Comments

Tom - I love Carl Hiaasen - have read every one of his books and wait eagerly for the next. As a nonfiction writer, I like reading one of his books then going to write - I find doing so adds color and quirk to my writing. Plus, I enter into the process in a playful mood. Skink is wonderful.

Posted by Lisa Haneberg at June 8, 2006 9:54 AM

I started on Hiaasen the last time you mentioned you were racing through his books. My first was Tourist Season. Anyone who's lived in Florida and seen its natural beauty sold to the highest bidder by the very people who should be protecting it (like me) understands the rage of the hero/villain.

Thanks. I have a whole list of books to read now. Fantastic!

Posted by cathy at June 8, 2006 4:16 PM

Tom - are you familiar with the songwriter Warren Zevon? He died a couple of years ago but was a buddy of Hiaasen, wrote a song or two with him and has a similar world view. There's a couple of "Best Of" CD's that - in the absence of the original works - really ought to be in every record collection.

Posted by Mark JF at June 9, 2006 3:44 AM

wow... two direct hits on the audience of me today - Hiaasen and Mexican food!

Vin Scelsa (NYC DJ, formerly WNEW-FM, now WFUV host of "Idiots Delight") used to do book reports on his free-form music program. He read the first chapter of Tourist Season on air back in 1984. I've bought everything Hiaasen has put out since, including a signed first edition of Tourist Season.

Skink is perhaps the most colorful supporting character ever created. I still think Hiaasen's best was Double Whammy - the corrupt worlds of bass fishing and televangelism collide.

The only thing I've read funnier than Hiaasen was Rick Reilly's golf classic "Missing Links".

Posted by Rich Westerfield at June 9, 2006 9:21 AM

Tom, have you ever read Terry Pratchett? Our household adores both Pratchett and Hiaasen -- if you like one, chances are high you'll enjoy the other as well.

Posted by Shaula Evans at June 17, 2006 12:44 PM