Reviews

Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen

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juliana_aldous's review against another edition

3.0

Minus one star because there is no Skink appearance in the book. Plus one because Warren Zevon recorded the song Basket Case.

elizakp's review against another edition

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5.0

there’s just something about a fake band book! also i love a tightly wound female love interest -great chemistry.

emilykathleenwrites's review against another edition

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3.0

I found this title at Mesa Books, a used bookstore in Santa Barbara, and one of my favorite places to waste time.

I first read Hiaasen in college for a class on detective fiction and I remember liking the light snarky tone of the author's voice. The main character, Jack Tagger, a disgruntled obit writer, is deplorable and a little pathetic but also loyal and loveable.

Even though bodies are piling up everywhere the tone isn't dark, maybe because it's Maimi? I like a book that has a few plot twists and I pretty much knew who done it the whole time, BUT overall I was entertained.

Hiaasen always seems to weave some kind of social commentary into his books. This one was about the decline of newspapers and the danger of losing local reporting. Seems a little prophetic seeing as how it was written in 2002 right at the start of the consolidation of newsrooms and the boom of the internet.

Another almost creepy reference came when the main character is talking about how the dead rockstar had to keep his projects safe from studio pirates that might try and steal his music. Then he says, "God only knows where Prince hides his masters." ... considering that when Prince died in 2016 a safe at his estate was cracked open to reveal thousands of never before heard recordings this line gave me the chills.

writethatshit's review

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

blevins's review against another edition

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3.0

Another fun book by Hiaasen--actually listened to this book on CD on a long road trip through the deep south--set around the newspaper world, the music industry and a few quirky off shoots. These books remind me some of Elmore Leonard--not quite as good as EL but in that vein. There's crooks, wisecracks, honest/dishonest people, eccentrics. Fun read.

andrewrmart's review against another edition

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3.0

I prefer Hiaasen at his most outrageous. This book is certainly not bad, but it definitely isn’t close to the Hiaasen I promise other friends looking for fun new fiction. Jack Tagger’s first-person story and the cast of characters in it seem exceedingly normal compared to Hiaasen’s impressive body of work. Also, the environmental concerns that ground the author’s other novels are almost completely absent from this story. It is truly an odd departure from his compelling signature style.