From a rising literary star comes a fresh, satirical novel that Publishers Weekly calls, “[An] acerbic and hilarious hyper-masculine debut.” | Semi-pro wrestler Ricky Twohatchet needs one last match before he gets called up to the big leagues. He finishes the calamitous bout with a neck injury, but even worse, an ugly video of him spewing profanities goes viral and gets him booted from the league. Suddenly without a routine, Ricky sets off to learn about his long-absent father, and what he finds will explode everything he knows about who he is. And, of course, satiric novels can have so, so many different subjects. They can criticize politics, academia, a particular social class, or certain attitudes about race. They can critique widely known subcultures, such as sports, schools, political campaigns, or workplaces. Satiric novelists seem to have great fun critiquing writers and readers. In spite of all their differences, I think it’s safe to say that satiric novels all excel at making readers think while they laugh and laugh while they think. Even if the laughter is more of a pained wince, satires are comedic in nature. They set out to surprise and delight with their insights into the absurdity of humans. And they set out to make readers see the world in a new way. They expose hypocrisy, mendacity, and stupidity. They make us rethink our opinions, beliefs, and self-conceptions. Many satires also show great fondness for human nature, even as they points out its flaws. Check out this list of eight great satiric novels and see what appeals to you. Prepare to question your beliefs and rethink your choices at the same time as you are wildly entertained! Next time you want a book that will make you both laugh and think, give one of these satiric novels a try! Are you looking for more humor in your reading? Check out this list of 100 must-read funny novels. Or think about the possible decline of satire with this article about satire and modern readers.
