I'm going to be stretched out on Mr Heating Pad for a few days... I've been looking through my Audible and Kindle libraries and not finding a book that seems right...

I'm pretty burned out on the standard guy fair of espionage or detective fiction... I'm in the mood for Something that is well written with good plot character development and FUNNY.

Suggestions?

Well it IS detective fiction... but I highly recommend any of Nelson DeMille's novels with the John Corey character. DeMille is a great author, but his sarcastic wit really comes through in the Corey novels, which are written in first person so you have the complete John Corey worldview.

Start with "Plum Island" and continue the Corey series so you don't miss anything. You will laugh out loud so much your back will hurt more. Promise.

Peter Hathaway Capstick

The Campfire is good most days......

My books might suit you. Baggy Zero Four is available in pdf format and Mike Five Eight in Kindle. The pair are under $10 as ebooks.

LINK

Thanks Rocky, I've read and enjoyed them both....

Not really sure how to better describe what I'm looking for... something witty and entertaining with no annoying liberal politics involved in anyway.... The last short story I read that was laugh out loud funny was Patrick McMann's "The Night The Bear Eat Goomba...".

So either a full length novel or collection of short stories that is quickly engaging humorous and perhaps a bit uplifting.... My back seems to be trying for an Olympic metal in muscle spasms tonight... I guess the weather must be changing......

Off to soak in a HOT bathtub. I think I'm quoting Suzan Summers (embarrassed face icon here) "Getting older isn't for sissies...".

John Grisham and David Baldachi are two excellent authors.

I was hoping to find a link to just the short story.. no luck but here are some of the Amazon review comments:

Unsafe to read while eating or drinking
ByAmazon Customeron August 24, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I've learned never to eat or drink anything while reading Pat McManus' books -- I'll either choke to death or spray everyone around me with a mouthfull of food! I'm living with a painful disability, and have found the uncontrollable hilarity that comes with a McManus book is a better opiate than a syringe-full of morphine. I'm not kidding, either; only this author can turn a wilderness predicament into nosebleeding laughter -- if you can't howl at the adventures of two ten-year-old boys (Retch Sweeny and our intrepid author in his younger days) and Rancid Crabtree, their crusty swamp-dwelling sidekick, along with a town of long-suffering citizens and the boys' put-upon parents, you simply have no appreciation for literary slapstick.


I've always loved Patrick McManus' humor, which I was first exposed to in my youth when he wrote for Field & Stream magazine. On a whim, I decided to purchase the Kindle version of this book and I was magically transported to my teenaged years. I had just finished reading the chapter that has the same name as the book when my 87 year old mother dropped by for a visit. She asked why my cheeks were wet and I had to admit that was laughing so hard that I cried. She wanted to hear what was so funny, so I read the chapter aloud to he. Near the end if the chapter, she was begging me to stop so that she could catch her breath. Yes, Patrick can still entertain me but now I know that my Mom might enjoy some of his books for Christmas. I recommend everything that Patrick has ever written, especially his collections of short stories like this one. It will take you back to a more innocent time in life and will hopefully help to lift the burden of you problems for a short time.

Git off your back and the heat.

Move, move lightly.

Ice (20 min).

Stretch.

Ice.

Carl Hiassen

If you want Non Fiction:

Reynel Martinez "Six Silent Men"

Book 1 of a Series on LRRPs. If you like that series of three then Gary Linderer has a few more. Your Kindle will prompt you at the end of that.

Larry Chambers wrote one on Recondo and a bunch of others will surface as you search in those.

Thanks for that suggestion.... I downloaded Tourist Season.... so far I'm entertained.... I lived in South FLA for a few years when I was in my 20s I think I may have met some of these "Tourists"

Stephen King.

Try Lewis Grizzard - late columnist for Atlanta Journal Constituution. Titles include Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin' Shetland Ponies , Elvis is Dead and I Don't Feel So Good Myself and Don't Bend Over in the Garden, Granny, You Know Them Taters Got Eyes,

I've got back issues too. Spent many a spell on a heating pad gobbling Advil.

For pure, unadulterated bust a gut laughter, you can't do better than the indefatigable Patrick McManus. The Night The Bear Ate Goombaw should be mandatory reading for anyone struggling to get a smile on their face. Pat's stuff is more addictive than Dorito's though-one book of his will never be enough.

Dave Barry is pretty good. Light, and funny. "Lunatics" was pretty good.

J C Box. Wyoming game warden that gets in way more than game and his side kick Nate Romanowski is someone who really gets your attention.

Thanks for the suggestion, I do read war memories books from time to time... By far the best I have read is Once A Warrior King by David Donovan... Are you familiar with that book?

I should have specified, the John Corey novels I mentioned technically aren't detective novels since corey is retired NYPD who eventually winds up fighting terrorists both here and abroad. NO liberal politics.

And forgot about Carl Hiaasen- if you've been to south FL you know the people he writes about. My kin...

I had forgotten about Grizzard... he died way too young... I have a bunch of his books waiting in the queue now.... Lewis' writing is about exactly what I was looking for. Thank You.

I have not read any Dave Barry before... My wife and I just listened to some Audible samples.... funny stuff.... The dark overlords at Amazon are going to be raking in even more profits as the result of this thread....(Icon of them clicking their little Liberal cloven hooves together here...).

Mr Back has started to ease off today... I'll drive into town and swim some laps tomorrow... Life will seem a lot more rosie after that.

Thanks again for all the suggestions!

Stuart Woods is good light reading, try to read the Stone Barrington series in sequence, they build on each other.

Funny, you want to laugh with back problems??
I just re read Heinlien's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Has humor, si-fi, good read.

^ That right there is da troof if you're seeking laughs.

His development of the character Rancid Crabtree is genius.

Craig Johnson, C.J. Box.

These are good books. I have a hard time putting these down once I start one.

SHRECK! buddy it's been a long time.... you make a valid point about not wanting to go full on knee slapping funny at the moment....

I had you figured for a classic scifi buff. Hope all is well down East.

Oh ya, all of Heinlien's stuff is great. Been good, I lurk more than I post here. How you been?

If little foul language does not offend you I recommend Stephen Hunter. I can't remember which book first, he wrote multiple books with same main man. I think he wrote the book "Sniper", Mark Walberg movie. If you start reading "Dirty White Boy" you will not be able to quit till done.

I should have bought stock in Audible and Amazon years ago so I could have earned back some of the profit I have provided for them. I have read several of Stephen Hunters books but not "Dirty White Boys". I'll add it to the list for after I get past the "Just want something to make me laugh" stage.

Here is a link to a review of "Once A Warrior King":

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40502.Once_A_Warrior_King

If I recall correctly, early in the Vietnam war was part of the real beginning of the special forces advisors model of building relations with indigenous people to fight more effectively in foreign wars...

I had no real direct contact personally or professionally with military folks until my mid 30's I had grown up with the MSM "Fake News" shaping my views...

Getting to know some Military service people and their families along with reading "Once A Warrior King" helped me to understand that the MSM sucked just as bad back in the 70s as they do now...