BookOwl Picks: Humor

 

For those who need to make lemonade out of life's many lemons, here are some books that will keep you sane in a crazy world. 

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Jenny Lawson has become my favorite humor writer. In Let's Pretend This Never Happened, one of her first memoirs, she highlights the comedy found in everyday life moments. Chronicling her unusual upbringing in rural Texas, in particular, her fascination with the taxidermy work of her father, Lawson's book is for anyone with an odd sense of humor. Just be warned that this book is peppered with swear words and does meander a bit back and forth in time. For me, that ride was definitely worth it!

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

Allie Brosh is one of my favorite go-to authors if I need a laugh. Also poking fun at her own life, Allie Brosh's graphic novel memoir-of-sorts has a unique art style that contributes to her impeccable dramedic timing. Some of my favorite moments come as Allie deals with her crazy, lovable mess of a dog. Of course, it's not all fun and games. Brosh suffers from depression, and that is a constant undercurrent throughout Hyperbole and a Half. I found a section where she illustrates how difficult it is to communicate what depression is like to others the most relatable, and found myself with bittersweet tears. It's a great ode to how important humor is to everyone, in particular those with mental illness.

Good Mourning by Elizabeth Meyer

I read this one on the recommendation of one of my co-workers. It's a memoir of a Elizabeth Meyer's time working in an upscale New York funeral home, a career she stumbled upon when she was planning her own father's funeral. Despite the taboo subject matter surrounding death, Good Mourning makes the usually morbid side-splittingly funny. From a deceased man living a double life to a corpse found missing a brain, this is a funny, witting, and moving testament to grief and healing. 

Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen

Not unlike Allie Brosh, Sarah Andersen's art style makes Adulthood is a Myth an enjoyable and laughter-filled journey. Andersen covers here a feeling I have increasingly come to confront as I get older, that I am not what an adult is supposed to be. From the unease of navigating the workplace to romantic relationships in all their complicated glory, Adulthood is a Myth not only makes you laugh, but tells you that there's no manual out there for being the most perfect, functional person, and that's okay.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Comedian Trevor Noah's memoir of growing up in apartheid South Africa is a bittersweet one. Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa woman, he literally was born a crime, as interracial unions were punishable by law. Trevor spent most of his early childhood hiding from the authorities, until the end of the apartheid regime ended, freeing him and his deeply religious mother from a life of constant secrecy. Then, Trevor has to navigate a still-complicated society where prejudice still remains alive and well. A coming-of-age story and thank-you note to his mother, Born a Crime will make you laugh and make you cry. 

Happy reading!

--BookOwl