Dave Barry, author of numerous humor anthologies and surely the zaniest alum of Haverford College, is returning to the area on Thursday to do a reading of his newest novel at the Philadelphia Free Library’s central branch, Philly.com is reporting.

"The really irritating thing about a novel," the funnyman told the paper, "is you have to have a plot."

As it happens, the plot of Insane City, his first effort in a decade, centers on a Twitter publicist who saves a Haitian family from a sinking boat while he’s in Florida for his ill-considered wedding. It’s a comedy.

Barry will be reading at the Free Library, located at 1901 Vine Street, on January 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Read Philly.com's full interview with Barry here.