Books matching: absurdity and humor
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- #1
Save:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a humorous science fiction novel by Douglas Adams that follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, a mild-mannered Earthling who is saved from the destruction of Earth by his alien friend Ford Prefect. Together, they embark on a journey through space and time, encountering eccentric characters like Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Android. The book is known for its quirky, whimsical writing style, filled with absurdity, satire, and philosophical musings on the meaning of life.
The plot revolves around Arthur and Ford's escapades as they hitchhike across the galaxy, facing bizarre situations and navigating through the absurdities of the universe. Adams' narrative style is conversational and comically bizarre, blending elements of science fiction with absurdist humor to create a unique and entertaining reading experience that challenges traditional storytelling conventions.
At eight o’clock on Thursday morning Arthur didn’t feel very good. He woke up blearily, got up, wandered blearily round his room, opened a window, saw a bulldozer, found his slippers, and stomped off ... - #2
Save:'JPod' by Douglas Coupland is a quirky and humorous novel that follows the lives of characters working in a game development company. The story delves into the everyday life of the protagonist, Ethan, his interactions with his colleagues, his eccentric family, and a range of unusual situations he finds himself in. The writing style of the book is described as witty, brilliant, and technically savvy, with a loose and unconcerned tone that makes it an enjoyable and light read.
Through a rare and cheerful accident of freeway planning, I can get from the campus to my parents’ place by making two leftturns and two right turns, even though they live 17.4 miles away in the gloom... - #3
Save:'Space Opera' by Catherynne M. Valente is a wild and imaginative science fiction novel that follows the story of a washed-up rock star and his band who must compete in an intergalactic Eurovision-style song contest to save humanity from extinction. The book is described as a mix of Douglas Adams' humor, glam punk rock music, and psychedelic aesthetics, with a heavy focus on over-the-top worldbuilding and quirky characters. The writing style is noted for its complex sentence structures, dense syntax, and high-level vocabulary, which can make it challenging to follow at times, especially in the audio book version.
Once upon a time on a small, watery, excitable planet called Earth, in a small, watery, excitable country called Italy, a soft-spoken, rather nice-looking gentleman by the name of Enrico Fermi was bor... - #4
Save:Mort by Terry Pratchett follows the story of Mort, an unsuccessful farmer who is chosen as an apprentice to Death. As Mort navigates his new role, he impulsively saves a doomed princess, challenging fate and love. The book explores themes of life and death, duty, and the consequences of meddling with the natural order. Pratchett's writing style is humorous, witty, and inventive, with memorable characters like Death and Mort bringing depth and humor to the narrative.
In Mort, Pratchett weaves a tale of unlikely friendships, self-discovery, and the complexities of the afterlife. Through Mort's journey as Death's apprentice, readers are treated to a blend of satire, clever wordplay, and poignant moments that explore the human experience in a fantastical setting. The book's plot is engaging, with a mix of humor, absurdity, and heartfelt moments that keep readers entertained and invested in the whimsical world of Discworld.
A light frost began to crisp the cobblestones. In the ornamental clock tower that overlooked the square a couple of delicately-carved little automatons whirred out of trapdoors in the clockface and st...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Discworld ) - #5
Save:The Gate of Angels by Penelope Fitzgerald is a charming and intricate story set in pre-World War I Cambridge, following the accidental meeting of Fred Fairly and Daisy Saunders after a bicycle accident. Their unlikely connection leads to a complex exploration of love, morality, and history. The novel is praised for its period detail, precise observations of human and natural elements, and watchmakerly plot construction that keeps the narrative engaging and compelling.
How could the wind be so strong, so far inland, that cyclists coming into the town in the late afternoon looked more like sailors in peril? This was on the way into Cambridge, up Mill Road past the ce... - #6
Save:Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed is a wild and wonderful ride, described as a Neo Hoodoo conspiracy yarn. The novel delves into a world where Black and European cultures collide, giving rise to a unique flowering of American culture. Through a satirical lens, Reed explores the spread of Black culture and music, the battle between the straight-laced society and the hip music world, and the power dynamics at play. The book is a multi-vocal, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural jazz novel that challenges readers' knowledge of history, culture, and literature.
The plot revolves around the Jes' Grew epidemic, the spread of Black culture and music that is treated as a plague by the whites in power. Reed's writing style is described as wildly rambling, hilarious, and satirical, with a mix of comic relief, sarcasm, and deep political commentary. The novel incorporates legends from Europe and Africa, weaving together elements of African Voodoo and postmodernism to create a mystical murder conspiracy narrative.
A TRUE SPORT, THE Mayor of New Orleans, spiffy in his patent-leather brown and white shoes, his plaid suit, the Rudolph Valentino parted-down-the-middle hair style, sits in his office. Sprawled upon h... - #7
Save:'Becoming a Vincent' by C.M. Owens is a part of 'The Wild Ones' series and revolves around the quirky and wild Vincent family, particularly focusing on Lilah, Killian, and Hale, who are triplets. The story is set in the town of Tomahawk, known for its eccentric and hilarious residents. Lilah, the main character, is described as a proudly wild heroine who gets involved in all kinds of crazy situations. The plot follows her changing feelings for Benson, a new guy in town, and the chaos that ensues as she navigates her relationships with her protective brothers and the antics of the Wild Ones families.
The writing style of the book is characterized as humorous, low on angst, and featuring a friends-to-lovers romance. The story is fast-paced, full of laugh-out-loud moments, and offers a unique and exciting premise that keeps readers entertained throughout. Readers appreciate the light-hearted and addictive nature of the book, praising the witty dialogue, the fun dynamics between characters, and the overall enjoyable reading experience.
I’m one third of a set of fraternal triplets. My theory is that all the oxygen in the womb was cut off from the two jackasses who are responsible for my current predicament, and I’m the only one who ... - #8
Save:'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency' by Douglas Adams is a quirky and creative novel that follows the eccentric private detective Dirk Gently as he investigates peculiar cases involving time travel, ghosts, and interconnected plots. The book is filled with witty humor, unexpected twists, and a mix of bizarre characters like the electric monk, a disgruntled former magazine publisher, and a time-traveling university professor. The plot unfolds in a non-linear fashion, gradually weaving together seemingly disparate storylines into a cohesive and satisfying narrative.
This time there was just the dead earth, a rumble of thunder, and the onset of that interminable light drizzle from the north-east by which so many of the world’s most momentous events seem to be acco... - #9
Save:The Blue Mage Raised by Dragons is a fantasy novel that follows the story of Vur, a human blue mage raised by dragons, inheriting legendary powers from them. The protagonist, Vur, is depicted as overpowered and lacking common sense, having a twisted sense of humor along with other characters in the book. The plot revolves around comical coincidences and absurd scenarios, creating a light-hearted and fun narrative with elements of fantasy and humor.
Sera was sitting on her hind legs, rocking the infant with her front claw. “Isn’t he adorable? Say Mama, Vur. Say Mama.” The woman had told her the infant’s name was Johann, but Sera hadn’t thought it... - #10
Save:'The Nose' by Nikolai Gogol is a satirical and absurd short story about a St. Petersburg official named Kovalyov whose nose mysteriously leaves his face and develops a life of its own. The story is filled with humor and social commentary, highlighting themes of social ranking, inferiority, and jealousy. Gogol's writing style in this story is surreal and uses magical realism to create a humorous and insightful narrative that leaves much of the absurdity open to interpretation.
On the 25th of March, there took place in Petersburg a most extraordinarily strange occurrence. The barber Ivan Yakovlevich, residing on Voznesensky Prospect (his last name has been lost, even the sig...
