Three Men in a Boat

Jerome K. Jerome's 1889 comic novel about three friends and a dog muddling up the Thames has never gone out of print, and it is not hard to see why. The observational humor is genuinely, undatedly funny — Jerome's war with a can of pineapple and his encounters with a rogue barometer belong in any anthology of comic writing. Underneath the jokes is a warm portrait of friendship and a lovely eye for the English countryside. The honest caveat is structural: there is almost no plot, just a series of comic episodes and occasional travel-guide digressions, so readers expecting a traditional story arc may feel adrift. The mild beer-drinking of the holiday is about as edgy as it gets. A safe, delightful choice for teens and adults.