Humor Books

Okay, so we don't have kids of our own so sue us. It is a delightful book and and as I was reading I thought to myself that if we had kids the husband here would probably be just like the dad in the book, because that is how he is with our 3 dogs. We could most definately see this being a big time holiday film, either for the big screen or even television since we really need to have more quality television for children. The wife is a teacher and we are thinking of ordering a whole bunch of copies for the kids as we get towards the holiday season. Many thanks to Mr. and Miss Casey.

What is it about Christmas that inspires the best bedtime stories for kids? Maybe it's simply snuggle factor. The crackle of the fire in the fireplace, the warmth of the blanket that dad tucked us in only the way dad can do it. Written by dad and illustrated by his young daughter, the book itself is a homage to the wonderful blessings of family. Reading this book to your children at bedtime will not only entertain but like most celebrated rhyming Christmas stories will teach them a wonderful lesson about appreciating what you have.

Sean Casey had a vision somewhat different than the father from Christmas favorite "T'was the Night Before Chistmas." Nonetheless, "My Dad Cancelled Christmas" offers a great plot line that relates to parents and kids alike. The book, which tells the story of a father who loses it on Christmas Eve and subsequently cancels his family's celebration of Christmas, is illustrated by Sean's daughter Quinn, age 10. She has a great deal of talent and captures her fathers imagination well.
This book definitely should be up there on everyone's shopping list. "My Dad Cancelled Christmas" is definitely a refreshing alternative to the traditional and mundane "T'was the Night Before Christmas." It would not be a bad read to the kids before settling them down for "their long winter's nap" on Christmas Eve next holiday season. This would also be an excellent read for teachers of all elementary grades looking to expand their bookshelves and their students' imaginations. Definitely a "must" on next year's Christmas list, but why wait? It can be read year round to keep everyone in the holiday mood and get a laugh in here or there.

This was a delightful book - with a moral to boot! Most families would benefit from reading this together and talking about it. Good lessons to learn for kids AND parents..

This book is a terrific Christmas story and the fact that it is a collaborative effort between father and child makes it very special.

Reminded me so much of my mother in law. Enjoy the book, belongs in every home library.

Forget the world of intrigue, suspense and deception. Here is a story of quite compassion, love, and family. With simple direct tone and nostalgic portraits, Mr. Steve captures elements of life sadly long overlooked. Seldom have we glimpsed the soul of a person so completely, viewed through the loving eyes of those closet to her. Easily flowing from one topic to another we envision the changing life thoughts of a wonderfully innocent woman unaffected by the cynicism of life. Each page reveals another element to the complex yet unassuming nature of Julia. You will smile and nod and laugh and think as you listen to Julia speak. And when you close the cover you will thank yourself for taking the journey through her eyes.

Not a cook book, but this book is a recipe for laughter. Loved it!

This is a great book. It brings back some fond memories of my two grandmothers.

If you want to bring a smile to your face, read this book. Before you put it down, you'll feel like you know Julia and you'll have a sense of the special relationship she, her dauther and son-in-law shared. My favorite quote: (Upon meeting an acquaintance, Julia remarks --) "Hi, how are you? You look so nice and fat!"
Enjoy the read.

I have been a faithful FoxTrot reader for years. Roger, Andy and their kids Peter, Paige and Jason are always good for a reality check with a large dose of laughter. I've got two girls and let me tell you, I see a lot of my kids in Paige with, I believe, even a healthy dose of Jason thrown in. And they have Peter's bottomless stomach. Of course, they're faithful FoxTrot readers too. I used to read the strip to them, explain what was going on, but now they get it just fine and we three all laugh together. Then my girls try and explain the strip to their dad, who pretends he doesn't get it.

The FoxTrot folks are a great family, one we sort of got used to checking up on every day, so we took the news that Mr. Amend was going to cease daily distribution of his wonderfully funny people and turn his strip to Sunday only, with a bit of sadness. Still, we have these terrific FoxTrot books to keep us going with our FoxTrot fix. Mr. Amend is to be commended for his great gift to our culture and his great gift to so many lives. I truly believe a laugh a day, helps keep the blues away and the FoxTrot gang are always good for a laugh. Heck there are a lot of laughs in the FoxTrot books. I know, I have them all and I am, along with my girls and my hubby dear, eagerly awaiting the next one.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, we don't have an iguana, but my girls do have a pet gecko and, you guessed it, his name is Quincy.

I've been a Foxtrot reader for a long time and personally I think there is something suspicoulsly wrong with people who don't find Bill Amend's characters funny as all get out. If you want a good laugh, check out Bill in your local newpaper, or better yet, get one of the Foxtrot books. They are all great, really, they are.

Like many of Mr. Amend's fans I'm a bit disappointed that he's switching his strip to Sunday-only, but fortuantly I can still read him daily in the Foxtrot books. Get them one and all and you can keep right on a laughing.

This was a fun book to read with my son. He actually wanted to read.

Bill Amend does it again. This is another great collection of Foxtrot comics. It features another of Roger's attempt to create a perfect barbecue that turns into a Fourth of July fireworks and Peter and Jason wondering whether Bruce Springsteen gets his inspiration from watching Roger's attempt at barbecuing. This is another great addition to your collection.

This is the best collection of Foxtrot cartoons in quite a few years. I love the comic, but normally don't laugh much. This collection had me laughing out loud numerous times. BUY NOW!!!

Humor can be a serious business and it isn't always pretty. That's why I love this book! P.S. Wall isn't afraid to point out the imperfections of everyday life from a slightly warped perspective. Her stories always make me smile and she reminds me that I'm not the only one that thinks that life is funny! Besides, she doesn't use any big words and she keeps her chapters short. I like that in a woman ...

This is without a doubt, the funniest female writer since Erma Bombeck. P.S.Wall makes girl talk fun, without the complaining. A must read!

I bought the book at lunch and decided to just thumb through it quickly. Oh,no...I hear the sound of laughter and realize it's me. Quickly, I slap my hand over my mouth and slowly turn around to see if someone heard me. A cube-mate rolls his chair around to my cube and just stares. I blush and stare back. He is waiting for an answer. I giggle and say I just remembered something that happened at lunch. Suddenly, I am telling the story as if it were my own (wishing it to be true). Others join the laughter and I tell another. Then an idea hits me.! My Love is free....for secretary's day instead of flowers...the boss gives everyone a P.S. Wall book. My peers will love me and I might get a promotion or better yet a raise for this suggestion.

P. S. Wall's comfortable humor makes me read and want to read again her experiences from the true, down-a-dirt-road, Sunday-go-to-meetin', chicken and dumplins', rural South. How did she grow up in my neighborhood without my knowing it?

My mom got me this book for Christmas, and her impeccable taste in humor didn't fail here. "My Love Is Free ..." is one of the funniest books of all time. Her "Sweetie" sounds just like most guys I know ... I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe when I read about their "adventures" in installing outdoor lighting. Even my husband, who can be a bit sensitive about this subject, laughed until his eyes watered. You can't go wrong giving this book as a gift ... and make sure to buy an extra copy for yourself!

I had to stop reading it on page 7, page 12, and now page 27. I laugh so hard, my tummy hurts & my eyes start to water, that I have to put it down! Totally worth the price, and fun for repeat reading down the road. A MUST HAVE!

I first came across this book on vacation in Florida in the summer of '97.I had just read a few pages and I was laughing uproarisly,people in the store were looking at me.I had to buy it.Now,three years later,I still split my sides laughing whenever I read this book.It's in the same vien as Jay Leno's 'Headlines', it deals with real life,unintentionally funny stuff.This book is surely proof that the truth is funnier than fiction.Anyone with a sense of humour should buy,and love,this book.

The first time I read this, I actually had to put the book down because I was laughing too hard. If you like Jay Leno's Headlines, then you'll love this. It's way better. All of the pictures and headlines are true, that's what makes it fun and the commentary by National Lampoon with each picture is just as funny. My favorite is the picture of the Sesame Street gang and the misprint in identifying one particular character. BUY THIS FOR A GUARANTEED LAUGH!

Oh my god. I thought I was going to die of laughter. The stuff that's in the book is actually true and I could not stop laughing at these sighns and newspaper articles that they had in there. (EX: A man gets killed by a bowling ball) You have to get this book. You can't stop laughing.

Stop reading this and buy this book now.

I mean it. Buy this book now.

Okay, if you simply must read this before buying, I guess there is nothing I can do to stop you. This is a simply hilarious book. There's literally something funny on virtually every page.
Weird and wacky photos, strange advertisements and announcements, and truly bizarre new articles are the norm here.
Truly deserves 6 stars.

Jonathan Hickman is an absolutely brilliant writer, and Nightly News is an amazing piece of literature that any anti-establishmentarianist should consider an absolute must read. The only downside to this work is that Jonathan Hickman attempted to provide the art, but unfortunately he is not cut out to be a comic book artist.

The writing alone is enough to toss this into the upper echelon of comic book history, but such a simplistic categorization is not sufficient. This is modern fiction at its best. An amazing story set against a brutally honest portrayal of modern America and the big business that has become the nightly news.

Cementing Jonathan Hickman's place as a visionary for a new era, The Nightly News is one of the most original, powerful, and just plain brilliant works to grace the comic book medium in quite some time. A story involving the effects of the American news media on the populace, The Nightly News revolves around a cult of people compelled by The VOICE to engage in violent, terroristic acts in what appears to be an effort to reveal the real truth. There's more going on in this six part story than meets the naked eye however, as Hickman lays the groundwork for this nihilistic tale thanks to his innovative and unique art and graphic design presentation. It may appear to not be easily accessible (and in reality, it really isn't), but give The Nightly News a chance and you'll definitely walk away with a different feeling than what you may expect. That feeling may be that of having your eyes opened or being just plain horrified, but either way, The Nightly News is a powerful and even rewarding experience. Yes, it is that good, and yes, The Nightly News deserves your full attention. And who knows? Maybe if you do, you really will look at the media and everything drawn from it in an entirely different light. Do yourself a favor, pick this up.

Jonathan Hickman is a fresh new voice, and this first compiled work hints that more goodness is yet to come. Pax Romana is off to a good start, as is TransHuman. We'll see if he can keep up his winning streak.

The Nightly News is a condemnation of the corporate news media in the US which favors profits and ratings over facts, thus leaving lives ruined in the pursuit of stories.

The story follows a terroristic cult as it kills and executes dozens of news people in an effort to force the rest to stick to factual news reporting and not sensationalistic story reporting.

The main drive of the story, however, is a mystery as to who The Voice really is and what his goals are.

Obviously, the author doesn't believe in going out and killing dozens of people is a solution to the problem (and makes it very clear throughout the story), but the story is peppered with facts and figures that make the reader question everything from control of the media, to globalization, to public schools. It is a dense story with a lot of information to take in on every page.

Not enough can be said about the artwork. It is very far from traditional comic art, ignoring traditional panel layouts for a style best described as "graphic design." The pages are laid out as infographics, with even charts and graphs popping up from time to time. There are lots of straight lines (including rectangular word balloons) and solid shapes. Everything is neat and orderly, which makes a huge impression when chaotic violence breaks out. Within these stylized graphics and layouts are realistic figures. This is all topped off with a monochromatic color scheme. It is like nothing else seen in comic books.

The only complaint is that the figures of the very large cast tend to blend together. It is hard to tell the dozen or so characters apart with the heavy inking and limited color pallet. You are reduced to trying to figure out which spiky-haired or glasses-wearing person you are looking at. Part of this is intentional, especially among the interchangeable TV news personalities, but it makes reading difficult.

Twisted but insightful post-modern unraveling of mainstream mass media. Or is it all media? Or is it Congress. Nightly News Joins Frank Miller's Return of the Dark Knight and Alan Moore's Watchman as the best graphic interpretation of politics, media, and post-modern culture around.

I would recommend it to anyone interested in challenging their conventional understanding of the relationship between media and power.

DrDigipoldr

Mr. Gwynn is my poetry teacher at Lamar Univerisity Beaumont, Tx.
He is a master of wit and intelligence (speaking of poetry now).
His insights and advice has helped my poetry emmensely, but surely not my spelling. If you are a poetry writer or fan from anywhere in the area, then you should definetly think about taking one of his poetry classes, for he is a legend in the making. His poetry and knowledge thereof is awesome and awe inspiring. Pick up his work whenever you find it.

Being a teacher and writer, I had heard Gwynn's name through the years and associated him more as an editor than as a poet. However, I read a review of this present book in an esteemed literary journal and decided it was time to check out the creative work of R.S. Gwynn.

He's a delight, a master, a brave soul in a world of timid poetasters. He has no fear in using traditional forms and regular rhytms to write his poems. And he is equally unafraid to skewer what Orwell called the "smelly little orthodoxies" which strangle both society in general and literature specifically. Read his "Narcissiad," the great center piece of NO WORD OF FAREWELL. It's a wonderful, dead-on swipe at the Lit Biz today, where poetry is a commodity and celebrity is preferable to excellence.

NO WORD OF FAREWELL is a generous compendium of Gwynn's work, dating back to 1970 and going up through 2000. The selections show that Gwynn is capable of most everything - satire, ballads, love poems, etc. He is a man of uncommon sense who nevertheless does not allow his level-headedness to obscure his heart. That his work is not better known is a commentary only on the present state of poetry and reading, not on R.S. Gwynn.

Nevertheless, I feel confident that when the rubbish of all the poet manques who currently crowd our magazines and college campuses is wiped away, Gwynn's work will finally emerge, a diamond in the rough finally revealed.

Please read this book and give copies to your friends. It is an inestimable source of pleasure and wisdom.

Full of wicked humor, slyly wrought pathos, boffo couplets, stunningly relevant sonnets, at least one startling take-stock epic, and giddy cynicism: there's simply no poet in America like Gwynn, and there's no one as funny, period. This is the REAL self-help book! Help yourself cope in this most angst-ridden of seasons: read Gwynn's wisdom and laughter.

Gwynn is smart and funny, but his poems move the reader's emotions as well as her intellect. More readers should be familiar with Gwynn's work.

R.S. Gwynn is not nearly as well known as he should be; if there is any justice in the world, No Word of Farewell will change that. The poems in this book are written in an impressive array of forms, but their attitude is far from formal. Gwynn writes about pistol-packing old ladies ("At Rose's Range"), Samson and Delilah ("Among Philistines"), conjoined twins ("Chang and Eng"), and much more. Like all the best satirists, Gwynn joins wit with compassion for the characters who people his poems.

One of the many pleasures of No Word of Farewell is seeing Gwynn's humorous poems side by side with the more serious ones. My short list of favorite poems--both funny and serious--includes "Cleante to Elmire", "The Classroom at the Mall", "At Rose's Range", "Snow White and the Seven Deadly Sins", "Body Bags", and "The Garden Parasol". And that's not to mention the hilarious "The Professor's Lot" (which can be sung to the melody of a certain Gilbert & Sullivan song).

This is a wonderful book of poems, filled with warmth, wit, and variety. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I find it hard to consider this a collection of bedtime stories, because it kept me awake long into the night. I couldn't close the covers after just one or five -- I had to keep going. I'm no Norse scholar; I just like a really well-told yarn. I think I may have accidentally learned something of Norse mythology while I was giggling, siickering, chuckling, and just plain guffawing my way through Uncle Einar's hilarious tales.

A wickedly witty send-up of the Eddas -- and all the other Viking myths, too. Serious historians won't know whether to have apoplexy or choke themselves in the effort not to giggle. The rest of us can just sit back, read, and laugh our sea-boots off. And the illustrations are apt to both content and tone of the stories.

This is a wonderfully funny book. Anyone interested in Norse mythology from the beginner to the serious student should have this book. It is described as a childrens book for adults. Between the witty stories and the humourous drawings, this book is a must have.

Norse Mythology...According to Uncle Einar is the best retelling of any mythology I have ever read. Instead of a stuffy, boring book you open the pages of an incredible romp through the Norse Pantheon.

Who ever expected to see the Norse gods portrayed as life in a small Tennesee town, complete with bikers, people from the wrong side of the tracks and disfunctional families!

Think of it as Lil Abner goes a-viking ;-)

Definitely one for the permanent collection!

Jane Sibley takes the Norse Myths and "updates" them in a way that is side-splittingly funny. Framed as a set of 17 bedtime stories, these tales revolve around the Valhalla Sports Bar and Grill (which has a coin-operated bucking bronco on the porch) in Asgard (an old-money Vanir suburb recently invaded by arriviste Aesir). The cast includes Thor (a biker), Heimdall (the local FBI/BATF/DEA agent), Tyr (who runs the VFW), and various gods, redneck Jotuns, and other dubious creatures. Sibley has a wonderful wry wit, and shows her vast knowledge of the subject as she lovingly skewers it. The storytelling is as good as Tom Holt or Terry Pratchett at their best. There is an allusion to a followup volume; I only hope it's true...

After teaching English for several years, Judy Muller worked her way from small-town radio up to network television.

Her short, readable memoir is by turns poignant, moving, and hysterically funny. The copy that I checked out of the library had many dog-eared pages and I quickly grew to expect laughter -- that is, to hear myself laughing out loud -- when I reached one of these frequent waystations.

I knew that Judy Muller teaches a graduate course in broadcast journalism and I checked this book out of the library because I thought it might provide some good insights into the specifics of delivering the news. Beyond learning that radio reporters actually write their stories (but many TV reporters don't), which for some reason I found surprising -- you mean they don't just wing it? -- I learned very little about the mechanics of broadcast reporting, yet "Now This" is so accessible, and so funny, that I read the whole book anyway.

The editorial reviewers (above) have pretty much covered the topic areas of the book, so let me mention something other reviewers have not emphasized.

In anecdote after knee-slapping anecdote, Muller really captures a prevailing disjunction, a gap between the way the Big Media Powers that Be (back in New York) see the world, and the way the rest of us see it out here on the other side of William Penn's woods.

Judy Muller must have zillions of these stories under her belt by now, and now that she's gotten her memoir out of the way, it would be great to sit back and enjoy hearing her recount some episodes from her travels through small-town USA.

I look forward to a sequel, especially if it as as funny as the original ... Now This!

Judy Muller's unique combination of sharp wit, keen perception, brutal honesty, and personal courage gives us a glimpse into radio and TV journalism we can't get from just listening or watching. The book is a triumph, fleshing out the real people behind the talking heads. Her frank description of personal alcoholism is heart-wrenching, and her tale of the prices paid, and the gains made, in her profession should be required reading for anyone seriously considering a career in journalism. A fine read on several levels. Thanks for sharing, Judy!

This is easily one of the best written, most thoroughly delightful books I've read in many years. If you are a parent you will love it! If you're interested in radio you'll love it! If you're interested in TV you'll love it! One of the few books I've read in recent years where I truly hated to see the last few pages coming up.

Now, this is why Judy Muller is one of the very best correspondants on television--she's obviously a superb storyteller on the air, and when she's got some real time, boy can she ever write 'em down. Ms. Muller says up-front in her book that she comes from a whole family of storytellers. The lady's got great genes.

Judy Muller's wonderful book is a treat for anyone interested in an inside look at the whacky world of television news. Ms. Muller has a terrific sense of humor which keeps the reader doubled over throughout. I read the book cover-to-cover in one sitting, then gave it to a friend who also found it impossible to put down. We both had a good laugh together afterward comparing notes on our favorite stories from the book.

Ms. Muller also infuses her book with fascinating tales from her vantage point on history and poignant moments about dealing with life's problems. Her story is told honestly and from the heart. This is easily the best book by a television newswoman since Linda Ellerbee's "And So it Goes."

Making money is one thing, acquiring the tasteful mannerisms of the rich is another. This book helps newly minted money acquire the ways of old money.

I can't even begin to tell how many times I've met the noveau riche, and they've annoyed the heck out of me during the summer parties I've hosted in Newport, RI. I've instructed my butler to discreetly slip a copy of this book in the offender's butler's pocket so they may acquire better manners and taste.

These days, when I'm called on to deliver commencement addresses at sundry universities, I always make it a point to mention the book so that the kids know how to behave as soon as they sell their first dot-com. I'm also sponsoring translations of the book into both Chinese and Hindi so the newly rich from those countries can fit into our social scene here.

One final thought... show some taste by acquiring the hardcover. Leave the paperbacks to the staff "downstairs".

If, like me, you find the immoderately rich kinda fascinating in their loathsomeness--think Goldie Hawn in the guilty-pleasure movie, Overboard--this book will totally feed that fascination. It's also quite impressive as a tour de force of McSweeney's-esque chartiness.

It reminds me of the time I visited a college friend in Ohio and quickly realized she'd failed to warn me she was filthy rich. Her grandmother's "cottage" turned out to be a sprawling turn-of-the-century home with a vast formal English Rose Garden and a daunting assortment of cutlery (each piece intended for some insanely specific purpose...I remember they had a fork specifically for duck.) The whole trip was a nightmare and I ruined an entire set of "heirloom sheets" with ink from a cheap, crappy Bic pen while documenting the family's alien qualities in my journal.

Had I been equipped with this comprehensive book, things might have gone a lot better.

Great book! Tennant nails the rich & fabulous life to a T (or so I've heard...) Go buy this book ASAP!

Most enjoyable read in a long time! Well written and clever while giving information that, while not necessary, should not be missed!

First, let me start by saying, based solely upon Tennant's book jacket author photo, he is probably one of the best looking straight dude authors I have seen in ages. This alone, would normally make me a little skeptical but the book is just so damn thorough that it makes it impossible to hate the guy.

Not only does he have an encyclopedic understanding of the lifestyles of the rich and fabulous but he actually conveys knowledge about stuff most people (including myself, and I happen to have impeccable taste) don't already know, and in a way that is informative, witty, impassioned and borderline satirical.

Also, following up the Preppy Handbook is no small feat but Tennant really gets an ace in the hole on this one. Doesn't disappoint!