At a time when pandemic woes have left people frazzled and ill- tempered, laughter has become a rare sight. With the backlog of movies and shows to watch being exhausted, there is, fortunately, no dearth of novels to keep you occupied. Here are five novels guaranteed to tickle the funny bone:
1) Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes)
The novel follows the misadventures of the eccentric noble Alonso Quixano, who reads too many romantic novels. Accompanied by the farmer Sancho Panzo as his squire, he embarks on a journey to live out a knightly story, resulting in hilarious mishaps and incidents.
2) The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
When an alien invasion threatens global annihilation, Arthur Dent begins an extraordinary adventure into space, along with his alien friend Ford. The impromptu interstellar expedition has Arthur encountering a host of colourful characters while trying to deal with the absurdity and randomness of life in space.
3) Lucky Jim (Kingsley Amis)
Jim Dixon, a lecturer in medieval history, desperately struggles to stay in the good books of his boss. The story paints a comedic picture of the quirks of campus life in the 50s, as Jim tries to deal with the ordeal of saving his job and navigating the social life of the university.
4) Swami and Friends (R.K. Narayan)
In the sleepy town of Malgudi, Swami and his friends attempt to liven up the monotony of school life. Ranging from attempts to deal with exams, to trying to set up a cricket team, there is never a dull moment in this novel.
5) Animal Farm (George Orwell)
This 1945 satirical novel has a group of farm animals dissent against their mistreatment and take over a farm. This is followed by their various attempts to institute democracy, yet remain distinct from human customs.
