Lost at Sea, Jon Ronson

Having been a fan of Jon Ronson's writing for years, I was thrilled to read this collection of articles. They do go back some time, so some were familiar, but I loved the way they were grouped, and of course many were new to me. Especially strong entries included Santa's Little Conspirators, about the Alaskan town of North Pole, and Blood Sacrifice, about people looking to donate organs. As always Ronson finds the unusual, and writes about it with humor, wit, and empathy.

The Tao of Martha, Jen Lancaster

Jen Lancaster's evolution from Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office to the domestic diva wannabe of The Tao of Martha has been a wonderful ride for readers, and this latest title had it's laughing til you think you'll cry moments!
Easter, especially- oh, even thinking of it is making me laugh.
As Jen Lancaster attempts to take on the Tao of Martha, she has some epic fails, but throughout, keeps her voice real, and when sadness touches her and her long-suffering partner Fletch, her writing takes on a new depth.
I have people lined up to borrow this one!

Everything is Perfect When You're a Liar, Kelly Oxford

I was unfamiliar with Kelly Oxford's writing, but hoped to enjoy her work as much as I do other blogger-turned-authors, and she did not disappoint!
Outrageous stories with a whistling air of danger behind them made me question her reliability as a narrator, but I suppose she addresses that right in the title!
Some sections were truly verging on the offensive, but Oxford's undeniable charm smoothed those edges, and I have already recommended it to several friends.

It's Only Slow Food Until You Try to Eat It: Misadventures of a Suburban Hunter-Gatherer , Bill Heavey

This was a very well written and well done book about how to see the food in front of our eyes, and how to go about eating it!
Bill Heavey, a sportswriter, takes on learning to forage, hunt, and fish, and in the process, learns and shares a ton of great information about the history of American food, the industrialization of the food industry, and how food and society can be intrinsically linked, as in the sections about the Gwich'in and the Cajuns.
More than an entertaining read, this surprisingly powerful books has me looking for local edibles in my own area, and thinking much more about what it means to eat locally.

Call The Shots, Don Calame

Wonderful, funny YA about making a low low low budget zombie movie.

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life, Tara Altebrando

Fun YA scavenger hunt.

Some Like It Hawk, by Donna Andrews

Another funny and sweet entry into the Meg Langslow Caerphilly series.

Guy Langman: Crime Scene Procrastinator, by Josh Berk

This was a really enjoyable, entertaining and moving novel.
When Guy's best friend Anoop convinces him to join the school Forensics Club (to meet girls), they have no idea that they will encounter some real mysteries.
Guy's voice was clear and distinct, and his relationships and world felt very real. Anoop, Maureen, and other supporting characters were drawn with grace and humor.

Chomp, by Carl Hiaasen

As always, a fun, quirky environmentally aware caper from Hiaasen, who delivers exactly what one would expect and nothing more.

Merde Happens, by Stephen Clarke

Yet another hysterically funny book in Clarke's international misunderstandings series featuring hapless, if handsome Paul West, this time valiantly crossing the USA in a Mini-Cooper, trying to win an international tourism promotional contest for the UK.

In The Merde For Love, by Stephen Clarke

Very funny continuation of the story started in A Year In The Merde, but this time focusing more on his ludicrous (but very frisky!) love life.

A Year in The Merde, by Stephen Clarke

SO funny, and so out of control, this was a re-read that I enjoyed and will look for his next book, In The Merde For Love, right now. Ludicous fictionalized look at trying to start a chain of English style tea rooms in France.

I've Got Your Number, by Sophie Kinsella

Delightful, light and funny romance from the uneven Kinsella. This one is a winner, though. When her phone is stolen, Poppy steals another phone for reasons already complicated. Through the new phone, she and Sam begin an exchange of messages that are just really well done. One of the better romance/text message books I've read.

It Looked Different On The Model: Epic Tales of Impending Shame and Infamy, by Laurie Notaro

Hilarious collection of essays, ranging from getting stuck while trying on a too small blouse in a boutique to a disastrous road trip with a 10 year old nephew. So funny.

From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant, by Alex Gilvarry

Very amusing story of a Philipino fashion designer who gets stuck in Guantanamo accused of being part of a terrorist ring.

Treasure Island!!!, by Sara Levine

Very funny, off-kilter book about a slacker in a quarter-life crisis who decides to try to find the meaning of life in Treasure Island- she tries to adopt it's "core values" of "boldness, resolution, independence and horn-blowing."
So random.
Made me want to read Treasure Island, actually.

Lunatics, by Dave Barry

Freaking HILLARIOUS caper romp of a book- after a disagreement over a call on a girls soccer game, two men enter into a series of retaliations that escalates to truly ludicrous points, and they become international terrorists/freedom fighters, and accidentally heroes and canditates for President. This was so funny, I would love to read it again.

The Burglar in the Closet, by Lawrence Block

Ok Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery. Not nearly as enjoyable as The Burglar in the Rye, with it's charming nod to Salinger's privacy, but still a fun read.

The Burglar in the Rye, by Lawrence Block

Wildly charming mystery. It is hard to make a criminal a sympathetic protagonist, but Bernie is just so funny, and I LOVED the whole tribute to Salinger thing and the smacks at Joyce Carol Oates. Great fun read.

Diary of a Chav: The Fame Diaries, by Grace Dent

Another delightful entry into Dent's series. Not the strongest, but happily this one seems to kind of wind up Shiraz's search for a way to return to school, which made me very glad.
I hope she writes more of these, but am beginning to sadly suspect this is the last- I'm so glad I got to read them.