Naw, it’s not what you think. Well, maybe it is, given Carl Hiaasen’s writing style. I’ts the title of his newest novel. I just ordered a brand spankin’ new copy from Barnes & Noble for the very reasonable price of $12.50 + S&H, natch.
Any other Carl Hiaasen fans out here? I also ordered a copy of Naked Came the Manatee, has anyone read this collaborative effort of Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, Dave Barry and many others?
“A bird in the hand is the Devil’s workshop; it is the goose that laid the bad apple.” - TennHippie
These guys are almost in a class by themselves: Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard - very strange and very funny. I read everything I can find or listen to books on tape.
Dave Barry is getting more predictable or doesn’t seem as fresh as he did when I first started reading his Washington Post columns.
I’ve been a big Hiassen fan since I read “Tourist Season” back in the early '80s. I’ve read 'em all. As far as I’m concerned, no one writes a better humor novel. That recent Dave Berry novel pales in comparison.
I pray that if anyone ever again decides to make a movie from one of his books, they toss Demi Moore to a barracuda first.
$12.50 sounds like a good deal. I may have to wander over to their site. Happy reading.
I’ve only read one of his books and I liked it. Can’t remember the title. It was about a former governor of Florida who disappeared over a condominium scandal and a fixed fishing tournament and the bum in the book turns out to be the former governor. You probably know exactly which one I’m talking about.
I found out about Hiassen through Dave Barry. They both write for the same paper down in Florida and enjoy each others’ styles. Dave writes critiques of Carl’s books and vice versa. So I said “What the heck?” and tried one. I liked it. Funny, biting social commentary. But I can’t read more than one book like that in a row. So I haven’t read another since.
Gimme a recommendation and I’ll pick it up the next time I’m at the libarry.
Misspelling intended for comic relief.)
Didn’t work, did it?
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.
The book you read AuntL***a, was titled Double Whammy. The whacked out ex-gov was named Skink. Skink is in several of Hiaassen’s stories. A couple of other interesting (loony) characters in Double Whammy, were the loathable televangelist, Reverend Weeb and the TV show bass fisherman, Dickie Lockhart.
If you want to try a couple others, pick up Native Tongue and Stormy Weather; I won’t say anything about those, except they rank second and third on my Hiaasen list. If you enjoyed Double Whammy, you’ll like everything he’s done.
“A bird in the hand is the Devil’s workshop; it is the goose that laid the bad apple.” - TennHippie
Hiassen’s great, but if you’re looking for some terrific comedy crime capers, try Donald Westlake. (He writes serious crime stories too, but they don’t do much for me.) In 1972, one of Westlake’s comedy stories was made into a movie, The Hot Rock starring Robert Redford, George Segal, Paul Sand, Ron Leibman and Zero Mostel. HILARIOUS! (And the books are just as funny.) Any of Westlake’s Dortmunder Gang stories are hits…you won’t be disappointed.
StoryTyler Big-Hootered Assistant to Criminally Insane Doctor,
Self-Righteous Clique
“Not everybody does it, but everybody should.”
Thanks for the info, Unc. I’m a Dave Barry fan but I agree with the assessment that his humor is getting a little stale. Only about every fourth column has me ROTFL nowadays!
I’ll give this guy (with the nice Irish name) a try. Of course I will start at the King County Library rather than the local Borders since 1) I am cheap and 2) I’m on new book probation with Mrs. Pluto due to overuse of the privilege in the past. (The recent past.)
“pluto … a seriously demented but oddly addictive presence here.” – TVeblen