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eslx32's review against another edition
2.0
Although I mostly enjoyed the story line, my biggest issue with this book was the lack of character that the only two women had. One was the damsel in distress and the other used her body to sell everything. It was a bit painful to read such basic stereotypes of women in times of distress (hurricane aftermath).
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Audio book performed by George Wilson
After a massive hurricane flattens Southern Dade County Florida, the place is overrun with various chiselers, scam artists, would-be contractors, insurance adjusters, and even honeymooning tourists. Hiaasen peoples this romp with the usual mix of characters – Bonnie and Max are on their honeymoon at Disney World when the hurricane hits, and Max just [u]has[/u] to head south to get home videos of the aftermath. Augustine Herrera has recently inherited his uncles wildlife “park” … and needs to find the various wildlife (including a male African lion, a cape buffalo, dozens of reptiles, and several mangy monkeys) who have been set free by the storm’s destruction. Edie and Snapper (Lester Maddox Preston) figure they can score a quick insurance scam, but just cannot catch a break. Antonio Torres is the subject of wrath when the entire trailer park – where he sold “federally guaranteed” mobile homes – is flattened, killing one resident and leaving the others with nothing but their memories. All of them are interconnected by the former governor of Florida – Skink – a one-eyed certifiably crazy mad man who has been waiting for “the big one” and experiences the storm lashed to a high-rise bridge.
The plot is riddled with ridiculously convenient coincidences and interconnections. But who cares?! Hiaasen is a master of this unique genre … a sort of improbable romp wherein everything turns out for the best and the bad guys always get what’s coming to them.
Wilson does a reasonable job of performing the book, though he is not very good at the female voices. I particularly like the way he breathes life into Skink, however. My particular copy of the work was unfortunately marred on the last disc, so I couldn’t listen to the ending … the last track was mostly pops and whistles, with the occasional word fragment. Drats …
All in all it’s an enjoyable diversion.
After a massive hurricane flattens Southern Dade County Florida, the place is overrun with various chiselers, scam artists, would-be contractors, insurance adjusters, and even honeymooning tourists. Hiaasen peoples this romp with the usual mix of characters – Bonnie and Max are on their honeymoon at Disney World when the hurricane hits, and Max just [u]has[/u] to head south to get home videos of the aftermath. Augustine Herrera has recently inherited his uncles wildlife “park” … and needs to find the various wildlife (including a male African lion, a cape buffalo, dozens of reptiles, and several mangy monkeys) who have been set free by the storm’s destruction. Edie and Snapper (Lester Maddox Preston) figure they can score a quick insurance scam, but just cannot catch a break. Antonio Torres is the subject of wrath when the entire trailer park – where he sold “federally guaranteed” mobile homes – is flattened, killing one resident and leaving the others with nothing but their memories. All of them are interconnected by the former governor of Florida – Skink – a one-eyed certifiably crazy mad man who has been waiting for “the big one” and experiences the storm lashed to a high-rise bridge.
The plot is riddled with ridiculously convenient coincidences and interconnections. But who cares?! Hiaasen is a master of this unique genre … a sort of improbable romp wherein everything turns out for the best and the bad guys always get what’s coming to them.
Wilson does a reasonable job of performing the book, though he is not very good at the female voices. I particularly like the way he breathes life into Skink, however. My particular copy of the work was unfortunately marred on the last disc, so I couldn’t listen to the ending … the last track was mostly pops and whistles, with the occasional word fragment. Drats …
All in all it’s an enjoyable diversion.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
Perfect for an airplane ride. There is no depth or complexity here, just a fun fiction with a bit of sexy and a bit of creepy, so it does feel like Florida.
ms_greenjeans's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this at one of the best used bookstores I’ve been to in a long time, in Kalispell, Montana of all places. It’s a fun story, totally dated (CD players! Expensive video cameras!) but full of those wacky Florida characters that make Hiaasen’s books just a good time. I can’t believe he doesn’t have a Netflix show yet.
chotchki's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jasperjames's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I really liked this book, it was the perfect balance of funny and mysterious, I love the nature aspect of it, and I love the pace. Each character and the way it was written had very clear storylines. This was a great book, and I will be reading more of his books in the future!
mistert's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Not bad! Love this author.
To be honest I had a hard time getting into this one. It didn't seem like it had an overarching plot that 'needed' to happen, so it felt a bit disjointed.
I am definitely a fan of his, but the two I read before this kept my attention better (STAR ISLAND had me eager to watch the plot unfold, and I found the characters most memorable in my first read of his, BAD MONKEY)
To be honest I had a hard time getting into this one. It didn't seem like it had an overarching plot that 'needed' to happen, so it felt a bit disjointed.
I am definitely a fan of his, but the two I read before this kept my attention better (STAR ISLAND had me eager to watch the plot unfold, and I found the characters most memorable in my first read of his, BAD MONKEY)
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
3.7 stars. Very strange crime fiction, borderline ridiculous but some very funny moments. An author I definitely want to read more from if I find his books somewhere
kortirion's review against another edition
3.0
Reminds me of Dave Barry's Big Trouble. It was a darkly comic mystery based in Miami.
bryce_is_a_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
Probably my favorite Hiaasen novel. Set in the anarchy of Hurricane Andrew's Aftermath things get even crazier then usual to the point where it becomes something like Duck Soup done by Mickey Spillane. The novel represents one of those diagrams of the small fish being eaten by a larger fish being eaten by a larger fish etc. etc. At any given time there are four or five people after the same character, it's just a matter of time, viciousness, and fate's wicked sense of humor. Things just keep escalating and they just don't stop.
The thing about Hiaasen is no matter how batshit crazy things get, it always feels earned. When say the stupidest gangster ever to practice Santeria is gored by his own sacrificial goats, or when an irate Mobster on a mission of vengeance is eaten by a lion, it doesn't come out of nowhere it's carefully built for maximum impact.
It's a pretty fantastic read.
The thing about Hiaasen is no matter how batshit crazy things get, it always feels earned. When say the stupidest gangster ever to practice Santeria is gored by his own sacrificial goats, or when an irate Mobster on a mission of vengeance is eaten by a lion, it doesn't come out of nowhere it's carefully built for maximum impact.
It's a pretty fantastic read.