meggo Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 i'd like to pick up a book for a colleague/friend who's got some time on their hands these days and could probably use some cheering up... any suggestions out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Evil_Mouse Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 First thought, anything by Douglas Adams. I've also been well-immersed recently in some Tom Robbins for the first time (Skinny Legs and All), and very much enjoying it (whenever I can scrape together some time to get into some fiction). I don't know what sort of cheering up is needed, but this one seems to cover a lot of bases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Not funny, but The Prophet by Gibran is pretty inspirational. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggo Posted June 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 cool... thanks guys... keep'em comin! inspirational definitely works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deranger Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Well, not inspirational, but I found Charles Bukouski's Factotum to be funny as hell. Since I hate my job and have been waiting to quit or be fired, this book was recommended to me by a friend for perspective on employment issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Anything by Farley Mowat; unbeatable Canadiana.Almost invariably non-fiction (at least loosely) and funny as hell throughout. (Dry Canadian humour.) As well, almost invariably, the story ends with something shocking; but that's usually because you're already drawn in and love the characters, and by that point the moral is obvious too, which usually is to the effect that humans suck in the way we treat each other / the planet / the ocean / animals...His most famous work, and the obvious first choice, is "Never Cry Wolf"; pretty much available at any Canadian used book store in paperback for under $4.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_rawk Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Mark Leyner ("Et Tu, Babe?", "My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist") makes me laugh, but if you're talking about who I think you're talking about, those might not be the best choices.How about the Ladinsky translations of Hafiz ("The Gift", "I Heard God Laughing")? They are like a reset button for the soul. Because after all ...'A poet is someone Who can pour Light into a cup and raise it to nourish your beautiful parched holy mouth' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothedShredder Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Anything by Farley Mowat; unbeatable Canadiana.His most famous work, and the obvious first choice, is "Never Cry Wolf"; Love that book... it's the one where they get stuck in a train waiting for the Cariboo herd to cross the tracks right? It's cause of this book that I would consider being reincarnated as a wolf a step up . ~W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boochawan Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 One of my favorite books of all time:"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedey O'Toole. A pullitzer prize novel; brilliantly written, and absolutely hillarious. A real treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Evil_Mouse Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Anything by Farley Mowat; unbeatable Canadiana.My Discovery of America is a real treat - his experience of being rejected at the airport by the INS (US Immigration) for completely mysterious and unspecified reasons (the real point being his comments on gov't policy in his book Sea of Slaughter); the INS don't know how well tied in he is with a major Canadian publisher. Hilarity ensues. I don't make it sound as good as it gets. If your friend's every been hassled at the border, it's a real satisfying read. On a more or less unrelated note, there's always Lewis Thomas' Lives of a Cell, a series of essays commenting on the chain of life and humanity's (rather small) place in it all. Very refreshing, funny, and humbling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 If your friend likes (or is familiar with) "Lord Of The Rings", then "Bored Of The Rings", which was done by the Harvard Lampoon, is a parodic hoot from end to end. Similarly, for any fan of Frank Herbert's "Dune" books, "Doon" by the National Lampoon is well worth it.The books aren't really uplifting or anything, just really funny, if you like parody and satire.Aloha,Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggo Posted June 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 "A Confederacy of Dunces"i've been meaning to read that one for years. thanks for the reminder! and thanks again, everybody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaggyBalls Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 uplifting? well the last book I read that lifted any of me up somewhere else was Chopra's 'how to know god' but that's more of a self-exploration type of thing. no story. definitely a good read if you're interested in getting more spiritual.i'm glad these threads are archived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paan Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 The Bible gives me a good laugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_rawk Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Yeah? Which part? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 The Bible gives me a good laugh.Yeah? Which part?Ummm... All of it? Fiction always makes me laugh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_rawk Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 I've read some decidedly unfunny fiction. (Dostoevsky?)*shrug* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Well fiction that claims to dictate my life is always funny to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phorbesie Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 john irving cracks me up...most anything of his does the trick, for me anyway.some good starters...a prayer for owen meanythe water method manthe world according to garp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nattyMatty Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Well what I would Recomend and it might Seem wierd or somthing But I highly Recommend A book that was Writen A Long time ago..The Copy i was able to read various Short storys that were termendously entertaining and kinda left me fealing with a Uplifting and gladatude of life. The Book I am talking about is "Grimms Fairy Tales"Its the Origianl Storys of alice in wonderland, Thomb Thums, red ridding hood, Rumpulstilskin, ummSnow White, that one about the ginger bread ummm Hansel and greddle All kinds of OLD FARIAE TALES, the Athours name Is some guy with the last name Grimm and the book is called "Grimms Fairae tales" Quite a Nice book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamilton Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevO Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 I'd recommend Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Its short and hilarious. ALso right now I'm reading Breakfast Of Champions (same author) and so far from what I can tell its also a knee slapper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaidy Mae Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 (edited) Life After God by Douglas Coupland (okay, a bit of a downer at times, but has a positive message and ending...for me anyway). Especially avoid Hey Nostradamus!. Booooo! Anything by David Sedaris or Tim Sandlin (hard to find, but sooooo worth it). I don't know what kind of inspiration your friend is looking for or if they're depressed at all, but Chuck Palahniuk is good if they're a little, um, "off". Just stear clear of Sylvia Plath and anything Kafka-esque. Edit to add: Of course, Tom Robbins is always a great read! Edited June 20, 2005 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Evil_Mouse Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 I'd recommend Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut.I'd have to second that; that one made me a Vonnegut fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paan Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 I'd recommend Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut.I'd have to second that; that one made me a Vonnegut fan. How does this one compare to Slaughterhouse 5? I am just at the last few pages of that one... found it kind of dry.... but I always like to try more than one book for an author before I judge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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