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Addled by too many chivalric romances, the ageing Don Quixote resolves to become a knight errant. Setting out on his trusty steed, he employs Sancho Panza as his squire and determines to rescue damsels in distress, slay mighty giants, and win the lovely Dulcinea’s heart.

Hayley Long creates a vivid and believable picture of family life in north west London in this warm-hearted and highly readable tale with a brilliantly unexpected twist.

A uniquely insightful short story collection with huge appeal to women of all ages.

Dan Rhodes' new novel does that Dan Rhodes thing that Dan Rhodes does so well: talk about the extreme light and dark at the centre of the human condition in a wildly comedic way.

Elizabeth Bowen combines social comedy and reportage, perception and vision in this 79-strong collection.

Humorous stories: the author confronts his naked self in the mirrored sunglasses of a lunatic.

End Zone is a clever, playful and, above all, funny novel, which confirms DeLillo's status as one of the great American writers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Jonathan Coe's warm and heartening look back at the 1970s and its fashions and tastes is a zesty comedy full of acute observations about growing up and being an awkward teenager at school.

In the beginning there was Bob

Ranging in subject matter from sleuths and film stars, from love stories to fables, and from poetic realism to satire, Maguire's humour is observant and sharp.

Matt, Coop and Sean have been friends forever.  Each summer, they set themselves a goal, and this year tops the lot - they must see a real live naked girl. 

Like Alessandro Gallenzi’s Bestseller, this novel scathingly upturns the novelist’s ethic with an exploration into finding the perfect bestselling formula.

All of Spark's published short stories are brought together with some new writing in this volume, which displays her cool, biting humour and unique vision of human nature.

High school student Charlie prefers to look on life from the sidelines, but he can't be a 'wallflower' for ever, and soon finds himself grappling with the challenges of adolescence.

Terry Pratchett once again proves himself a master storyteller in this tribute to one of Charles Dickens' best-known characters, the Artful Doger.

Nii Ayikwei Parkes' debut novel is a poetic, dreamy story about the influx of technology and modernity into rural Ghana, and the uneasy relationship between science and spirit.

Tina Fey, the creator of 30 Rock, one of Saturday Night Live’s best stalwarts and she of the uncanny Sarah Palin impressions in the run-up to the 2008 USA elections, may not be as widely known here as she should be

When Adrian Tomine was asked by his wife-to-be to document the lead-up to their wedding in a comic book that would be given out as a party favour, he soon found himself with a fully-fledged graphic novel on his hands.

A spiky, feisty, hilarious collection of stories that expose women's clumsy, often doomed, attempts to negotiate a smooth path through life.

Debut novelist Ben Masters comes to us on a wave of expectation. Following the student protests of last year, we all want to know just who are these students of the noughties, filled with the passion of revolution in their hearts and the dancing feet of David Byrne in their retro loafers.

The irrepressible Mosca Mye returns! Having departed Mandelion under a cloud, she and Eponymour Clent are running out of places to go.

Daniel Clowes’ latest exercise in dysfunctional love affairs smitten by misanthropy concerns the titular, Mister Wonderful, Marshall, a neurotic divorcee who goes on a first date, with the obvious ‘complications’ ensuing.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is officially one of the funniest books ever written.

This funny book is known for its portrayal of independent yet eccentric women and its depiction of love as being the ultimate goal despite its true course running far from smoothly.

Sag Harbor is a warm and funny piece of literary comedy that is laidback like the summer it depicts and staunchly proud of its identity.

Miranda July’s debut collection is an engaging mix of the heartfelt and self-aware, with some very funny moments and sharp observations.

Being a teenager is hard enough when you’re alive but imagine the extra problems faced when you’re a teenage zombie!

David Eagleman’s thought-provoking, funny and frequently touching fiction uses sciencific thought to underpin something we as humans cannot ever comprehend.

Amy's parents are divorced, both have new partners and she's struggling with the dynamics of two differently shaped families.

This is a very bizarre book about a group of disappointed young people whose vaulting ambitions have been crushed.

This is a very funny book about the trials and tribulations of growing up, portraying adolescent confusion and fear of change with humour and sensitivity.

Dave Lizewski is just an ordinary American teenager. He has a MySpace page, he loves comic books, and he is unable to find a girlfriend. Then an idea hits him: why not become a real life super hero?

You probably won't read a funnier book than Skippy Dies this year. Told in three volumes, set in the grand Dublin institution of Seabrook School for Boys and featuring a cast of awkward teenagers looking for love and respect alike.

This is the superlative post-modern superhero tale involving pulp noir, science, hubris, the Cold War, love, lust, craziness and pirates.

Bridget Jones wants to have it all - and once she's given up smoking and got down to 8st 7 she will.

All teenagers are embarrassed by their parents but Jude feels she has more reason than most to cringe when hers are around her in public.

Stand up poet Tim Clare's memoir of trying to write and publish the perfect book, mired by peer-jealousy and depression, is the best tool for any budding writer wanting an insight into the creative process.

Meet Oliver Tate, 15. Convinced that his father is depressed ('Depression comes in bouts. Like boxing. Dad is in the blue corner') and his mother is having an affair with her capoeira teacher.

Skilfully written, well-structured genuine short stories, full of wit and surprise and - in many cases - wisdom. They just also happen to be very, very funny.

Packed with hilarious and embarrassing anecdotes about some of the greatest cricketers of the last 20 years.

The combination of an Ancient Greek setting, together with a leading character who is a vain and cowardly talking pig, makes for an unusual tale.

Camille is longing for the perfect boyfriend - and her best friend Zoe has a rather unusual plan to bring her dream boy to life.

Persepolis is Satrapi's history of Iran and her life in Iran and France as she tries to retain her Iranian culture but also grow up and become independent.

A new short story collection from Karen Russell is a joy. Her fascination with injecting fantasy and metaphysical characters into mundane situations and high drama family structures is a joy. There is something of the daydreaming child, thinking up the stories that lift her out of her surroundings about Karen Russell. With elements of dystopia, oodles of humour and a lightness of touch, these short stories make a phenomenal collection.

Woody Allen's collection of stories is surreal, absurd, rich in verbal play, bitingly satirical and just plain daft.

Bed is a grotesquely funny, arch and morbid tale of two brothers, one second-best and the other spoilt and lazy. The spoilt lazy one hasn’t left his bed in over twenty years.

Pride and Prejudice is an ironic novel of manners. In it the garrulous and empty-headed Mrs Bennet has only one aim - that of finding a good match for each of her five daughters.

The Caspars are falling apart as George W. Bush rushes towards reelection and the country towards paranoid door-closing. Joe Meno's book not only encapsulates a time in history, of paranoia and suspicion, of lack of faith in politics and maximised patriotism, but he also writes about the failings of a dysfunctional family with humour and tenderness and ballot boxes of pathos.

The Elephant Keepers' Children is just silly enough to be clever and just mad enough to make perfect sense.

Ironmonger's wit and intelligence coupled with engaging anecdotes and eccentric characters keep the reader enthralled right to the very end