Hiaasen’s Nature Girl Release Date: November 14, 2006
Today’s Post For Those Who Are Fans Of Carl Hiaasen
I am confident that Hiaasen fans who, like me, somehow missed earlier announcements of this forthcoming publication will find the information in the title sufficient reward for expending the energy to click on that link leading to today’s 1heckofaguy.com post. This is good because I have precious little else to offer beyond the publication date and the following:
1. Knopf Publishing appears in agreement with my presumption that the already established hordes of Hiaasen readers will make Nature Girl an instant best-seller. According to Buzz Girl, the first printing is 500,000 copies.
2. In yet another of those inexplicable cosmic injustices, publishers not only fail to send me advance copies of books but actually expect me to buy them at bookstores along with everyone else. One might think that renders me incapable of reviewing the book until it goes on sale. If that is the case, one might want to reconsider ones evaluation of my resourcefulness. Read on.
The DrHGuy Book Pre-Review: Nature Girl
Hiaasen’s latest novel, Nature Girl, features an ensemble of eccentric characters, some lovable and some despicable, but each of whom is memorable and capable of creating, on page after page, comic scenes that leave the reader delighted as well as enlightened. Set within the weirdness that is uniquely Florida, that state’s endangered environmental treasures, its catering to dangerously unaware tourists, and its intertwined traditions of political debauchery and greedy businessmen serve not only as background but as forces in Hiaasen’s morality play. Start with Pilgrim’s Progress, change Slough of Despond to Swamp Of Just Desserts, update a few sins into more contemporary social and environmental pollutants, inject a big handful of sardonic, and add a dash of sex, and you’ve got Nature Girl - and a front row seat to watch the revenge nature ineluctably invokes, with an assisting nudge here and there from the unexpectedly valiant heroes, against its villainous violators. Hilarity ensues.1
3. If one insists on a preview from someone who has actually read the book, Amazon’s blurb appears the most extensive.
Today’s Post For Those Who Are Not (Yet) Fans Of Carl Hiaasen
What’s wrong with you? Let me rephrase: Have you read a Carl Hiaasen novel?2
If you’ve read a Hiaasen novel and found that you’re just not that into him, well that’s OK.3 I will still respect you as a fellow human being as long as you meet the other basic criteria of humanity (i.e., you regularly and approvingly read the Heck Of A Guy blog). I’ll just be saddened by your loss.
If you’ve not read a Hiaasen novel, get cracking. You’ve got a little over two months until Nature Girl is available. Double Whammy might be a good choice for ones first Hiaasen novel. It has competitive bass fishing, politician-scoundrels, businessmen-scoundrels, and the first appearance of Skink4 What’s not to like?
Then,
Credit Due Department
Special thanks for research by Val at vmurdy.com
Footnotes
- Doubters are invited to save this review for re-reading after they complete Nature Girl. See what you think. You know where to find me. ~back~
- Not one of his books for kids or one written in collaboration. Have you read one from this list: Tourist Season, Double Whammy, Skin Tight, Native Tongue, Strip Tease, Stormy Weather, Lucky You, Sick Puppy, Basket Case, and Skinny Dip? ~back~
- Still, you might wanna double-check to make sure the author of the book you read was “Carl H-i-a-a-s-e-n.” It’s an easy name to misspell. ~back~
- Skink is a recurring character in a number of Hiaasen novels. He is an ex-governor of Florida who goes mad dealing with the afore mentioned scummy politicians and businessmen and escapes into the Everglades where he dines on road kill, periodically emerging to punish evil-doers or assist the heroes, tasks always accomplished in the most bizarre manner imaginable. ~back~
I think that you need to expand your ‘pre publication’reviews. Pynchon has a new book coming out, Grisham, McCarthy.
Be the first to press and make sure the DHGuy readers get the earliest possible report on this upcoming literary events.
We are all waiting for your endorsements before we buy books. Why should we wait for you to read them?
Comment by duke of derm — September 11, 2006 @ 6:04 pm
I just recently read my first - Skinny Dip - and I’m hooked.
My girlchild likes it too, which is a bonus. Anything to get her away from Chick Lit.
Comment by Helen — September 13, 2006 @ 3:27 pm