I’ve recently gotten into the dark humor style of Chuck Palahniuk and, to some extent, Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho. Can anyone recommend some more novels in that style? I’m not really talking about the stuff in the “Most Disturbing” thread, which is dark for the sake of being dark, but anyone who had read Palahniuk or American Psycho will know what I mean. Thanks in advance.
Oh, and also, if anyone could find the thread from a while back about 100 books to read to be “well-read,” I would appreciate it. I’ve tried to search for it with no luck.
Oh, and also, if anyone could find the thread from a while back about 100 books to read to be “well-read,” I would appreciate it. I’ve tried to search for it with no luck.
Try “The Wasp Factory” by the Scottish author Iain Banks for dark yet humorous.
Re. the thread - yes I know the one you mean, but I’m getting cut off every 2 mins ( Grrrrr) - so I don’t think I can search for it right now.
Good luck.
I found the thread I was looking for. Any more book suggestions?
What’s the thread link, please? I’d like to read that one also.
My suggestions for dark and humorous are SEX AND SUNSETS by Tim Sandlin, MAN WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH THE MOON (caveat: if gay sex bothers you, stay away from this one) by Tom Spanbauer, and, while not as dark as the others, the hysterically funny and irreverent CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES if you haven’t already read it.
The Divine Comedy of John Venner by Gregory Blake Smith. In many ways, it reads almost EXACTLY like a Palahniuk novel. I read it years before I read Fight Club, and I think it’s a great book.
Although his books are not novels, David Sedaris’ works are so funny that I will tear up from laughing so hard. Most of his writing has a caustic quality as well.
Thanks for the suggestions, keep em coming.
Sampiro, the thread is http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=135412
It’s actually 52 books to become well-read in a year (1 a week), not 100 books like I originally thought it was.
Funny, I read the title and thought I should go here and recommend Chuch Palahniuk.
Well it’s not exactly the same but the book I read before Lullaby was “Porno” by Irvine Walsh. Dirsturbing in it’s own way. Try it.
Aldous Huxley’s “Ape and Essence” is the most disturbing book I’ve ever read.
And have you considered Evelyn Waugh?
And there was a book about a sushi chef I read recently that was pretty disturbing but I can’t remember the name…
Robert McCammon’s Gone South is a bit on the dark side but funny as heck.
Perv: a Love Story by Jerry Stahl was very darkly humurous, as was Permanent Midnight by the same author.
Perv is a coming of age story set in the early seventies, Permanent Midnight is the true story of the authors battle with heroin addiction.
Cruddy by Lynda Barry. It’s a story about child abuse and mass murder told from the point of view of a teenage girl on some serious halucinogens, and it’s funny as hell. I also recommended this one in the “most disturbing novels” thread.
grendel. Cruddy is incredible. You are incredible for knowing that. Magical love + peace = happiness.
Oh, and I’ll recommend anything by Will Self. Cock and Bull is twin novellas bound as one book; Cock is about a woman who grows a penis, and Bull is about a man who grows a vagina. Extremely well-written stuff.
Dang, pretty much all of the good ones back to about 1870 or so.
A Series of Unfortunate Events? So they’re children’s novels – they meet the criteria.
A Dark but funny novels thread wouldn’t be complete without mentioning James Morrow. Specifically “Towing Jehovah” “Only Begotten Daughter” or “Bible Stories for Adults”
Also, Chris Moore’s “Practical Demonkeeping” is a fave of mine.
Along with Lamb, the stroy of what happend to Jesus from infancy to his 30s.
qwerty02, thanks for the link, I’d been looking for this thread for a couple of weeks, off and on.
Another vote for Chuck Palahniuk’s 5 books:
Invisible Monster
Survivor
Fight Club
Choke
Lullaby
He’s dark, clever, humorous and so cynical sometimes you need a shower after certain passages.
PJ O’Rourke’s descriptions of the war-torn areas of the world he’s visited display some pungent gallows humor.
Of course you could always look into reprints of EC Horror comics.
Under the Skin , by Michel Faber, is by turns painful, tender, horrifying, funny, ironic and satirical.