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Summary: So where are the funny bits then?
Review: OK, so it's a readable story and I cracked the occasional wry grin at some of the bizarre scenarios, but where are the belly laughs that the hype promised me? Perhaps it's a cultural thing and Hiaasen's humour doesn't cross the Atlantic very well? The book seemed to be packed full of in-jokes that only Americans will understand and it made me feel like my friends were talking about a party to which I wasn't invited. Sorry, but for satire and a good laugh, give me a Tom Sharpe book any day!
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Summary: my first Hiaasen read...
Review: His quirky characters remind me of Elmore Leonard (that's a GOOD thing). It gets a bit confusing sometimes, jumping from character to character, but overall, it serves up an enjoyable story.
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Summary: Andrew's aftermath
Review: For those readers who are unfamiliar with Carl Hiaasen's novels, the opening scene with the two Miami honeymooners, Bonnie & Max, might read like a contemporary novel on a bored and restless couple. But add the 1992 Hurricane Andrew, the corruption in Florida, and several con artists, and Hiaasen has given us a virtual witch's brew of wickedly funny characters, each unique in their own way. Fans of Hiaasen's prior stories will be glad to learn that the infamous Skink will make his appearance and force his "wildlife" culture on Max Lamb, a pompous ad man who has the gall to videotape the hurricane victims in all of their misery. His bride of only one night, Bonnie, quickly reinforces her initial impression of him (disgust), but finds herself in the midst of a great adventure in the process of rescuing him. Augustine, the unfortunate owner of several escaped wild animals (including rhesus monkeys and buffaloes!) gets caught up in the rescue mission with Bonnie. The animals alone take on the starring roles when it comes to the "just desserts" that Hiaasen so fondly dishes out to his most deserving characters. And THESE are the true stars of his story: Edie Marsh is a tough cookie who, failing to "get" one of the Kennedys on a rape charge, settles for scoring money on an insurance fraud scheme. Her rapid, sparring repartee alone is worth the price of the book; she fears no one and uses everyone, including her hapless partners in crime. "Snapper" is one of these partners, the stock "low-class stupid Southern bigot" character, but he also occasionally displays some cynical wit. His come-uppance is custom-made for him. Ditto for the other "slime" such as Avila, the crooked housing inspector who does his best work speeding by houses at 40 miles an hour. Tony Torres, the unscrupulous mobile home salesman, also gets more than he bargained for. The more vile the character, the more creative Hiaasen gets with the revenge tactics; if revenge is usually considered to be best served cold, Hiaasen prefers to toss in hot peppers and loads of fireworks. This is easily as entertaining a novel as "Strip Tease" (and PLEASE try to find a copy of "Strip Tease" without Ms. Demi on the cover, so as not to be reminded of the horrible movie version that blasphemed the book). Thankfully, it seems that a Miami hurricane would be far too expensive to reconstruct, even for a movie, so there is no danger of Mr. Hiaasen's wonderfully over-the-top satire getting the hatchet treatment by a conventional, "by-the-numbers" Hollywood producer. I was surprised to learn that there was an epilogue with this story, since my copy didn't have one; it didn't seem necessary. My only beef was with the money (I won't get too specific and spoil the plot). Why wasn't it used to help the victims? Even a radically non-materialistic jungle fighter like Skink would want to help poor families get back on their feet, wouldn't he? Then again, given his former-governor status and bufo-toad mind trips, maybe not. His dream is probably for everyone to get back to their "roots". Other than this minor quibble, the intertwining plots come together in an inspiring finale, and it's hard to resist a book in which Skink finally "gets lucky". Definitely a must-read.
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Summary: A Category 2 Storm
Review: Hiaassen brings out Skink and Jim again in his novel Stormy Weather. This time, another bloody yahoo tourist has turned the destruction of a hurricane into a camcorder event. The characters are likeable, Skink is every bit as absurdly loveable as usual, and the imagery is superb. However, this novel lacked something. I'm not sure what, but it didn't pack the punch most Hiaasen books do for me. I'm used to reading a Hiaasen book and wanting to read it again immediately, yet this one didn't hold the same splendor. Also, as some of you know, in many books the epilogue wasn't printed. I wound up getting one of those copes, so until I tracked down the epilogue on the web, I was a tad confused about the ending.
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Summary: Not so Stormy
Review: While I enjoyed this book I was a little disappointed. Familiar ideas are presented however it seems that no real progression of thought has been made since double whammy and naked tongue. The entertainment value is lost with too many Hiassen cliches and too many re-run renamed villans. Superfluous characters are introduced for comical effect who play no real role in terms of plot development. Lacking is the underlying evil and the bigger picture conspiracy. Read one of his earlier books before this one. I think that you will feel more satisfied at the result.
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Summary: Escapism at its best . I think I know most of these people
Review: Great humor , great characters , great storyline drawing them all together. Everyone knows someone resembling these characters. I am a fan from way back , and cannot wait for the next one.
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Summary: Miami without the models
Review: Hiaasen's been chronicling Miami for decades, and his amusement by, and occasional disdain for, its habitues is in full bloom in "Stormy Weather". After beginning innocuously enough, introducing a weaselly New Yorker and his wife who plan to videotape the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, his cast of characters soon take on the sun-baked and brain-rotted pall that Miami cast over all...residents and tourists alike. Any book that can make you sympathize with a crazy ex-governor who straps himself to suspension bridges, can't be all bad. If your image of Miami is of tanned and beautiful models strolling Ocean Drive, I highly recommend this novel, just so you can find out how loony the "American Riviera" really is.
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Summary: Skink For President
Review: My favorite of Carl Hiaasen's books so far. A very enjoyable page turner, with more twists and turns than an alligator hunting dinner. Carl Hiaasen kills his bad guys in the most inventive and mind- boogling ways.
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Summary: A wonderfully humorous gathering of characters and events
Review: I loved it. I thought Stormy Weather was going to be a yawn producer as I read the first chapter, but as the author started introducing more and more off the wall characters I found it hard to put down. The way he tied them all together for an ultimately happy ending was sensational. This is one I'll probably have to read again just to make sure I didn't miss anything.
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Summary: Essential reading for any visitors to Florida!
Review: Carl Hiaasen, an investigative journalist for Florida, has written several funny, satirical crime stories, featuring an ex-governor of Florida and a State Highway Patrol trooper. This story centres around crimes and scams following a
devastating hurricane. Hiaasen manages to knit several separate events into a
fascinating and amusing story.
Hiaasen's books are essential reading for anyone who believes there is more to
Florida than theme parks and Miami Vice.
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