Quick Reviews of Quick Funny Reads

Finals Season is upon us. This means hair-pulling all-nighters and coffee-fuelled rampages as we desperately try to cram 13 weeks worth of course material into our brains. But it also means taking breaks to unwind and have fun. 

“WHAT?! How do you expect me to have fun in such a distressing situation?” you scream as you shake me by my shoulders to jolt some common sense into me. Well, let me present to you four funny non-fiction books for you to dip into during your study breaks!

  • New Year, Same Trash by Samantha Irby

It’s nearly May, and that makes me want to throw myself onto my bed and cry whenever I think about my (non-existent) progress for my New Year’s Resolutions. As the saying goes, misery loves company — I am constantly in search of others who understand the struggle of keeping up with our own lofty goals and aspirations. Luckily, the witty and self-deprecating writings of blogger and TV writer Samantha Irby provides the comfort of knowing that I am not alone. 

In this very short book (less than 30 pages and only takes 20 minutes to read!), Irby takes stock of her progress in 70 micro-resolutions and (relatably) fails spectacularly at most of them. In response to her twenty-fifth resolution on learning more about wine, Irby writes: 

“I went to a fancy restaurant on election night to avoid overdosing on projected results and ordered a nice-sounding red from the menu and practically burst into tears when I tasted it. The server was going on and on about pairing and I was just like, “Do you have a pile of garbage I can eat with this?” So crossing wine knowledge off my list forever.”

Similar to Irby’s best-selling essay collections, this book (or should I say, pamphlet?) is a treat for readers who appreciate candour and a good laugh.

For lovers of: Samantha Irby’s equally funny blog, self-loathing

  • Theft by Finding by David Sedaris

Considering how David Sedaris is best known for his personal essays, I probably shouldn’t have started with this book of diary entries. But I regret nothing, because this was simply delightful. In this first instalment of his diaries, readers are granted access to selected entries that spans 25 years — from his early years spent doing drugs and bumming around the countryside, to his later success as a writer and a humorist. 

With many of the entries being only a single sentence or a few sentences long, it’s a perfect book to dip in and out of. For instance, his entry for 5th October 1997 simply reads, “The new Pakistani cashier at the Grand Union is named Dollop.” Evidently, Sedaris has an eye for the quirks of our everyday life, and is able to find humour even in the most mundane. In his entry on attending French language classes, he writes, “Today the teacher called me a sadist. I tried to say that was like the pot calling the kettle black but came out with something closer to “That is like a pan saying to a dark pan, ‘You are a pan.” While some entries are uneventful and even dull, the other entries more than make up for in their brilliance. 

Also, be sure to catch this on audiobook along with the book! Scientifically speaking, Sedaris’ voice makes the book nine times more intimate and enjoyable. 

For lovers of: snooping around and being nosey, David Sedaris’ essay collections

  • Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

In 2009, twenty-eight-year-old writer Justin Halpern moved back into his parents’ house after a breakup and soon started documenting the zingers his father says on Twitter. Halpern’s Twitter account soon became viral and to date, it has amassed over two million followers. Born out of this popularity is Sh*t My Dad Says — a collection of the funniest (and oftentimes wise) sayings of Halpern Senior over 18 entertaining vignettes about their father-son interactions over the years. Following each vignette is a handful of musings that are laugh-out-loud funny, and two of my favourites include “You worry too much. Eat some bacon…What? No, I got no idea if it’ll make you feel better, I just made too much bacon.”; “I just want silence…Jesus, it doesn’t mean I don’t like you. It just means right now, I like silence more.”

As I was reading this book, I highlighted way too many quotes that made me snort. But to my dismay, only a few quotes made the cut for this review because the others were profanity-laden. But beneath all the swearing and the irreverent takes dished out by his father, Justin Halpern paints a loving portrait of a man who cares for his children, and cares deeply. In one story about how Justin faked the results of his Science project in the sixth-grade, Halpern Senior was enraged, asserting that Justin has “shamed the entire scientific community” and that he was to issue a statement of apology to his classmates. And like many of the other anecdotes in this book, the story ends with Halpern Senior revealing his vulnerability as he expresses his love and concern for his son. 

If you’re looking for a poignant and hilarious read, look no further than Sh*t My Dad Says. 

For lovers of: F-bombs, good life advice couched in humour, stoic Asian parents who express their love through their actions

  • Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? By Mindy Kaling

In this book, beloved comedian and actor Mindy Kaling writes about many things — her childhood as a child of immigrants, her time at college, her foray into comedy, and even her musings on friendship, romance, and Hollywood. Oh, and for fans of The Office, she dedicates a chapter to her experience of getting hired and writing for the show. And Kaling does all of this with her signature sense of humour. In the book’s introduction, she writes “This book will take you two days to read. Did you even see the cover? It’s mostly pink. If you’re reading this book every night for months, something is not right.”

I have to admit that I copied that quote straight from Goodreads, because it’s been a couple of years since I last read this book, and little did I know that I’d still be recommending it to others so many years on. The book’s just that good. I remember little about the details of the book but I vividly remember her writing. It was like listening to your BFF talk — effortlessly funny and endlessly captivating. 

For lovers of: The Office’s Kelly Kapoor, Bridget Jones’ Diary (the book and the film) 

Reading humorous memoirs has taught me to ‘live, laugh, love,’ and I say this without an ounce of irony. In the hands of a skillful comedy writer, their life stories not only bring us joy — they also provide us with a renewed lust for life. In a time when academic and professional achievements seem to be the be-all and end-all, these reads remind us of what’s truly important in life.

All the books featured in this list are available for loan from the National Library Board through Libby — so what are you waiting for?

 

By: Tan Wan Qin