Hey, People of Florida! As long as you are going to get wacked by a hurricane, you might as well get a copy of Stormy Weather
At the beginning of the summer, I suggested that you start reading all of Hiaasen's books, beginning with Tourist Season. Those of you who took my advice have already gotten way past Stormy Weather. The rest of you better get on it.
Stormy Weather is the usual (but always engaging) Hiaasen look at Florida corruption, politics, crime, environmental issues, and so on, but in the context of the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. So it is sort of an Historical Novel. In a bizarre gonzo sort of way.
This is Hiaaens' sixth novel, and it came out in 2001. Easily obtained in used book stores.
There are monkeys.
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My neighborhood public library has a couple of Hiaasen's books on CD. Do you think his novels would be as enjoyable in that format, or should I just read them? The CDs are nice for commuting, or for listening to while knitting etc.
Anyway would be fine. I am sure hey would be great on CD.
I'd rather read 'em than hear 'em. but I think Hiassens' novels are great entertainment. Take Elmore Leonard, mix in some Edward Abbey, and toss in a soupcon of Terry Pratchett -- you would then have a rough approximation of one of Carl's novels. Hiassen's novels preach to the environmentalist choir, I admit, but they are very entertaining!
Yea, I think it is a matter of how you like it. If novels are generally good for you on CD/Tape, then these should be great.
Take Elmore Leonard, mix in some Edward Abbey, and toss in a soupcon of Terry Pratchett
Sounds great-I love all of those authors.
Of course, the library also has treeware versions of Hiaasen's novels- a different selection than the ones on CD, so I'll probably try both.
This Brit thinks Hiaasen is absolutely hilarious. The showercap wearing radical one eyed ex-governor of the state (would never get past the primaries these days...) is a brilliant invention and the passage where he gatecrashes a televangelist's fake healing and condo-shilling TV show (I think its in Double Whammy) is one of the greatest passages of written hilarity ever, real laughing yourself into table-pounding, tears and hiccups stuff.
And as an Englishman, that hurts to admit.
Hiassen is my favorite pulp-type fiction author. His characters are interesting and fun; the good ones (like the Governor) make appearances in a number of the books. I started (late) with Sick Puppy, which is still my favorite of the ones that I have devoured. That's the thing: once I start reading one of his books, I might as well just cancel everything for a few days. This is very inconvenient when I should be doing something else (which is most of the time...). I read Nature Girl this summer while on the beach; the best place for Hiassen-reading in my view--with beers close by and nothing else to do....
The only problem with listening to Carl Hiassen while driving is trying not to crash 'cos your laughing too much. Sitting on the Tube laughing at 'Lucky You' used to get me strange looks on the morning commute, but it certainly brightened my day. Great stuff, with one of my personal favourites being the randy dolphin and what he does to a repulsive security guard. I wonder if he can write something about Palin, although she is pretty close to parody anyway..