How about a happy movie? Tonight I watched Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, just out on DVD. I believe it was based on a novel, so perhaps that would suit you if a book is what you want. I really enjoyed it.

Sorry about your bad news. You are right; you need some cheerful humor.

Rosefolly

Happy books are so subjective, but here are my pics off the top of my head.

"The Day I Ate Everything I Wanted" left me feeling pretty happy. It's by Elizabeth Berg. Short stories about doing what you feel, not what you "should" but in a good way.

One that I have recently discovered (at our local library) is the author Giovanni Guareschi and his books about Don Camillo. I just read "Don Camillo Takes the Devil by the Tail" and it made laugh out loud. It's an old book (1957) dealing with the love/hate relationship between an Italian village priest and the Mayor, who's a communist. Short stories, but funny! There are other books, but I haven't read them yet.

And I know you said no saccharine, but when I'm feeling down and need a boost I read any of the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. It just makes me laugh out loud, and I can just imagine Lucille Ball playing her to a T.

Good luck!

deborah, why don't you try some of Betty MacDonald's books? They always cheer me up. The Egg and I is the first one.
Rosefolly's suggestion of Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day written by Winifred Watson in the 1930's and a few years ago reprinted could equally fit the bill.
The film has yet to come out over here and I am hoping it reaches a cinema near me. It has excellent reviews.

Here is a link that might be useful: Miss Pettigrew/Persephone Books

Maybe something by Bill Bryson would do the trick? I picked up his A Walk Through the Woods a few months ago when I was looking for something light and fun, and really enjoyed it.

Sorry to hear about your bad news.

we had a thread on this a while back-I'll see if I can find it and pull it up.

What about "I Capture the Castle". I think the author is Dodie Smith. It had me laughing out loud. I see it is now out in paperback.

Bill Bryson is laugh-out-loud funny and so are parts of the Big Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani. My in-laws are from the South so maybe that helped me "find" the humor.

But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn is still one of the funniest books I've ever read. It is a memoir written by a woman who grew up in Jersey in the 80's who ends up being a writer for Rolling Stone. She chronicles her growing up as the oldest of three sisters as well as recounts some of her more interesting interviews for RS. I just found on Amazon that she's written a novel so now I'm heading to the library.

I suggest Paddy Clarke, Ha, Ha, Ha by Roddy Doyle.

And if you like history, I literally fell off of the couch laughing as I read Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz.

Thinking of you, and hope that a good book lifts your spirits.

PAM

Wow, guys, thanks for a great response! These sound like some good ones.

I would suggest Aunty Mame, by Patrick Dennis. Very funny and the movie, with Rosalind Russel I believe, was also good.
CMK

Thanks, cc, for bringing up the other "happy book" thread. I started that thread a couple of years ago and I got so many great suggestions; it was wonderful.

I hope you find some good escape, Deborah. Books and music are my main forms of escape during sad and difficult times.

Several of Alexander McCall Smith's series (#1 Ladies' Detective Agency, The Sunday Philosophy Club, 44 Scotland Street and more) have been my companions through some rather stressful times this last year and a half. They are humorous, witty and and have a simple poignant quality to them. Although normally I appreciate a good, long novel these short gentle reads have been like a healing balm.

Here is a link that might be useful: Alexander McCall Smith

Deborah47 - I am much in the same place as you...and am reading a mass market pb by a ubigquitous author I often read for trash...with an unmemorable title (i.e. it's upstairs and not worthy of a trip of the stairs). It is doing the trick for me...mystery, romance, religion and swindled heritage.
Martin mentioned Bryson's new book (Oh, this one is worthy of the stairs...The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid...and it is, as always, everything Martin said. I am just the right age to fit into the book...I am on page 10 - and feeling some respite.
Oh, the junk PB is Heartbreaker by Garwood.

I second the Alexander McCall Smith novels for light, yet perceptive reading. I am partial to the Isabel Dalhousie series, all of which are set in Scotland. I really enjoyed the characterizations in "Friends, Lovers, Chocolate." I think there are four in this series.

Wow, I had a chance to shop at Barnes and Noble and they did not have one of the books you guys mentioned! I couldn't believe it. I will try my local used book store then Amazon. But I was pretty surprised that they didn't have any of the books on list. There were a couple of unmentioned titles by the above authors but I decided I would wait.

I have read all the No. 1 Ladies books so far and I just love them. I like Isabel too but I don't care for his other series too much.

I mentioned this under a post about gentle reads but it was an older post so... The Southern Sister Mysteries by Anne George make me laugh out loud. I just wish she had not passed away so there would be more!
Susan