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teamgale's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hillmert's review against another edition
5.0
If you've read other Hiaasen books then you know what to expect...a crazy cast of characters, and some outrageous situations all told with a good dose of humor. To me this book is what I consider a good beach read (or airport, or wherever!) The pacing and the action made me want to keep on reading. It was a real page-turner, as they say.
rachelerin19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ssejig's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Natural disasters bring out the best and the worst in people. Bonnie is learning that about her new husband Max when a hurricane rips through Florida during their honeymoon. He even drags her away from the Magic Kingdom to see the effects of the storm. While he is gleefully taping the aftermath, he is bitten by a monkey and then kidnapped by a crazy man. Bonnie can't get anyone to listen to her until she meets Augustine who is dealing with his own problems after his uncles exotic animals have all escaped and are running loose. Finally, state trooper Jim Tile joins them; he is warily confident he knows just who the kidnapper is and how to find Bonnie's husband.
Their story is interwoven and then combined with two people, Edie and Snapper, who have come down to try and con some insurance money out of the destruction.
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.