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11 books to read next
If you loved Based on a True Story by Norm Macdonald
Readers who love Based on a True Story usually enjoy its deadpan voice, its loose and digressive structure, and the way it moves from silly anecdotes to sudden stretches of real sadness. Norm Macdonald tells stories about gambling, Hollywood, and his own odd life while refusing to behave like a conventional memoirist. The book rewards readers who like jokes that take their time and a narrator who seems to shrug at his own authority. The picks below follow those threads: comic memoirs, absurd fiction, wild gambling tales, and books that mix humour with grief.
Steve Martin
Like Macdonald, Steve Martin writes about becoming a stand-up comic with an insider's precision and a dry, self-deprecating tone. His account of building an act from nothing will appeal to anyone who enjoyed the stand-up side of Based on a True Story.
Tina Fey
Tina Fey's memoir moves through sharp, short anecdotes about comedy writing, television and the odd indignities of working life. Readers who liked Macdonald's Saturday Night Live stories will find the same backstage candour and quick comic timing.
Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler mixes sketch-like vignettes with frank reflections on work and failure, much as Macdonald does. Fans of his loose, conversational style will enjoy her energetic, candid voice.
Joseph Heller
Heller's war novel is built on circular logic, absurd bureaucracy and jokes that turn bleak. Readers who admired Macdonald's blend of comedy and tragedy will recognise the same mix of laughter and unease.
John Kennedy Toole
This comic novel follows an eccentric, self-absorbed narrator through a series of escalating misadventures. Its vivid characters and gleefully odd tone suit readers who enjoy Macdonald's unpredictable, colourful storytelling.
Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
Good Omens is a playful, irreverent comic novel full of deadpan asides and absurd situations. Readers who enjoy Macdonald's dry wit and his habit of undercutting himself will find plenty to like here.
Hunter S. Thompson
Thompson's chaotic, half-fictionalised account of a Vegas trip is as much about voice as plot. Readers drawn to Macdonald's gambling stories and his loose relationship with the facts will enjoy its manic energy.
Michael Lewis, Francisco José Ramos Mena
Michael Lewis explains a high-stakes gamble with wry humour and a sharp eye for human foolishness. Readers who liked the book's talk of betting and risk will appreciate its reporting that reads like a series of bizarre stories.
Kurt Vonnegut
Vonnegut uses jokes, odd digressions and a deliberately detached narrator to write about war and loss. Readers who appreciated Macdonald's way of moving from laughter to sorrow will find a close match.
David Sedaris
Sedaris writes short, funny essays about awkward family life and personal failure, with a dry, observant tone. Readers who enjoyed Macdonald's rambling, self-mocking anecdotes will find a similarly wry narrator.
George Saunders, Amir Tsukerman
Saunders blends comic absurdity with grief in a story about loss and the afterlife, told through many voices. Readers who valued the mix of humour and sadness in Based on a True Story will find that balance handled with great inventiveness.
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