Ruskin Bond's works also contain a lot of humour. For example, in many of his short stories set in the Indian hills, he uses humour to depict the simple yet interesting lives of the local people.
Yes, 'Swami and Friends' by R. K. Narayan is a classic. It follows the adventures of a young boy named Swami and his friends in a small South Indian town. The humorous situations and the vivid portrayal of the characters make it a delightful read.
A sense of the absurd is crucial. 'Three Men in a Boat' is full of absurd moments. The men's over - reactions to small problems like thinking they have every disease in the book when they just feel a bit unwell. It's this kind of absurdity that makes the reader laugh out loud.
Dark humour novels often deal with serious or taboo topics like death, war, and social problems in a humorous way. For example, they might make jokes about the absurdity of war or the silliness of human behavior in the face of mortality.
Well, one characteristic is the use of absurd situations. For example, in 'Catch - 22', the idea that you can't be excused from flying dangerous missions because only insane people would want to fly them, but if you ask to be excused, you're considered sane so you have to fly. It's a really absurd concept that is funny in a dark way.
One of the great ones is 'The Hating Game' by Sally Thorne. It's full of witty banter between the two main characters who start off as office rivals. Another is 'Red, White & Royal Blue' which has a humorous take on a fictional relationship between a British prince and the US president's son. And 'Beach Read' also stands out, with its two writers who challenge each other to write in different genres and the comical situations that unfold as they get to know each other better.
One of the best humour novels is 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams. It's filled with absurd situations and hilarious characters. For example, the concept of the 'Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything' being 42 is both silly and thought - provoking.
Well, 'The Unhoneymooners' is a great humour contemporary romance novel. It's about two people who are forced to go on a honeymoon together. There are hilarious situations like mistaken identities and lots of comical misunderstandings. 'You Deserve Each Other' is also a good one. The couple in the book try to out - prank each other during their wedding preparations, which makes for some really funny moments. 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' has its share of humorous elements too, especially in the interactions between Lara Jean and the boys she's sent love letters to.
The use of irony is a big characteristic. Consider a story where a fitness fanatic is always talking about healthy eating but is caught secretly eating a whole box of chocolates. This irony creates humour. Satire can also be present in English humour stories. They can poke fun at social norms or human vices. And of course, the element of exaggeration, like a man claiming he has a million things to do when in fact he just has a few errands, is also quite common in these stories.
One characteristic is unexpected twists. For example, in a story where a character is expecting one thing to happen, like getting a big promotion at work, but instead they end up getting a job as a janitor in the same company. Another is the use of exaggerated characters. A character might be extremely clumsy or overly confident, which leads to humorous situations. Also, a lot of humour long stories play with language, like using puns or mispronunciations.