Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Interesting start and characters, has some of his usual quirky stuff, but it drags on and on, blah, blah, blah
So far, I just can't get into this book, but I'm only on the second disk. I'm going to keep slogging on...
Ok. I tried; I really tried. I just HATED this book. I don't care about any of these characters-- no one is likeable in the least.
I just can't do it; I can't finish this book.
Ok. I tried; I really tried. I just HATED this book. I don't care about any of these characters-- no one is likeable in the least.
I just can't do it; I can't finish this book.
My 1st Hiaasen book & a stand alone. Too many characters, too much Indian history that didn't need to be in the story, too many plot lines that weren't resolved by books end. Bits of the book were funny (such as the songs in Honey's head, Dealey's picture taking investigative skills, & Skinner's devotion to his ex-wife). The book dragged on with Tigertail's woes about being a half white indian, Boyd's incessant whining, Gillian's constant chatter, & the references about manic episodes & bi polar disorder to explain most of the plot action. Contrived, confusing, & too long of a book with no satisfying explanations.
I didn't hate the book, I just didn't get interested enough to finish it. Carl Hiaasen created his typical wacky, off the grid characters and put them in the Everglades but I just never engaged.
This is an amusing book. The characters are all ridiculous idiots. The plot is so over the top that is does make this a pretty enjoyable book if you are looking for laughs. I honestly don't even know how to categorize it - I guess it would be in the humor section maybe??
Always enjoy Carl Hiaasen. His books are full of such quirky, earnest characters. Honey Santana has a run-in with a telemarketer who is rude to her and decides to get back. She wans to teach him kindness, consideration for others and responsibility. Honey has heard songs in her head - quite often competing songs - since her son was born prematurely and had fluid in his lungs. He is now fine, but she is determined that no one will hurt him. She has thrown a garbage can in front of a car she decided was speeding down her street, and when he wrecked informed the driver that could have been her son and he needed to slow down. A guy on a motorcycle nearly hit a child in the neighborhood. His motorcycle disappeared and was found completely burned. Honey has been to many doctors, but the pills and such don't seem to be helping much. Her husband divorces her, although he keeps a close eye on her because he still loves her. She hasn't forgiven him for filing for divorce first (she intended to, but while her attorney was working on the papers, she received his divorce notice). Her son is aware she has problems and tries to look out for her as much as he can, and sees his "ex-father" quite often. He doesn't want to betray his mother, but she has begun to worry him again about some of her behavior. The owner of the fish shop where she works grabs at her and she flattens his nuts with a crab mallet, but it doesn't seem to be slowing him down any in his pursuit of her. So Perry increases his watch without her knowing. Honey has decided she will do ecotours since she quit her job, but her first tour will be something else. Something in the nature of a lesson to her enemy in the telephone sales business.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
This story was as crazy as the protagonist. Completely crazy, but a lot of fun! A lot of laugh-out-loud moments.
3 1/2 stars
My cat jumped on my keyboard and delete a whole paragraph of review, argh!
So, I bumped it up for the laughs at the end. This started slowly, mainly because we are introduced and get to know several characters, which is a slow build. This is the story of all of them and how their lives intertwined on an island off the Everglades. There is the little bit of a nut job mom that wants to teach a lesson to a telemarketer that insults her after she complains for interrupting her dinner with her son. It is about her son, the ex-father (as the mother calls him), the telemarketer and his wife and his mistress, and the private investigator hired by the wife, then the Floridian American Native that just wants a quiet place, the sorority girl that attaches to him. And then there is the crazy, obsessive boss of the crazy mom. It ends up not being quite the quiet place that the American Native was looking for and getting lost in the islands isn't so easy.
This was really fun in the end but it was a bit of a push to get there. Hiaasen really knows how to draw his characters and I don't feel like he is demeaning women or drawing the women with a male eye. I could feel that a women had easily drawn these women characters. Just coming off of Blackbirds by Chuck Wending and I really appreciate the difference. Much different genres so not sure if it is fair but I loved these women, even the sorority student, Jill in the end. All the characters, even men, kind of annoy you in the beginning but they grow on you.
My 3rd or 4th Hiaasen. I think I might get tired of the crazy characters if I read too many of these in a row but reading one every year hits the spot and a funny bone. I don't think I've not laughed while read one.
My cat jumped on my keyboard and delete a whole paragraph of review, argh!
So, I bumped it up for the laughs at the end. This started slowly, mainly because we are introduced and get to know several characters, which is a slow build. This is the story of all of them and how their lives intertwined on an island off the Everglades. There is the little bit of a nut job mom that wants to teach a lesson to a telemarketer that insults her after she complains for interrupting her dinner with her son. It is about her son, the ex-father (as the mother calls him), the telemarketer and his wife and his mistress, and the private investigator hired by the wife, then the Floridian American Native that just wants a quiet place, the sorority girl that attaches to him. And then there is the crazy, obsessive boss of the crazy mom. It ends up not being quite the quiet place that the American Native was looking for and getting lost in the islands isn't so easy.
This was really fun in the end but it was a bit of a push to get there. Hiaasen really knows how to draw his characters and I don't feel like he is demeaning women or drawing the women with a male eye. I could feel that a women had easily drawn these women characters. Just coming off of Blackbirds by Chuck Wending and I really appreciate the difference. Much different genres so not sure if it is fair but I loved these women, even the sorority student, Jill in the end. All the characters, even men, kind of annoy you in the beginning but they grow on you.
My 3rd or 4th Hiaasen. I think I might get tired of the crazy characters if I read too many of these in a row but reading one every year hits the spot and a funny bone. I don't think I've not laughed while read one.