomer culture: do what you want to, blame everyone else for what goes wrong. Finally, it ends with an invitation to surpass this most pathetic generation, knowing that while most of what they do is a mistake and misguided, they'll only blame someone else for it.

Read for enlightenment.

Laird has something to say about the human condition - and he says it with a striking amount of style and humor. Copying the format of an actual bible (books divided into chapters and verses, complete with cross-references) the Boomer Bible gives an irreverent and scorching account of every nation's history. The prose favors brevity and hilarity. Very quickly the reader gains the impression that we humans have botched it. From the very beginning we've been nothing but bad news, killing each other with pointed sticks and spending all our time inventing new ways of murdering one another. It's been the same all through the centuries; we're bad, bad, and worse. There's no reason to expect the future will be different, there's no point in changing, so why try? Or so says Harry, the Christ-like effigy that pops up in the "New Testament" portion. The Boomer Bible was poignant, touching, and so funny there were times I had to stop reading just to appreciate it. Praise is cheap, but this truly was an amazing book.

Why only 4 stars? The books meant to parallel the prophets of the Old Testament were just plain dry, and I suspect the author might have intended them to be skipped. I slogged my way through much of them hoping for something, but surrounded by the humor and significance of the rest of the book, they were a barren desert. I ended up skipping very many pages, though I hated doing so for fear of missing something.

I unconditionally recommend this book.

there are some books that just are a great comfort. this is one of those books. thank god charlie left!

Saw myself in the first two to three years after my husband suddenly died. (Ernie's my pooch.) Made me appreciate the pain that divorce causes - grief is grief.

I loved this book! I appreciate the author's witty writing style and explanations. I think every woman could relate to this book whether they are a knitter or not.

I loved this book! I bought it (and a copy for a friend) after coming across her blog one day. I am happily married, enjoy my wine now and then and, like Laurie, am usually wearing black pants covered from the knees down in hair from my mostly-white cats.

I like that this book is not just a rehash of her blog, and I like having all of her knitting "recipes" together in one place.

Laurie's writing can move you to laughter and tears, sometimes in the same sentence. Her words apply no matter what life situation you're dealing with, and her story is an inspiration to anyone who contemplates making a life change or has one thrust on her. Like knitting, if it's not working you can rip it out and do it over and even though it doesn't always turn out as you think it will, it's almost always better than it was! Read this book and give it to friends - it will resonate with all of them!

I recommended the authors knitting blog to a friend of mine. My friend surprised me by buying the book and having it sent to me. It was a great weekend read. I think anyone who's gone thru a breakup can relate to this book and have a great laugh too.

I am an avid cyclist and have ridden across the US. Many chapters were excellent and the book is full of quotable quotes. The book is a little uneven in the level of interest it generates from one chapter to the next and I could have done with less of the Metal Cowboy's political views. Overall, I would recommend it to friends and family.

This book is about cycling, raising kids, and finding out after you're an adult that there is more growing up to do--things I've done recently.
I laughed harder and cried harder. I wanted badly to hop on my bike and ride off into the night--but I couldn't put the book down long enough to get on my bike.
Most importantly, after reading this, you will learn the answer to the question: What bike would Jesus ride?

If you are not familiar with the Metal Cowboy, I encourage you to read this book. If you're tired of all the negativity the daily news lays in your lap, then read "Momentum..." to reinforce your belief in the goodness of most people and the joy they can bring into your life.

The Metal Cowboy and his posse of two (his very young sons) ride their bicycles across the country seeing important national sites such as the world's largest ball of twine; and, more importantly, meeting and introducing you to real characters who will make you smile at the things they do and say, and who will renew your faith in America and her people. Two people I met in the book, Stacy and Benny, helped me close a tragic chapter in my life with a smile instead of a tear. And two others, Joe's young sons, renewed my faith in the future of our country.

I recommend you visit the Metal Cowboy on the Internet. He's every bit as fascinating as the real people he introduces you to in his books. And if you're looking for adventure, travel, interesting characters (who are real people), and good writing read this book.

This is easily one of the best books I have read in years. As the father of two young boys, I am amazed that Joe even entertained the idea of riding cross country with his sons, much less actually doing it.

One of the few books that have actually made me laugh out loud. Momentum is Your Friend is typically catagorized under the "Sports" section but would be just as comfortable resting in the "Humor", "Travel", "Self-help", or "Parenting" sections. If you are a parent, cyclist, adventurer, or just somebody looking for some great writing, you will love this book!!!!!

Young father pedals across America with his two sons. It sounds grueling. It was, but the way Joe writes, we get to experience both the exhaustion and the pleasures of the ride. With his 250 pounds of "dead weight" in back, he goes up and over mountains, and battles winds and storms, and manages to keep his sense of humor.

His parenting from the front of the caravan (Joe pedaling in front, kid sort of pedaling behind him, kid riding in trailer) makes me wish I'd read this much earlier in my life.

He's a great writer with a fascinating topic.

"Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide" is a must-have book for all the wall-crawler's fan! It has information about lots of characters and a fantastic spidey's time-line! The illustrations are as good as well, and you can even find information on alternative Spider-Man series, like Spider-Girl, and Spidey 2099. Although the book is very nicely done i still missed more detailed profiles, anyway you will sure not regret for buying this one!

I never read a Spider-man comic book, but I wanted to know all about Spidey, his allies, and his enemies. This ended my search!

We bought this book for our five year old who loves Spiderman, but our whole family has enjoyed learning more about the villains and other characters in Spidey's world. It is fun to learn the origin of characters we are familiar with and some we had never heard of before. There are lots and lots of illustrations to keep the kids' attention, and the stories and bios are interesting enough for adults as well. The binding has fallen apart on our book- which may have survived better under normal wear and tear- but that is mostly because my son takes it to bed with him since he loves this book so much. Overall, a great book for kids and adults too.

Tom De Falco's comprehensive SPIDER-MAN guide is one of my favourite spidey books, covering everything from the comic's origins in the 60s to the recent movies. With some great insight into the characters in the world of comics and good layout, this guide tells you all you need to know about Peter Parker, Mary Jane and assotment of villians (Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Venom et all). DeFalco's extensive research has paid off, making this an essential addition to the already bookshelf-breaking collection of comic book guides. This is a must-have book for any SPIDER-MAN enthusiast.

I have been a rabid Spider-Man fan, reader, and collector for the past 13 years. In that time, I've seen some of the best (1980's to 1993) and worst (Clone Saga) this hero has to offer. IN addition, I have collected every issue ever published. So, I'm very knowledgable about SPider-Man and his world. Still, this book is a delight to read. I didn't learn anything new, but it is well written, spectacularly illustrated with original comic art from some of Spidey's most legendary artists (Ditko, Romita Sr., Romita Jr., Frenz, Andru, Sal Buscema, Gil Kane, McFarlane, Bagley, Larsen). New fans will learn a lot from this book, but no matter how long you've been a fan of Spidey, this book is a treasure trove for you!!

I bought this book for my father who is a WWII vet. He sat and laughed and laughed. He loved it. He even brought it with him to his WWII army reunion for the guys to read. I would highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed the experience of reading and viewing "Up Front". My parents had the book in our home and I remember having the same experience in the early 50's. I truely enjoyed the art work of Bill Mauldin. It was around that time that I became interested in World War II history and drawing and I think I was influenced in both areas by this book. Over the years and as a result of several moves the book disappeared. I was recently reminded of it's existence by a recent issue of World War II Magazine which had a article about Bill Mauldin, "Up Front" and showed several of the cartoons. I immediately purchased it on amazon.com. It bought back so many memories. The hard cover was the same as the book in our home so many years before. If you are a WWII buff you will definately enjoy Mauldin's insight into the lives of the infantry soldier in the front lines. It's a great book.

I received my item as described and delivered as scheduled.
I am very satisfied with my transaction.

The copy of this Book, that I grew up with was my Father's 1945 Paperback Edition. As a Kid, I was drawn in to these amazing Cartoons by Bill. When I was about 13, I read the Text to this Great Book, and was Blown Away by it! In my view, Bill Mauldin has written the Most Honest Account of World War II that you are gonna find. From a Dogface's Point-Of-View, this Book is a History Lesson for all of us.

War is indeed a Tragic Thing, and it is still Real in 2008. But to be Honest about it AND to be able still Laugh, This is what makes: "Up Front", such a special Book for me. It reminds me of my Pop, who served in Patton's Third Armored from 1943-1945. My Dad loved a Good Paperback, and through his Bookshelf, I was able to Discover some Fantastic Stuff, but from Mark Twain to Steinbeck, this is my Favorite from his Collection.

The Muddy Faces of Willie and Joe are the faces of Millions of American Veterans of World War II. These were our Father's and Grandfather's, this is the Story of those GI's....From their Muddy Foxholes...FIVE STARS !!!

Of course, this is not a novel. It's a collection of cartoons as they appeared in the Armed Services newspaper Stars and Stripes. The cartoon began to appear in 1944 as the invasion of Europe was underway and millions of Allied troops were fighting their way through Italy and France and into the heart of the third reich.
After a few false starts, Mauldin settled on two characters, Willie and Joe-infantry men. Willie and Joe (who were barely distinguishable from each other) were concerned with all the things that veterans said concerned them during the war. Lousy food was as much of a concern as enemy artillery, fear of cold, wet feet as annoying as the fear of death.
The cartoons, and Mauldin's self-effacing recollections together form a kind of narrative that is at once immensely personal and deeply historical. Mauldin was a pioneer. It was ten years before Cornelius Ryan The Longest Day: The Classic Epic of D-Dayturned personal narratives into history and almost forty before Ken Burns came along.The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick
Mauldin was, in effect, the only war reporter who was relatively uncensored. Since his cartoons carried no strategic information, his only worry was the military's possible perception that he might be lowering troop morale with his swipes at the brass and the rear-echelon. Fortunately, some American sensibility that 'it's good to laugh at the boss even if the boss is us' prevailed.

Up Front was one of the few books that my parents kept by their bedside. This is the book that helped the post-war generation remember the war as it was fought by the men who did the hard work. A quiet masterpiece.

Lynn Hoffman, author of bang BANG: A Novel