People tell me my books make them laugh. I like that. I love a good story and a good laugh. When I’m writing, I try to find the humor along with the drama and pathos.
Books in the comedy fiction category vary wildly, some going for regular punch lines and others, like my writing, trying to find the humor in my characters and their situations. Comic fiction allows readers to escape into worlds filled with wit, humor, and hilarious situations.
In this blog, I’ll tell you more about funny fiction, how to track down funny books, and give you a few humorous book suggestions.
What is Comic Fiction?
Comic fiction is a literary work that engages and entertains readers using elements like parody, irony, wordplay, and ludicrousness. Books in this category frequently highlight eccentric characters, witty dialogue, and laugh-out-loud circumstances.
Comic fiction covers an extensive variety of subgenres, including romantic comedy, flat out comedy monologues, satire, parody and dark humor, that mines humor form serious subjects or applies sarcasm or social critique like a sharp razor on stubble.
What are the ‘Genres’ within the Genre?
Rom-com: Centers around hilarious and frequently heartfelt circumstances between characters, normally resulting in a “happy ending.
Satire: Satirical comedy fiction employs irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration to criticize or ridicule individuals, society, or politics.
Farce: This sub-genre features impossible circumstances, mixed-up personalities, mis-identity, and in theater – a lot of people going in and out of a lot of doors. The ridiculous fits well in this basket.
Parody: Parody mirrors the style of films or tv programs, or other abstract works, social classes, or social peculiarities, frequently for comedic impact.
Dark Comedy: This subgenre of comic fiction finds humor in darker, more complex situations, like death, sickness, or misfortune, frequently utilizing incongruity and cutting humor.
Humorous Mystery: Comedy and mystery are fused together in humorous mystery fiction, which features witty detectives, quirky characters, and humorous situations, all in the pursuit of the case at hand.
Finding Comic Novels, Comic Fiction and Just Plain Funny Books
It seems obvious, but the people at bookstores really want you to find books you love. And supporting your local bookseller, instead of doing all your buying and exploring online, helps your community as well.Finding the ideal comedy fiction book to stimulate your amusing bone is more straightforward than you could naturally suspect. Here are a few ways to find your next most loved read:
Browse Book Shops:
Go to your nearby bookshop and look at the comedy fiction area. It is simple to locate a humorous book because many bookstores have dedicated shelves or displays for them, making it easy to find something that catches your eye.
Search Online Retailers:
Online retailers like Amazon offer many books in the comedy genre. Use keywords like “comedy fiction” or “humorous fiction” to track down books. Explore customer reviews and ratings to find books that suit your funny bone.
Look at Success Records:
Watch out for book suggestion sites for the latest and greatest comedy fiction releases. These rundowns frequently highlight famous titles and hidden gems.
Ask for Recommendations:
Ask friends, family, or fellow book lovers for recommendations. Don’t be shy. They won’t mind. And asking your social media “friends” is another way to snar some titles you might otherwise miss.
Explore Author Backlists:
If you enjoyed a particular author’s comedy fiction book, why not look at their other works? Many writers have composed numerous books in the class, so you will undoubtedly find more Snickers sitting tight for you.
Some of my favorite Funny Books
Now that you know how to find comedy fiction books, here are some recommendations to get you started.
It’s my blog, so why not start with my own book?
Florida Hustle by Paul Wilborn
In 1980s Florida, an aspiring filmmaker, obsessed with a B-movie scream queen, flees his family’s Palm Beach mansion, teams up with an aging con man and his ambitious girlfriend and heads to a film set in the Everglades, only to find himself mired in a swamp of competing cons and hustles.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
This is a absurdist comedy revolves around John Yossarian and his fellow soldiers during World War II. The movie is interesting, but the book is gold. With its dark humor and extraordinary characters, “Catch-22” is a must-read for fans of comedy fiction.
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
A compelling example of the romantic comedy genre with its engaging hero and clever composition. Bridget Jones explores the highs and lows of love and friendship in this always amusing book.
Conclusion
I love authors who tell dark stories, I just finished Dennis LeHane’s new novel, Small Mercies. It’s powerful and compelling, but after that kind of book I need a something with a little more lightness and wit. That’s when I turn to comic fiction. There are lots of choices. Try one.