Remember Me? (2008 )

by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella is back with another hilarious tale!  This one involves a serious case of amnesia that has main character Lexi Smart’s head spinning.

It’s 2004, and Lexi’s having a bad life.  She’s been stood up by her loser boyfriend, she’s been passed over at work in the bonus category, and she’s standing in the pouring rain outside a nightclub with her inebriated friends in a not-so-savory part of downtown London.  When it seems she’s finally getting the attention of an approaching cab, she slips and falls down some stairs, and everything goes black.

 When she awakens in the hospital, it’s 2007.  She hasn’t been in a coma; she’s just had a car accident that has erased the last three years of her memory.  The mystifying part is that she hardly recognizes herself–she’s thinner, obviously wealthy, a top exec at her company, and married to a gorgeous man!  How did this happen?  And how does Lexi navigate this new life when the last time she checked, she was nowhere near this fast-track?

Sophie Kinsella’s stories are not always the most realistic.  Rather, they’re humorous takes on average, everyday problems we all have.  Lexi learns that there are more important things in life besides appearances, and she learns that she had strength within herself that she never knew existed.

If you haven’t tried Sophie Kinsella’s novels before, pick one up today.  They’re quick reads, and very entertaining.

Skipping Christmas (2001)

by John Grisham

Genre: Fiction

I always look forward to the holiday season, but there is always a wee tiny bit of stress involved.  Juggling family get-togethers, shopping lists, money flying out of the wallet… we’ve all been there!  So what would happen if we just decided to skip the whole thing: No presents, no decorations, no food, no cards, no spirit? 

You all may have seen the movie, “Christmas with the Kranks.”  It’s based on John Grisham’s hilarious novel, Skipping Christmas.  This book puts a satirical spin on the notion of skipping all the festivities that come with Christmas.

It’s short, so you can read it in a weekend on your couch, while you eat the fruitcake you got in the mail from Aunt Marge in front of your over-priced Christmas tree, by the light of the thousands of Christmas lights you have strung on your house that filter through your window.  Enjoy!

Sammy’s Hill (2004)

by Kristin Gore

Genre: Chick Lit

Maybe I’m stereotyping a bit, but I never would have imagined that the daughter of a politician could have me laughing hysterically!  Kristin Gore (Al’s daughter) brings Washington to life with her main character, Samantha (Sammy) Joyce.  Sammy is a young senatorial aid who is dedicated to bringing better health care to seniors.  She’s also a self-deprecating hypochondriac whose love life is a mess and who finds herself constantly in sticky Bridget Jones-esque situations.  She insists on having fish as pets, for example, though she can’t keep them alive.  She does have the flushing ceremony down pat, complete with the song “Octopus’s Garden” playing in the background as the fish are flushed to their watery graves.  Despite her quirks, as you delve into her personal and professional life, you find yourself becoming proud of the girl as she stands up for what’s right… no matter how much trouble it lands her in.

Gore’s debut novel is one of the funniest I’ve read in awhile; and, I’ve just discovered that the sequel, Sammy’s House, was released in July of this year. 

If you love comedy and politics, try these out, and let me know what you think.

When I Fall In Love (1999)

by Iris Rainer Dart

Genre:  Fiction

Okay. Now I’m not one for sappy romances, and the cover of this one suggests “weepy, cavity-inducing love story.” But the cover is somewhat deceptive; there is substance and grit to this story. Iris Rainer Dart’s When I Fall in Love explores not only themes of unconditional love, but also of sensitivity, tolerance, and cruelty.

Comedy writer Lily Benjamin has a thriving career, a handsome cardiologist fiancé, and a teenaged son who has ambitions to be a tennis star. Then, every parent’s worst nightmare happens—Lily’s son, Bryan, is shot and his spine is damaged beyond repair. He will never walk again. Lily struggles desperately to comfort her son, but seems to be going about it all wrong; Bryan does not respond to her.

Enter Charlie Roth: Lily’s new boss and legendary comedian, and who is horribly disfigured from cerebral palsy. Famous for his off-color humor and outrageous self deprecation, Roth is not one of Lily’s favorite people.

Strangely enough to Lily, Charlie’s insensitive and often cruel humor is the only thing Bryan responds to. Slowly, Bryan gains a new perspective of the world around him, and how he fits into it. And Lily, too, begins to see life—and Charlie—in a new light.

Sound like a tear-jerker?  It is.  Your gut will twist from the emotions and tragedy of the story, but you will also convulse with laughter as well, and fall in love with the character Charlie Roth.

Tricky Business

by Dave Barry 

Genre: Mystery (with a kick) 

Imagine a Quentin Tarantino spin on a Harrison Ford action flick, and you will understand the feel of Comedian Dave Barry’s novel, Tricky Business.

  The owner of a luxury gambling ship defies the oncoming tropical storm and sets sail one evening due to a hidden agenda: A huge drug smuggling mission is going down on the ship, and it can’t be delayed.  What transpires is a hilarious, fast-paced adventure involving several Mafia hitmen, undercover FBI agents, a rock band, and a television news crew who relentlessly and unsuccessfully pursues the whole affair. 

Barry never fails to hook his nonfiction readers with his wit and charm, and his fiction works are equally outrageous.  Tricky Business is full of mystery and black comedy and won’t fail to be entertaining, despite the book’s absurd plot and exorbitant body count.  (Explicit violence and strong language.)

For a complete listing of Barry’s works, visit his website.