Literary equivalent of Bob's Burgers?
May 10, 2014 10:42 AM Subscribe
What are some novels in the same vein as Bob's Burgers, which is to say: funny stories about quirky families that have a foundation of love and positivity?
Almost all of Ann Tyler's novels.
My favorite is Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.
posted by routergirl at 11:03 AM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
My favorite is Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.
posted by routergirl at 11:03 AM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Auntie Mame is definitely a quirky character!
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is fun (but dad is fairly uptight.)
posted by vespabelle at 11:34 AM on May 10, 2014 [3 favorites]
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is fun (but dad is fairly uptight.)
posted by vespabelle at 11:34 AM on May 10, 2014 [3 favorites]
Just about anything by John Irving.
posted by carmicha at 11:44 AM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by carmicha at 11:44 AM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
The first time I saw Bob's Burgers, I could have sworn it was an animated adaptation of Middlesex.
Middlesex isn't quite as comedic in tone as Bob's Burgers, but it's full of quirk and is a sweeping story about a Greek-American family in Detroit over the course of the 20th century. It's pretty positive given some of the dark subject matter.
posted by Sara C. at 11:57 AM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Middlesex isn't quite as comedic in tone as Bob's Burgers, but it's full of quirk and is a sweeping story about a Greek-American family in Detroit over the course of the 20th century. It's pretty positive given some of the dark subject matter.
posted by Sara C. at 11:57 AM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Seconding John Irving, specifically Hotel New Hampshire.
posted by coppermoss at 12:57 PM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by coppermoss at 12:57 PM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Hadn't put that together, Sara, but I love the comparison.
posted by Michael Pemulis at 3:24 PM on May 10, 2014
posted by Michael Pemulis at 3:24 PM on May 10, 2014
David Sedaris relies heavily on his family for material, and they are definitely quirky but hilarious and loving.
posted by pintapicasso at 4:04 PM on May 10, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by pintapicasso at 4:04 PM on May 10, 2014 [5 favorites]
Love Bob's Burgers. Tina's such a horn dog; what a great character. Nthing the John Irving. The show also somehow reminds me of the great Homer Price children's stories by Robert McCloskey; not for the family dynamics, but for the gentle, quirky humor.
posted by Bron at 4:58 PM on May 10, 2014
posted by Bron at 4:58 PM on May 10, 2014
Pretty much everything Daniel Pinkwater writes for the YA market fits this bill.
posted by Mchelly at 5:55 PM on May 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 5:55 PM on May 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
I really liked The Darling Buds of May
I saw the mini-series, but it's based on a series of books. Also My Family and Other Animals (book, with a relatively recent film) was pretty fun.
I suspect a fair bit of YA would fit the bill, if interested in that talk to your local children's librarian ;)
posted by jrobin276 at 2:27 AM on May 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
I saw the mini-series, but it's based on a series of books. Also My Family and Other Animals (book, with a relatively recent film) was pretty fun.
I suspect a fair bit of YA would fit the bill, if interested in that talk to your local children's librarian ;)
posted by jrobin276 at 2:27 AM on May 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Stories from the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart Mclean. The stories are also on the Vinyl Cafe radio program on CBC. They're lighthearted and humorous.
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 6:59 AM on May 12, 2014
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 6:59 AM on May 12, 2014
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Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:47 AM on May 10, 2014 [9 favorites]