What are the characteristics of best humour novels?

Well, one characteristic is the use of absurd situations. For example, in 'Catch - 22', the idea that you can't be excused from flying dangerous missions because only insane people would want to fly them, but if you ask to be excused, you're considered sane so you have to fly. It's a really absurd concept that is funny in a dark way.

Dark humour novels often deal with serious or taboo topics like death, war, and social problems in a humorous way. For example, they might make jokes about the absurdity of war or the silliness of human behavior in the face of mortality.

The use of irony is a big characteristic. Consider a story where a fitness fanatic is always talking about healthy eating but is caught secretly eating a whole box of chocolates. This irony creates humour. Satire can also be present in English humour stories. They can poke fun at social norms or human vices. And of course, the element of exaggeration, like a man claiming he has a million things to do when in fact he just has a few errands, is also quite common in these stories.

One characteristic is unexpected twists. For example, in a story where a character is expecting one thing to happen, like getting a big promotion at work, but instead they end up getting a job as a janitor in the same company. Another is the use of exaggerated characters. A character might be extremely clumsy or overly confident, which leads to humorous situations. Also, a lot of humour long stories play with language, like using puns or mispronunciations.

They often have comical characters. For example, in 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', characters like Ford Prefect are really funny. They also use absurd situations, like in 'Good Omens' where an angel and a demon team up. And there's usually a lot of witty dialogue.

One characteristic is that they often deal with taboo or serious topics in a light - hearted or unexpected way. For example, death, which is normally a very solemn subject, can be made into a joke in dark humour stories. Like the story where a man at his own funeral wakes up and says, 'You guys are making way too much noise.', which turns the very serious event of a funeral into something with a bit of dark comical twist.

They often use irony. In dark humour short stories, things are not as they seem on the surface. The situation might be really bad, but the way it's presented, like through the use of sarcasm or a play on words, makes it humorous in a dark way. Take 'The Cask of Amontillado' where the narrator's false friendship and his act of revenge are told in a way that has this ironic and darkly humorous undertone.

One of the great ones is 'The Hating Game' by Sally Thorne. It's full of witty banter between the two main characters who start off as office rivals. Another is 'Red, White & Royal Blue' which has a humorous take on a fictional relationship between a British prince and the US president's son. And 'Beach Read' also stands out, with its two writers who challenge each other to write in different genres and the comical situations that unfold as they get to know each other better.

One of the best humour novels is 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams. It's filled with absurd situations and hilarious characters. For example, the concept of the 'Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything' being 42 is both silly and thought - provoking.

The humour in these books often comes from the characters' interactions. For example, in 'The Fault in Our Stars', Hazel and Augustus have banter that is both funny and shows their closeness. It can also be in the form of self - deprecating humour, like when characters make fun of their own insecurities. Another characteristic is the use of absurd situations. In 'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda', the whole mix - up with the emails creates an absurd but hilarious situation.