Carl Hiaasen

[Paul Pless]

You guys love him or hate him?

I read about one novel a year written by him, and routinely check in on his comentaries in the Miami Herald. I see he is also now writing children's books and screenplays, haven't checked into these yet but probably will.

[Katherine]

You're going to start reading children's books?

[Paul Pless]

Only if they have pretty pictures.

[Katherine]

and no big words right?

[Donn]

I think he's a top-notch writer.

[martin schulz]

You're going to start reading children's books?

Why not?
I often buy children's books if they have good "workmanship". Unfortunately most of the books are illconceived PC crap written and illustrated by bored middleclass women.

Janosch is quite good.
http://www.fantasten.de/maerchen/janosch/images/jano800.gif

[Tar Devil]

You're going to start reading children's books?

There's a boatload of children books I enjoy, particularly those by Scott O'Dell. The Seven Serpents Trilogy is as good as it gets, and The 290 is a fantastic tale of the sea...

http://www.scottodell.com/covers/the290hc.jpg

Later,

Phil

[Donn]

Anyone who can write a novel about drugs, sex and Rock & Roll on the professional bass fishing tour has enough imagination to write a children's book.

[Paul Pless]

Donn,

LOL

I'm always brought to laughter by how plainly and simply he describes the 'heroes' in his novels, yet exagerrates the incompetence and stupidity of the villians. Often he doesn't have to exagerate too much!

[Paul Pless]

A synopsis of Flush.


You know it's going to be a rough summer when you spend Father's Day visiting your dad in the local lockup. Noah's dad is sure that the owner of the Coral Queen casino boat is flushing raw sewage into the harbor-which has made taking a dip at the local beach like swimming in a toilet. He can't prove it though, and so he decides that sinking the boat will make an effective statement. Right. The boat is pumped out and back in business within days and Noah's dad is stuck in the clink. Now Noah is determined to succeed where his dad failed. He will prove that the Coral Queen is dumping illegally . . . somehow. His allies may not add up to much-his sister Abbey, an unreformed childhood biter; Lice Peeking, a greedy sot with poor hygiene; Shelly, a bartender and a woman scorned; and a mysterious pirate-but Noah's got a plan to flush this crook out into the open. A plan that should sink the crooked little casino, once and for all.


not your typical themes for a children's book:D

[Donn]

That's synopsis. The other spelling is chromosomal things.

[Paul Pless]

Thankyou Donn.:o

I'm embarrassed to admit how many dictionaries I own.

[Donn]

That's closer.

[Paul Pless]

#$%^

[George Ray]

Very entertaining and thoughtful, a nice combo. Have read three of his books with the south FL, eco-commando theme, enjoyed them all and look forward to more.

[Peter Eikenberry]

I have read all of his novels. Fabulous writer. He really knows the inside of the south florida scene.

[htom]

I have yet to read one of his books that didn't have me laughing out loud many times. In fact, I'm laughing now, remembering the crook with the dog on the end of his arm ....

[Dan McCosh]

That was a weed-wacker on the end of his arm.

[dredbob]

I dig Carl Hiaasen, one of the writers of what I like to think of as the "Florida genre", the originator of which was the great John D McDonald with his Travis McGee series. Others who write more or less in the same vein are James Hall, Randy Wayne White, Lawrence Shames, and a couple of others whose names escape me at the moment.

Bob

[Peter Eikenberry]

Have any of you read Naked Came the Manatee. It's written as a collaboration by Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, Dave Barry, James Hall, Edna Buchanan, Les Standiford, Paul Levine, Brian Antoni, Tananarive Due, John Dufresne, Vicki Hendricks, Carolina Hospital, Evelyn Mayerson. Each writes a chapter.

All of these are south Florida writers If you want to read a really funny book go to your library or book store and get this one.

[Tristan]

Having grown up in Miami and spent lots of time in the keys and everglades, I can tell you that his books only slightly exaggerate. The characters in his books are like many I've known over the years. Skink is a twin for Janet Reno's brother, Mark (who I've known for about 50 years.) Mark lived in a Chickee (thatched Seminole shelter) for years, wrestled alligators with Miccosukee friends, was a merchant seaman, a paratrooper, a game warden, etc. etc. As for the other characters in his books, many of them lived in Coconut grove, sold drugs, got rich, got killed by Colombian dealers, etc. etc. Read his books, they're great.

[Peter Eikenberry]

I used to think that his stories were exaggerated (his and John D. McDonald). But then about 1995 I startend making Annual and sometimes semiannual trips to Miami beach and Fort Lauderdale and Key west. Some of the experiences I have had since have convinced me that they are not making anything up.

Just one example. In 1997 or 98,I was staying in the Holiday Inn on 22nd and Collins (I don't think it's a Holiday Inn anymore). I came back to my hotel to find that the third floor and much of the area out side the rear of the hotel had those yellow police tapes strung up. Seems one of the hotel workers found body parts (not auto, human!) in the dumpster. I could tell you other stories not quite as gory but true.

[Tristan]

Dadeland Mall, the then biggest mall in S. Miami region, was the scene of a shootout during a very busy afternoon. Drug dealers shot and killed the owner of a liquor store, then chased the clerk into the very full parking lot, and shot under the cars, using automatic weapons (uzi's I believe), trying to take his legs out so they could kill him. He finally managed to escape, so they then calmly boarded a van and drove away. The same week a car bumped another at a stoplight in the strip mall where my daughter worked. The guy in the bumped car got out without a word, shot and killed the other driver and his girl friend, and drove away. An aquaintance of mine, drunk and drugged up, ran into a stone wall in Coconut Grove one night. He exited his car and walked home. The police discovered the wrecked car, a large bag of pot, and his revolver. Said aquaintance (not friend) suddenly recalled that someone must have stolen his car the day before. I kept a sharpie on the bay just down from where a friend rented a run down cottage. One day I was introduced to "Jack," who looked quite familiar. Turns out Jack was Murph the Surf, an old high school buddy of my friend. He was just out of prison after the Star of India heist. Taking a field trip out one morning, our boat was delayed as the cops retrieved a "floater," from under a nearby bridge. Another long time friend . . . . and on and on.

[Ethan]

Hiaasen is a trip. The guy has a gift, if you ask me.

John D. MacDonald is the master. Travis McGee is an icon for those who have embraced the genre. Randy Wayne White recounts in one of his non-fiction books how he came to meet JDM. White, for those who haven't read him, is wildly entertaining, especially with regards to his non-fiction works. If you're a male approaching, experiencing, or just past the mid-life crisis years, read this guy - you'll end up laughing at yourself and the world. I'd love to sit down and buy the guy a beer.

[Peter Eikenberry]

I've read a couple of his books. One of them was a Doc Ford book. He's good. But I prefer Travis McGee.