Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster

Who doesn’t love staying up till 4 AM watching your favorite reality show? Or maybe your guilty vice is rifling through your neighbors’ trash looking for details on their sordid life. Not your cup of tea? What about froot loops for dinner?

No one wants to grow up, but we all have to. Even Jen Lancaster. The hilarious writer and blogger came to the conclusion that it was finally time to face facts and realize what she had become: an adult. In her new memoir, Jeneration X; One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner, Lancaster embraces adulthood and tackles tough life lessons no one wants to learn. Each chapter will have you laughing your pants off, especially when you realizes you have been guilty of the same situations (well, maybe not digging through your neighbors’ trash.) 

If you haven’t ever read anything by Jen Lancaster you might want to start out with her first memoir, Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomanical, Self-Centered, Smartass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office. In Bitter is the New Black, Lancaster sets the stage for how she thought her life was going to be and how it turned out after being laid off from her high paying corporate job.  

You can also check out her blog where she sometimes posts chapters from her upcoming books, giveaways, and any other comical situations involving her husband or three misfit rescue dogs that will crack you up

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper

As a vampire fan and former Children's Librarian (now Teen Librarian) I could not resist this book. Jane Jameson is the Children's Librarian in her hometown of Half Moon Hollow (and yes, it's as small and redneck as it sounds). The library director, a mean and spiteful woman, seizes upon budget cuts as a way to get rid of Jane and fires her. As severance, Jane is given a $25 gift certificate to Shenanigan's and a coupon for their free potato skins appetizer. Jane proceeds to Shenanigan's and spends her severance on alcoholic beverages, then starts a tab.

On her way home that evening, after sobering up with generous lashings of black coffee, Jane's dilapidated station wagon dies. Jane starts the long walk home, stumbling and falling in the mud. A drunken hunter, also on his way home, sees Jane and mistakes her for a deer - and shoots her. Luckily for Jane, the charming, witty, handsome man who flirted with her at Shenanigan's has also followed her home. And extra luckily, he's a vampire willing to turn her.

What follows is a hilarious story about Jane and her new unlife. Though similar to the Sookie Stackhouse novels in premise (vamps are out and drinking synthetic blood, werewolves are not, etc.) this book is far more comedic. Don't look for drama in this book, but do be prepared to laugh-out-loud.

Grace Will Lead Me Home by Katherine Valentine

Dorsetville is home to a variety of characters. It is a small town where people know one another, genuinely care about each other and help when there is need. Father James and Father Dennis are part of the community and people love them. But their housekeeper, Mrs. Norris, has had enough of their sloppy habits around the house. She quit suddenly and the search began for a new housekeeper for the rectory. The women who took the job were certainly unique and nothing like Mrs. Norris. Deputy Hill is well intentioned and wants to be a good lawman but he just has a way of making situations worse instead of better. What will he do next that the sheriff will need to fix? When an ex-convict moves into the rectory he is given another chance at life. The people in Dorsetville are much like the people in Jan Karon's Mitford. They are just folks living life as best they can while being themselves. Often things go better with God's grace.

The Children's Dept. is reading more funny books this month...

We're reading more funny books during April! Click them below to reserve in the catalog!

Sleepover Larry by Daniel Pinkwater - Larry the polar bear lives with the Frobisher family at the Hotel Larry, which is named in his honor. One day Larry decides to invite the polar bears from the zoo, including his brother Roy, for a sleepover. Now it's time for blueberry & codfish pizza, dancing, and lots more fun! ~Ms. Becky

Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look - Alvin Ho is afraid of everything - elevators, girls, and especially school. In fact, Alvin is so scared at school that he never, ever, says a word. But at home he's a very loud superhero named Firecracker Man, a brother to Calvin and Anibelly, and a gentleman-in-training, so he can be just like his dad. ~Ms. Laurie

Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sacher - The kids from Mrs. Jewls's class on the 30 th story of Wayside School are back, and this time things are even weirder than before! This time there's a new kid, a trip to the 19 th story, and even a dead rat! After all that happens in these wacky stories, Wayside School will never be the same! ~Ms. Christina

Knock, Knock! by Saxton Freymann & Friends - Knock, knock! Who's there? Doris. Doris who? Door is open, so come on in… and get ready for a collection of side-splitting jokes by some of your favorite children's book illustrators! There are fourteen jokes in all, and each one has a funny picture to go with it. ~Ms. Sara

Big Max by Kin Platt - The King of Pooka Pooka needs help finding Jumbo, his missing elephant. No one is better for the job than the world's greatest detective, Big Max! Armed with his umbrella and magnifying glass, Max and the King uncover all sorts of clues. Will they ever find the missing elephant? ~Ms. Heather

Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells - It is Grandma's birthday so Max and Ruby are headed to town to buy gifts. As usual Ruby has everything planned out, but Max has his own ideas. When Max makes a mess, the money starts disappearing fast. What will they be able to get for Grandma's birthday? ~Ms. Candice

Fax Me a Bagel by Sharon Kahn

Ruby Rothman's rabbi husband was killed by a hit and run driver one and one half years ago. But the people of Temple Rita still expect her to bear responsibilities of the rabbi's wife. Essie Sue continues involving Ruby in her events, planned down to the words Ruby should use, what she should wear, where she should sit and with whom. The Temple search committee is in the home stretch to find a new rabbi as each member is campaigning for a different applicant. Essie Sue, self appointed director of protocol and all things proper for the Temple, promotes her candidate as being exactly what they need in a charismatic leader who is also in need of a mate. Ruby is enlisted to for Essie Sue's next event which is still on even though Marla died suddenly at the Hot Bagel. Essie Sue continued her match making efforts and Ruby pursued finding Marla's killer so Milt wouldn't be convicted of a crime he didn't commit. When Ruby is almost killed she figured maybe she was on the right track. Who killed Marla, why and in the Hot Bagel? Ruby will find out and then all will be well. Maybe she can come out of this without be matched with the new rabbi.

RV There Yet? by Diann Hunt

Can you imagine three independent women travelling cross country in an RV together? DeDe, Millie and Lydia had met at a camp in Colorado one summer in high school. Now they are more mature, as in fiftyish, menopausal and premenopausal. When they got word that Aspen Creek Bible Camp was in need of help from its alumni, the three friends decided to take time off from their "regular lives" and have an adventure. They met at Lydia's in Maine and got reacquainted while preparing for the trip. Waldo, the recreational vehicle, had weeds growing up around it but Lydia thought "he" should be okay. On the trip from Maine to Colorado DeDe had time to reconsider her troubled relationship with Rob, Millie was paranoid about her job at the library and Lydia continued missing her late husband. Each expected to see certain people they remembered from camp. They also expected to work at fixing up the buildings and grounds of a place that meant good times. What happened on the way was unexpected and the group they reunited with at Aspen camp was a surprise, too. Millie's organizational skills helped and so did Lydia's culinary expertise. But Millie's trumpet playing resulted in a somewhat scary outcome. Time to rethink life, relationships and how we spend our time was productive for many of the alums. This is sure a fun read full of chick humor and situations. I look forward to reading another story about friends laughing, listening and caring about one another as they go through life's 'adventures.'

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

In this refreshingly funny retelling of the classical adventures of Odysseus, Penelope, his faithful stay at home wife finally gets to tell her side of the tale. Her story, told from beyond the Styx, is interspersed with a chorus made up of the twelve maidens Odysseus had hanged on his return.

Penelope, always overshadowed by the lovely, spiteful Helen, the Helen who ruined her life begins her tale as a child in Sparta relating how her father threw her into the sea. We see another side of Odysseus, the con man masquerading as a hero of whom she says “I knew he was tricky and a liar, I just didn't think he would play his tricks and try out his lies on me." She relates the difficulties of running a kingdom at the age of 15, bringing up a small child and getting on with the in-laws without her husband. All the while hearing the rumors of Odysseus fighting one eyed Cyclops, (or perhaps one eyed tavern keepers,) sleeping with a goddess on an enchanted isle, (or perhaps just a beautiful courtesan). And having to deal with suitors who come just to eat her food.

The maidens, meanwhile, relate through poetry, sea chantey, courtroom sketch and anthropological lecture their side of the tale, and their undying indignation at having been murdered.

If you are interested in reading this book, please follow the link to the JCLC catalog

Three Men in a Boat (To say nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome

On this trip down the river Thames, even for one who knows the area, you would never guess the book was published more than a century ago. "Three Men in a Boat" is as witty today as when it first arrived on the shelves.

Our three men: George, Harris and the narrator, Jerome and his fox terrier, named Montmorency, decide to take a cruise down the Thames to get away from "the stress" of their daily lives. But for these three aristocrats the trip is anything but idyllic. This is one of those books that will have you howling with laughter.This is one of those books that will have you howling with laughter of their exploits: From getting lost in hedge mazes, encountering monstrous cats and vicious swans, and all the problems of navigating a small boat with no experience, even cooking with a camp fire is more complicated than they expected.

You can find this book in our catalog. Just click this link, http://vulcan.bham.lib.al.us/ , click the Title tab, type in the book title and click the Submit button. Enjoy!

Way Off The Road by Bill Geist

Bill Geist shares his dry sense of humor with viewers on Sunday mornings. When reading the Author's Note at the beginning of this book you realize, while laughing, that a treat is waiting for you. There are many unique and some quite off balanced people in towns across America. Bill Geist found a few and shares their stories with us. If you enjoy laughing outloud while the other person in the room wonders what on Earth is so funny, read this book-starting with the Author's Note. Now everyone reading "Way Off The Road" will know about the wonders to be found in Scottsboro, Alabama. Do you know how the lost baggage business began? Bill tells us. And about many of the things people have taken "with" them on a trip only to "not" have them along. Bill Geist has a way of seeing funny things and sharing them. Like "Bad Motel Warning Signs". Who words those signs? Just read the book and you'll relax and be happy.