Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Made Me Laugh Out Loud

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book blog meme now hosted by Jana over at The Artsy Reader Girl!

This week's topic is: Books that Made Me Laugh Out Loud

This topic feels a little tricky since I tend to read books that are on the darker side, but I know that there are still plenty of times when I find myself snorting at something or breaking into some chuckling or even laughing. Most of the books that are on this list are probably not the most humorous books overall and I wouldn't tell you to expect a comedy going into it (except a few, but I'll be sure to point those out!), but I've opted to include them because I recall there being more than a few moments where I found myself laughing at some banter, one-liners, or witty narrative. Some of these might also be more on the dark humor side since that's what I tend to really enjoy. All that being said, let's start the (not in any way exhaustive) list!

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch: Every single book in the Gentleman Bastard series makes me laugh a lot, but I recall Red Seas Under Red Skies having an exceptional number of moments that had me laughing. And then subsequently making me want to cry. But plenty of laughing!

House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: I don't honestly have any specific instances to cite, but I recall smiling a lot and chuckling quite a bit while reading this and how charming I found the characters and situations. 

Nottingham by Nathan Matharyk: This is definitely mainly on this list because I found the dialogue and narrative a bit tongue in cheek at times, which made me laugh. I still need to read the sequel to this one!

Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft: Bancroft is one of those who has such a strong, witty narrative voice that almost everything feels like it has added meaning. I chuckled a lot reading this book, and the subsequent books were just as enjoyable (and take note--the finale comes out this year!).

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis: This one is actually really comedic and I highly recommend it!

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde: Everything by Jasper Fforde has a quirky narrative feel to it, and this one has more than a few moments that made me laugh.

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff: This is entirely based upon dialogue and banter, I'm not sure I'd call Godsgrave much of a comedy. ;)

The Satyricon by Petronius: Also an actual comedic novel!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: This isn't really a comedy, but there are some funny moments and the absurdity can be a bit humorous at times as well (or creepy, but it's all about perspective, right?)

"Lysistrata" by Aristophanes: Another one that's actually a comedy! This is a play, but it's one that is guaranteed to make you laugh at least once. 

A Tale of Witchcraft... by Chris Colfer: This one isn't really a comedy either, but it's a charming middle grade that had some great tongue in cheek moments and comedic elements. 

The Illumination of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst: Our protagonist has such a charming and unique narrative voice, it made me chuckle more than a few times. This is a really delightful book that does get fairly serious, but it made me feel so good to read overall and I highly recommend it!

Have you read any of these books? What books have made you laugh?

A mini-review from upcoming novelist Sacha Rines!

I received a submission recently from a lovely young up-and-coming YA novelist, Sacha Rines, who kindly asked if I would be interested in reviewing the first few chapters of a novel she's writing. I love reading new talent - and the story seemed intriguing - so I of course said yes! As a result, I have something a little new and different for you all - a mini preview review!

As far as I am aware, this story is currently untitled, so I will be sharing with you my initial response and summary of the first three chapters that I have had the opportunity to read.

We begin the story with Venia, who is off to a new school for students that all have special 'gifts.' From there, the students of this school arrive and are sorted into various houses based upon what sort of talent they possess (i.e. Propello for those who deal with elements, Curas for those who are more medically inclined, etc.). To be completely honest, I was reminded of the Harry Potter novels quite a few times, but nothing too strong to where it impeded my enjoyment - this was still very much an amusing and unique sample! We soon learn that what Venia is capable of is unique and rather special, and I am intrigued to find out more about exactly what it means.

The pacing is a bit fast, but fortunately that didn't detract from my enjoyment. From the very start, readers are thrust immediately into the story, and there are very few stops or moments of explanation or pondering. While this is good because it easily keeps the story flowing and moving from one event to the next, I think a little bit of fleshing out and more time on certain events could help add a bit more to this story.

I loved Venia's sarcasm and attitude because of how relatable it was. It felt as though I was reading about a real person with many different sides and complexities, not a one-dimensional, dry character who barely thinks for themself. Along with Venia, Rines also introduces us to a nice array of interesting characters. We have the astute, law-abinding Akako, the humourous and boisterous Alvie, the quirky, womanizing Ty, and a slew of others that each bring their own charm and personality to make this story truly come alive.

Rines has a lovely voice full of wit, dry humour, and also charm. She's great at setting a scene and dragging you in, whether you want to or not. I can see this story going far with Rines' strong voice, as I could sense a confidence in both her writing and her clear sense of where this story is going. I really had a great time reading this sample, and did find myself chuckling aloud a few times - always a promising sign, in my opinion.

Based off of what I have read, I would definitely be one to recommend it for those who enjoy humour, a little fantasy, or a nice boarding school-esuqe book. I hope to one day have the opportunity to finish this exciting new story!

If you'd like to contact Sacha, you can reach her at sacharines@googlemail.com.


Get more reviews in your inbox and subscribe to Forever Lost in Literature!