I am a sucker for a book that is satire, parody, or humorous. Bonus points if the book makes me laugh out loud with glee. “Kill the Farm Boy” by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne is lauded as an irreverent parody in the style of Terry Pratchett, so naturally, I would gravitate towards this book. However, as I read this book, I found myself wondering if there is such a thing as being too funny and where is the line where comedy ceases to be comedic?

Synopsis

In the land of Pell, a Farm Boy discovers that he is the Chosen One and departs on a quest to save a sleeping princess in a tower. However, the journey takes an unexpected turn that has nothing to do with the talking goat companion or a cheese-craving Dark Lord putting a bounty on the Farm Boy’s heart. The land of Pell is not like other fairytale lands, and the Farm Boy is not like other heroes.

Impression

I love a good book cover with a catchy title, and “Kill the Farm Boy” was a no-brainer. I have a high tolerance for nonsense, and I went into this book expecting “Princess Bride” meets “Robin Hood Men in Tights.” I have a deep appreciation for novels and movies that don’t take the genre too seriously and can make fun of it. The question I ask is if it is possible to go too far into the absurd into the realm of being obnoxious and unfunny?

The first two chapters of “Kill the Farm Boy” were quite funny. The dialogue was quirky, the situations absurd, and the characters charming. However, I soon discovered that quirky dialogue, absurd situations, and charming characters can grow tedious when not balanced with an actual plot or a point to anchor the story. Then there is an attempt to make political correctness humorous, which it inherently is not. I can’t imagine any scenario where a lecture on consent would be met with laughter and not an eye roll.

Speaking of consent, in “Kill the Farm Boy,” trying to kiss a girl without consent gets you a lecture and a punch to the face, but you can wake up naked with sexopusses (I’m not sure what they were called) writhing all over your body because you ended up at some erotic healer’s house after being attacked by giant tongues, but that’s fine.

If you are a fan of movies like “Not Another Teen Movie” or “American Pie,” then this book may be right up your alley. If you prefer something along the lines of “Space Balls” or “Robin Hood Men in Tights,” then you will probably be disappointed.

Thankfully the book was only $3.00 at my Barns and Noble because I bought a damaged copy, so it is no big loss to unhaul this one.

Let’s Chat

In your opinion, where does humor cease to be funny? Let me know in the comments below because I would love to hear your take!