Bathtub Reading

hilarious reads

Wendy Webb

July is such a laid-back time that my reading tends to be laid-back, as well. Nothing too heavy, nothing too deep. Just pure entertainment. Because of this, I thought July would be the perfect month for me to recommend three of the funniest books I’ve ever read. These are not staggering literary works of heartbreaking genius. They’re just funny.

 

Letters from a nut

Ted L. Nancy (Jerry Seinfeld) William Morrow, paperback 2001

This is a collection of actual letters to various companies, sports franchises and other organizations written by Ted. L. Nancy (which I am certain is a pseudonym for Jerry Seinfeld) and the letters he receives in response. He writes to a hotel inquiring about room availability for him — and the 2000 red ants he travels with. (They are NOT pets, so they won’t violate the hotel’s no pet policy.) He inquires about the possibility of gambling at a Las Vegas casino dressed as a shrimp. (The costume relaxes him.) He writes to manufacturer of stadium seats wondering about the proper way to exit a row filled with people — facing front or back? My favorite is his letter to a Colorado hotel wondering if they have found his lost bag of otter hair. Let me tell you: the best way to enjoy this book is to read the letters aloud. As I was going through it again for this write-up, my son and I were in tears reading these letters out loud to each other. I haven’t laughed that hard since —well, since I read it the first time.

i love everybody (and other atrocious lies)

By Laurie Notaro Villiard, paperback 2004

Laurie Notaro is a journalist from Phoenix, where she wrote a “slice of life” column for the daily newspaper. The slices of her life are hilarious, and now she has several books containing these columns and other essays. Notaro writes about everyday topics —family relationships, going to the grocery store, driving on the highway, her weird childhood, weight loss troubles—and you’ll find yourself wiping the tears out of your eyes nearly every time you turn the page. I’ve read all of her books but I’m recommending this one because it contains my favorite of her essays, “I Love Everybody.” It chronicles her trip to Costco on a day when she is in a very foul mood after reading a bad review of one of her books. If you’ve ever been to Costco or Sam’s Club, you will be doubled over reading her take on it.

Naked

By David Sedaris Back Bay Books, paperback 1998

This book is a little more substantial than the other two I’m recommending. David Sedaris’ essays are somehow funny, poignant, sad, thoughtful, sarcastic and biting all at the same time. And many are decidedly off-color, so if you’re easily offended, best stay away. He first gained fame with The Santaland Diaries, a scathing monologue about working as an elf at Macy’s during Christmas season. Then came his appearances on National Public Radio, and then came his books of essays. In Naked, Sedaris takes us back to his childhood in which we hear how his mother served drinks to the succession of his teachers who came to the house to complain about his various ticks and compulsions. We travel with him as a young man by bus across country — with a foul-mouthed seat mate. We hear about him hitch-hiking with a quadrapeligic companion. Sedaris is at his best when he is poking fun at himself and the various ticks, maladies and compulsions he suffers.

 

This article appears in its entirety in the July 2008 issue of Duluth~Superior Magazine.
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