Laughter Is the Best Medicine: Furiously Happy, Jelly Donuts, and the Messiest November Yet

Picture this at your next book club gathering: powdered sugar everywhere, someone yelling “whoa!” at a peanut butter-bacon cocktail, or a copy of Jenny Lawson’s “Furiously Happy” open in someone’s lap while they’re cackling so hard their drink goes up their nose. At RED, that’s just how we like it—messy, cheerful, and a little absurd. Because this November, we’re doubling down on our theme of staying positive in the face of chaos, with a gathering that proves laughter really is the best medicine.

READ: “Furiously Happy” by Jenny Lawson

Some books ask you to reflect on life’s big questions. Some books teach you how to cook. And some, like Jenny Lawson’s “Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things,” dare you to laugh until you cry at the absolute absurdity of mental illness, dead raccoons, and life’s messiest moments. Jenny’s memoir is a wild, hilarious, brutally honest ride through the highs and lows of anxiety and depression—written with the kind of dark humor that makes you feel a little bolder about your own weirdness. If you haven’t read it yet, check out the summary and reviews here.

This book could not be more perfect for November, with its confession-booth honesty and “let’s make lemonade, or at least lemon vodka” optimism. In Jenny’s world, having a meltdown in public is hilariously relatable, and the best way to face pain is to laugh in its face. If you’re feeling a little frayed at the edges this time of year, let Lawson’s humor be the thread that stitches you back together—one laugh at a time.

EAT: Jelly Donuts (Don’t Bother With Napkins)

If you’re going to eat your feelings this month, might as well do it with something deep-fried and unapologetically messy. Enter: Classic Jelly Donuts. There is no dignified way to eat these. You’re going to get jelly on your shirt. There will be a dusting of powdered sugar on your pants, the floor, the book cover. That’s half the fun.

Not only are these donuts the perfect companion to a riotous memoir, but there is a strange kind of group therapy in watching your friends try (and fail) to keep the jelly off their faces. Pro tip: the person who stays cleanest owes a dramatic reading of their favorite chapter.

 As a side note, when I made these, I had never piped jelly into dough before. I opted to use a homemade raspberry jelly and it may have been too thick, but getting it in there was way more difficult than I expected. I also opted to use powdered sugar on the outside of the donuts, instead of cane sugar, for a more ‘powdered donut’ effect. Overall, it was a VERY messy project and my donuts did not turn out perfectly by any means, but it was still a lot of fun and they tasted delicious! I am sharing some photos from my messy donut escapades here:

DRINK: The Dirty Elvis Cocktail (Brace Yourself)

Book clubs like ours need drinks that can handle a little drama, and the Dirty Elvis Cocktail delivers. Ice cream, whiskey, peanut butter, bacon, bananas—this drink is both a dare and a delight, and it leans all the way into our theme of embracing life’s glorious, messy abundance. The Dirty Elvis is not subtle. Neither is “Furiously Happy.” That’s why they’re such a good pair.

Pull out your blender, steel your stomach, and serve this over-the-top concoction to your book club fam.

Book Club Discussion Topics

End the night sticky, a little tipsy, and brilliantly entertained. Here are a few questions to get your book club started:

• What part of “Furiously Happy” made you laugh the hardest, and did it surprise you?

• Lawson talks about turning pain into humor and art. Has humor helped you cope with life’s messiness? How?

• Which story (or animal) in the book do you wish you could meet in real life?

• Did you relate to Jenny’s experience with mental health? Did anything change how you think about your own struggles?

• How did eating jelly donuts and drinking Dirty Elvises shape the vibe of your meeting? (Be honest.)

• What’s the messiest/funniest thing that’s ever happened at a RED gathering—or in your own life?

• If you could pick the next RED book with a similar blend of heart and humor, what would it be?

See you in December for some wintery book club fun.

Happy Reading, Eating and Drinking!