Tuesday, November 8, 2011

NATURE GIRL by Carl Hiaasen

Finished Tu 11/8/11

Although NATURE GIRL has a very clearly defined story-line, the novel is more of an excuse to create a forum for a cast of extremely colorful characters to interact. Hiaasen has a comedic style that reminds me of Donald Westlake's, Dortmunder series.

NATURE GIRL is kind of a story of revenge. Honey Santana, a very nice woman who happens to be slightly bipolar, is angry about being interrupted during dinner by a rather sleazy telemarketer by the name of Boyd Shreave. Honey tricks him and his girlfriend and coworker, Eugenie Fonda, into coming to the Ten Thousand Islands area of Southern Florida for a lesson in 'enforced civility' on a strange and bizarre kayak trip to Dismal Island.

Boyd's angry wife sends a rather inept private investigator to gather evidence of 'penetration' between Boyd and Eugenie so that she can get the upper hand in the upcoming divorce. Perry Skinner, Honey's ex, Fry, her son, a horny boss, Louis Piejack, a teenage Indian, Sammy Tigertail, all end up out in the swamps in a wild and crazy climax of the novel.

It's a 'fun' novel, and ideal way to spend a few sessions of reading.

Honey Santana
Boyd Shreave
Lily Shreave
Eugenie Fonda
Fry Skinner
Perry Skinner
Louis Piejack
Private Investigator Dealy (penetration)
Sammy Tigertail
Gillian
Jeter Wilson (ghost)

Dismal Key

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