On the HahaFiction shelf

Lunatics

by Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel

A disputed call at a girls' soccer game makes Philip Horkman and Jeffrey Peckerman enemies. Philip runs a pet shop; Jeffrey thinks he knows exactly how the world should work. Their next encounter sets off a disaster that leaves them suspected of terrorism and running from the authorities together.

Adventure Crime & thriller Banter Farce Satire

From the publisher’s blurb

“And they might even learn a lesson or two along the way.”

Read the full description at G.P. Putnam’s Sons

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What makes it funny?

The opening apology cannot survive its first sentence without a fight over who owes it. Philip describes a lovely Sunday; Jeffrey remembers an outrage that demands redress. Readers in book groups recommend the book for its laughs, and listeners also single out the audiobook.

The comedy at work

The two men take turns telling the story, each supplying excuses for his own behavior. Their feud keeps expanding because neither can leave an insult alone. A pet shop named The Wine Shop, after Philip's in-laws, gives Jeffrey another reason to believe he is surrounded by idiots.

Try this if…

An option for readers who enjoy hostile partners, crude jokes and a small suburban grievance growing into an international mess. The action depends on accidents and improbable escapes, with the men still arguing as the danger increases.

Good to know

The language is strong, and Jeffrey's insults include racist remarks and attacks on disability and body size. Reviews also describe scatological jokes and a clothing-optional cruise. The humor asks you to spend time with an aggressively unpleasant narrator.