Comments on: Books that make you laugh

By: D. C. DaCosta

D. C. DaCosta — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 01:47:39 +0000

Forgot about Benchley. He was cinemagenic (is that a word?). Decent actor I am always glad to see. I think he’s like Will Rogers, Garrison Keillor, George Burns, and a few others: their written work survives IF you can hear their speaking voices as you read.

By: Kevin A. Lewis

Kevin A. Lewis — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 18:15:35 +0000

I know what you mean, although some humor varietals simply have a shelf life; I’ve got a 1946 collection of Robert Benchley pieces that date mostly from the late 20’s and early 30’s (you’ll remember Robert Benchley from his great supporting role in I MARRIED A WITCH, among other things) and although he was apparently regarded as a great wit in his day his stuff comes off now as a lot of random musings about whatever he happened to have lying on his desk at the moment and doesn’t hold up all that well. He was, however, Robert Benchley, so his book gets regular offerings of myrrh and spikenard in the hopes that he will introduce me to Veronica Lake (1942 vintage, of course) in the afterworld someday…

By: D. C. DaCosta

D. C. DaCosta — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 15:15:25 +0000

Other than Wodehouse, and the poems of people like Ogden Nash and W. S. Gilbert, I’m having trouble thinking of any writers I have found truly funny. Perelman, I guess. Twain, in his lighter moments (his dark ones being very dark, indeed). More modern writers tend to be sophomoric (e.g., Dave Barry).

I write some pretty funny stuff myself (at least, I think so), so I guess I’m a tough audience.

It’s easier, I think, to be amusing orally than in written form. Josh Billings, for all his fame, is painful to read, but perhaps he was entertaining over juleps.

By: D. C. DaCosta

D. C. DaCosta — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 15:06:16 +0000

I knew I liked you, Kevin.
All hail The Master.

By: Kevin A. Lewis

Kevin A. Lewis — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 17:47:52 +0000

I was always raised to believe that humor was a dangerous controlled substance that literati needed to be protected from, and am even now getting ready to attend the annual gathering at the grave of P.G. Wodehouse where we ceremonially curse his memory and pray for forgiveness for any inadvertent levity we have allowed his books to bring up in our presence. I’d always assumed you were a fellow member and am shocked at your light proclivities. Good day to you madam-we shall pray for your reform!