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What’s the Funniest Novel Ever?

by David Kelly

In Rolling Stone’s new comedy issue, prominent comedians are asked to name the “funniest movie ever” and the “funniest TV ever.” Robin Williams makes the best choice for funniest film (“Dr. Strangelove”); Gilbert Gottfried (“Duck Soup”), Tina Fey (“Election”) and Billy Crystal (“Some Like It Hot”) also make good selections; and Jimmy Fallon chooses what you might expect Jimmy Fallon to choose (the “Naked Gun” movies). As for television, Chris Rock goes for “The Simpsons” (excellent pick), Eric Idle opts for “Flight of the Conchords” (very good), and Larry David cites “The Phil Silvers Show” (hilarious) and “Amos ‘n’ Andy” (huh?).

All of which raises the question: what’s the funniest novel ever? There’s a difference, of course, between the greatest comic novel (“Don Quixote”? “Tristram Shandy”? “Ulysses”?) and the novel you find the funniest. “Da Ali G Show” certainly isn’t the best TV comedy ever, but no program makes me laugh harder. Likewise, “A Confederacy of Dunces” may not be great literature, but Ignatius J. Reilly cracks me up.

Here are some nominees from editors at the Book Review: “Lucky Jim” (which got the most votes), David Lodge’s “Small World,” “The Code of the Woosters,” “Leave It to Psmith,” “Bech: A Book,” “Sabbath’s Theater,” Carl Hiaasen’s novels, Jim Harrison’s early novels (“Warlock,” “A Good Day to Die”), Richard Russo’s “Straight Man,” Michael Chabon’s “Wonder Boys,” “Catch-22″ and “Candy.” Waugh, Gogol and John Mortimer received votes, too, and one colleague who is usually not given to laughing out loud while reading said, “‘Portnoy’s Complaint’ and ‘The Anatomy Lesson’ both made my stomach hurt.

Read the full blog posting here.