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Great comic novels? Political or social criticism themes?

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High Plains Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 03:41 PM
Original message
Great comic novels? Political or social criticism themes?
I could use some comic relief. What are some great comic novels with political or social themes?

I can think of a few:

"The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

"Thank You for Smoking" by Christopher Buckley (son of William Buckley. No idea about his politics)

"Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Vonnegut's stuff

But I've read all those. I want more. Anybody?
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dorkulon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 03:44 PM
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1. Being There, Jerzy Kosinski
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Jade Fox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 03:51 PM
Response to Original message
2. "How I Saved the World" by Phillip Slater
Edited on Sun Mar-05-06 03:53 PM by Jade Fox
Funny you should ask this question, because I was just thinking about this book. I read it about 20 years ago, so I don't remember much except loving it. Slater is a lefty social critic, and this is his only novel as far as I know. Here is a recent article by him.

http://www.philipslater.com/index.htm
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SmokingJacket Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 03:51 PM
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3. Oh, so many...
If you like those books, you would probably like Fred Exley's "A Fan's Notes," and the sequels. You might also like the work of Richard Russo -- social themes, mostly!

I also really liked "Independence Day," by Richard Ford, which has nothing to do with the movie of the same name, but has a lot of great social commentary.
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MissMarple Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 03:55 PM
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4. For something completely different, how about a Terry Pratchett book.
Tales of the Disc world that moves through the universe held up by elephants riding on the back of a giant tortoise may offer some wry relief.
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Richard Steele Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 05:53 PM
Response to Reply #4
9. And most of those have definite social themes running through them.
The DiskWorld is alot like our world, only more so.
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long_green Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 04:00 PM
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5. "Babbitt," by Sinclair Lewis
you also can't go wrong with Lewis' "Elmer Gantry."
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High Plains Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 04:24 PM
Response to Original message
6. "A Confederacy of Dunces" should be on the list, too.
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etherealtruth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 08:27 PM
Response to Reply #6
14. Oh, heck yes! eom
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Rageneau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 05:48 PM
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7. The Gilded Age (oldie but goodie)
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Gabi Hayes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 05:51 PM
Response to Original message
8. funniest book I've ever read?
Atlas Shrugged....too bad a lot of idiots take it seriously
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Ronnie Donating Member (674 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 06:25 PM
Response to Original message
10. Almost anything by
Carl Hiaasen.
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gatorboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
11. "Being There" by Jerzy Kosinski
Edited on Sun Mar-05-06 06:31 PM by gatorboy
EOM
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High Plains Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 07:32 PM
Response to Original message
12. Thanks for your suggestions, everybody.
I've read Sinclair Lewis and Carl Hiassen, but not Russo or Ford. I'll have to check that out. Some of the other folks I've never heard of, but that's why I asked.
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Orsino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-05-06 08:26 PM
Response to Original message
13. Pride And Prejudice
Not only is it hilarious, it's a wonderful portrait of an incredibly repressed society, and of the power of passion to find a way despite it all.
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