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jennrocca's review against another edition
4.0
Much grittier than Hoot or Scat. A good story but the same formula he always uses. Vivid characters.
lmkramer507's review against another edition
5.0
A bit more "what's going to happen next?" than "how is this going to end," but the writing is cleverly witty, the episodes are tied together, and the characters varied. Plus a book that has words I need to look up in a dictionary is a good thing.
alibi313's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
shareen17's review against another edition
3.0
Reading this is sort of like watching really bad reality t.v. At first everyone is so awful that it's quite funny, but a ways into it it's kind of exhausting and you walk a way a little ashamed of yourself for engaging with it at all.
sandygx260's review against another edition
4.0
Hmm, this novel seems like Carl wants to take a vacation. As usual he skewers South Florida's imbecilic attitude, cheer-leads for the environment (which is why I adore him), and kicks the crap out of witless morons. But for our hero of the pointed pen to take on mundane pop culture, welllll— it just seems too easy for him.
In this book CH trashes moronic pop tarts, said tart's parents, her handlers, and the whole pop culture mindset which embraces money over matter. He gets his digs in at Disney, but again, this is CH on autopilot. The novel is funny, crass, rude, and over the top as usual, but this book lacks CH's usual depth.
Did I laugh? Indeed I did, especially during the club scene near the end where two unlikely antagonists team up and realize they're on the same page.
I guess if you're a CH fan, you'll enjoy this one. If you've never read Hiaasen, don't start here. Check out "Strip Tease", "Tourist Season" or "Skinny Dip" first. Read your veggies before you read this snack. Yeah, failed analogy. Pffffth.
PS: Thanks, Dad, for sending me each Hiaasen novel after you read it. You were a closet environmentalist. I miss you.
In this book CH trashes moronic pop tarts, said tart's parents, her handlers, and the whole pop culture mindset which embraces money over matter. He gets his digs in at Disney, but again, this is CH on autopilot. The novel is funny, crass, rude, and over the top as usual, but this book lacks CH's usual depth.
Did I laugh? Indeed I did, especially during the club scene near the end where two unlikely antagonists team up and realize they're on the same page.
I guess if you're a CH fan, you'll enjoy this one. If you've never read Hiaasen, don't start here. Check out "Strip Tease", "Tourist Season" or "Skinny Dip" first. Read your veggies before you read this snack. Yeah, failed analogy. Pffffth.
PS: Thanks, Dad, for sending me each Hiaasen novel after you read it. You were a closet environmentalist. I miss you.
libraryladys's review against another edition
3.0
Very funny read that satirizes our "Lohan" and "Spears"-driven starlets
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Hiassen does a good job at creating quirky characters with issues, and it makes for fun reading (or listening in my case) when they interact. The voices for this audio CD are great, all believable and distinctive.
A young celebrity (Cherry Pye, natch) with little actual talent has trouble with drugs and alcohol, and likes to partake in sex as often as possible. To prevent her image from being more tarnished than it already is, Cherry's parents hire hard-core twin publicists, bodyguards and a body double. Throw into the mix a sleezy stalking photographer and a crazy former governor environmentalist, along with a few bit characters, and you're in for an entertaining romp.
The story is a bit whacked, and possibly goes on too long, or hits too many tangents...but I like slightly whacked stories.
A young celebrity (Cherry Pye, natch) with little actual talent has trouble with drugs and alcohol, and likes to partake in sex as often as possible. To prevent her image from being more tarnished than it already is, Cherry's parents hire hard-core twin publicists, bodyguards and a body double. Throw into the mix a sleezy stalking photographer and a crazy former governor environmentalist, along with a few bit characters, and you're in for an entertaining romp.
The story is a bit whacked, and possibly goes on too long, or hits too many tangents...but I like slightly whacked stories.
jen_is_booked's review against another edition
3.0
This book was only alright. Drugged out pop star and her "momager", her tour manager and her entourage and the lengths they go through to keep her antics out of the press. A paparazzo that is obsessed with getting the picture of her when she OD's which is pretty much inevitable. And her double, a struggling actress that looks like Cherry, they hire to portray Cherry publically when she's in rehab or the hospital having her stomach pumped so the public doesn't know. There's a host of other characters in this book, none of which are very likable. There's a lot going on and having listen to the audiobook, it's possible I may have missed something, but it was just one thing after another. There was kidnapping, hostage taking, bribery, theft, duplicity, heavy drug use, violence, sex, this book as something for everyone I guess. I just never found anything I could like about any of these people. I guess if I had to choose one I was at least interested in it would be Annie, the double. She seemed to be the most "normal" of any of them. I also didn't know this was part of a series, but Skink is a character, though not a key player so I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading the first five books.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
4.0
His characters and their interactions are so funny, as usual.
Good, quick read.
Good, quick read.