Check It Out: Read these and have a good belly laugh
The Columbian
Published: January 23, 2022, 6:05am
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Someone once said, “Laugh, and the whole world laughs with you.” I don’t know if this is really true because what’s funny to me might not be funny to you, but I do appreciate the idea of keeping laughter in one’s life. Did you know that there is a Global Belly Laugh Day? Yes, really. The official day of celebration is Jan. 24, but belly laughs are welcome any day of the year, so when the urge to let out a good guffaw strikes, lean into it!
As I already mentioned, humor is a personal thing. The titles I’m listing today might not hit your funny bone, so I encourage everyone to search the library’s catalog at www.fvrl.org to find things that make you laugh. If you search the word “humor” in our catalog, be prepared: the number of results will be large, and feeling overwhelmed is not funny at all. Think about topics or people who bring a smile to your face and perform some keyword searches.
My reading recommendations are about subjects and/or people that have brought joy to my life. May they tickle your fancy as well.
“Act Natural: A Cultural History of Misadventures in Parenting” by Jennifer Traig. I have never been a parent (except to cats), yet I can appreciate the hard work that parenting demands as well as the unexpected moments that bring joy — maybe tears — to every mom and dad. If you’re a parent and could use a laugh or two, check out Traig’s hilarious review of parenting techniques.
“How About Never — is Never Good for You?: My Life in Cartoons” by Robert Mankoff. The New Yorker magazine has always been one of my favorite periodicals offering an array of wonderful stories, engaging articles and smart, witty cartoons. And speaking of cartoons, Mankoff worked as a cartoonist at The New Yorker before becoming the cartoon editor for nearly 20 years. If laughter is the best medicine, this book offers a large dosage.
“How to Teach Philosophy to Your Dog: Exploring the Big Questions in Life” by Anthony McGowan. Although I’m a crazy cat mom, I love dogs. They love you no matter what and are eager to please even when McGowan decides to teach philosophy to his loveable Maltese terrier, Monty. I try to imagine engaging in a discussion about Socrates with one of my cat boys, and I’m pretty sure the feline disdain for human philosophy would hang heavy in the air.
“Humor, Seriously: Why Humor is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life and How Anyone Can Harness It” by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas. Goodness knows we need more laughter right now (belly-shaking or quiet, interior chuckles — it really doesn’t matter), so how do we get more laughs? “Humor, Seriously” advises readers, in a seriously funny way, how to incorporate more grins in life and work. Ha, ha!
“If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won’t)” by Betty White. The world lost Betty White recently, and while she will be greatly missed, we’re lucky to have her television shows to watch and writings from the cheery lady herself to read. I’m a fan, and I hope you are, too.
“A Mile and a Half of Lines: The Art of James Thurber” by Michael J. Rosen. If you enjoy reading The New Yorker, you probably know about Thurber’s longtime connection with the magazine. Thurber, a cartoonist and author who was well-known for his wit, wrote stories for The New Yorker as well as drawing multiple covers and sketches for the magazine. He died in 1961, but his literary and artistic contributions continue to resonate with readers to this day.
Jan Johnston is the collection development coordinator for the Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries. readingforfun@fvrl.org
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