Stormy Weather by carl hiaasen

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The usual (well, perhaps not precisely 'usual' except for those types of individuals who end up in the police blotter sections of newspapers) strange Florida characters, ranging from murderers to con artists and those who are distinctly crazy in the head, are involved in various interconnected ways.

This time, it is a Florida hurricane that sets things in motion. As different couples discover, the hurricane has utterly devastated the lives they were leading before the winds struck, overturning everything that made them the people they believed themselves to be - prostitutes, real estate/insurance/construction scammers, corrupt government appraisers, trust fund recipients, elderly retirees, and vacationing honeymooners. However, fear not, gentle reader, as Skink, the insane ex-governor of Florida, will bring justice for the third time (this being the third installment in the Skink series) to those fortunate enough to cross his path.

A Carl Hiaasen book is always enjoyable, and like most, this one concludes happily as long as you are not a truly bad person. Skink does not save truly bad individuals. Ever.

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Gao_Shun

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I can envision this story being adapted into a movie, if it hasn't already been.

Our experience of reading or watching it was enjoyable to a certain extent. However, as a feminist, I have a particular objection to one character.

I will refrain from revealing her name in order to avoid spoiling the story for others.

This character's actions and portrayal seem to go against the principles of gender equality and empowerment that I hold dear.

It is disappointing to see such a character in a narrative that otherwise has its merits.

Perhaps in a movie adaptation, there could be an opportunity to rework this character's arc and make her more in line with feminist ideals.

This would not only enhance the story but also send a more positive message to the audience.

Overall, while the story has its enjoyable aspects, this one character issue leaves room for improvement.

I look forward to seeing if any future adaptations address this concern.

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fastfashion

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Well, I was informed that I would have a great affection for Hiaasen. So, a few years ago, I read "Skinny Dip", but unfortunately, I didn't like it.

A year later, I gave it another try with "Basket Case" and truly liked that one. Then, "Stormy Weather" (which I happened to read just as the Stormy Daniels story was emerging) was going to be the decisive factor.

Just like all of Hiaasen's works, this one is set in Florida - specifically, in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. It showcases a (rather large) cast of characters. Some are small-time criminals, while others are big-time corrupt businessmen or politicians. There are also those who get involved with them, including the sympathetically innocent and the unsympathetically weak. And then there are the deeply cynical yet decent-hearted people who ultimately save those innocents.

Although it is much closer in tone and plot to "Skinny Dip" than to "Basket Case", once it got underway, I actually found this one to be the most enjoyable of the three. It was extremely funny, and the repeatedly evolving multi-layered plot was fast-paced, exciting, and very well-structured. This is no small accomplishment considering the large number of people it features. Most importantly, no matter how little page time they might have had, all of them were important and very well-developed.

The violence was much less prominent and sadistic than in "Skinny Dip", the characters were much more likable, and equally importantly, the villains were much less one-dimensional. While reading it, I imagined it as the perfect foundation for a Quentin Tarantino film. And although a few key characters were from his previous novels that I hadn't read, that didn't pose much of a problem.

It is highly recommended for Hiaasen fans and for those who are looking to start reading his works. 92/100

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lillar

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is one of my favorite Hiaasen novels.

It is filled with 10 or 12 crazy characters. There is even a one-eyed ex-governor who lives off the wild in the Everglades. It's truly hilarious!

If you haven't read any of Hiaasen's works, he is based in the Miami area. His books are all humor/crime novels that generally have the same theme. That is, a somewhat crazy environmentalist is fighting against evil and corrupt forces such as the Florida government and land developers in the Everglades.

It's really a genre that you either love or hate. However, if you love one Hiaasen book, you'll be compelled to read the rest of his novels. I've read all 11 books and I highly recommend Lucky You, Sick Puppy, and Tourist Season. These books are not only entertaining but also offer a unique perspective on the issues in the Everglades.

So, if you're looking for a good laugh and an interesting read, give Hiaasen's novels a try.

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YesCampaign

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I've been striving to deal with some GR friend requests this year, and this is the eighth one for this year.

The range of authors I've read this year has been wider than any I've come across in a long time. This is the most recent one.

A crazy group of characters all arriving in Florida during and after a hurricane. The novel's dark, twisted, hilarious, and satirical nature is counterbalanced by its preachiness about environmental concerns that have become tiresome for me, as well as its predictability. Hiaasen's wish to drive the tourists out of Florida is okay with me (one visit was enough to persuade me that I didn't want to go back). But Hiassen's clever and witty, uncompromising style is very deserving of a loyal following.

I've never read a Hiaasen book before, and it seems that this is the third in a series. I don't like to start in the middle of a series, and perhaps that had something to do with my enjoyment of the book - this might not have been a good one to begin with Hiaasen (and if I had associated Hiaasen with the dreadful movie Striptease, I might never have picked up a Hiaasen book, and that would have been a pity). But I did notice that Native Tongue is on my paperback shelves, and that's the second in the series - maybe I'll give the whole series a try one day.

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twofingers

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Carl Hiassen's satiric edge is truly unrivaled.

He crafts characters and plots that not only bring to light but rather shine a "spotlight" on the human vices and societal ills that afflict every place, with a particular focus on the state of Florida.

As Hiassen himself stated in a recent speech, "they (reprobates and crazies) all come here (Florida)."

For those of us who are fluent in sarcasm and have a deep appreciation for witty sarcasm, Hiassen's novels, and Stormy Weather in particular, make our joy meters tingle in the most pleasurable way.

The characters in Stormy Weather converge in Miami in the typical Hiassen convoluted manner following a major hurricane that has wreaked havoc on the area.

Surely, there must be numerous kind-hearted volunteers and honest repair businesses in Miami at that time. However, this story is not about them.

Hiassen reveals to us the sleazy, greedy vultures of opportunity that emerge when disasters strike.

That's not to say that there aren't some good, honest characters in the book, albeit some who are slightly off-centered.

Once again, we lovers of quirky people/characters rejoice.

This novel is populated by an ex-governor with a mission to protect his beloved Florida, who has left society and now makes his home in the swamp, eating roadkill; two low-level con artists, one with a penchant for violence and the other harboring a Kennedy fantasy; several greedy and reprehensible men involved in home construction, inspection, and repair; a honeymoon couple whose different world views quickly become evident; an easily seduced insurance adjustor, perhaps just seeking some peace; two state troopers who are romantically involved and all-around good people; a skull-juggling, nice law school dropout; and a crooked-as-they-come mobile home salesman.

Yes, the dots are all deftly connected between these wandering souls, and a great tale is told. It's wild, whacky, and laugh-out-loud good!

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Todd

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Virtually everyone and everything is corrupt, except perhaps the deranged ex-governor of the state, in Carl Hiaasen's marvelously funny Stormy Weather.

Bonnie and Max Lamb are on their honeymoon at Disney World when the one-hundred-year hurricane hits. Max, being a good red-blooded American, immediately grabs his video camera and heads for the path of destruction to tape all the gore and devastation. Bonnie is not happy, feeling this is somehow disrespectful. But when Max is kidnapped by Skink, the ex-governor who had tied himself to a bridge to enjoy the storm, and Max uses the phone calls allowed him by his abductor to phone his firm and check up on his advertising accounts, Bonnie begins to reexamine her new marriage. Especially after she meets Augustine, the wealthy survivor of a plane crash who had inherited his uncle's wild animal zoo. The wild animals, released during the fury of the storm, proceed to wreak havoc on some of the low-lives who populate the novel. And there are plenty of them, from the building inspectors who hadn't examined the buildings they had certified as windproof, to the salesman who sold the homes knowing they were unsafe, to the county prosecutor literally caught with his pants down in a compromising position.

Hiaasen makes scornful fun of Florida society. Ultimately, it's the ex-governor who may be the sanest of the bunch. Here's an example of Hiaasen's wit. He's describing seven missionaries from the Church of the High Pentecostal Rumination who immediately proceed to Miami after the hurricane as they make a practice of witnessing to all natural disasters. They preach, console, and distribute pamphlets every morning. Then they stand in line for free army lunches at the tent city and return to the motel for two hours of quiet contemplation and gin rummy. The Ramada offers free cable TV, which allows them to view a half dozen different religious broadcasts at any time of the day. One afternoon, in the absence of a pure Pentecostal preacher, they settle on Pat Robertson and the 700 Club. The Ruminators don't share Robertson's paranoid world view but admire his life-or-death style of fund-raising and hope to pick up some pointers.

Another episode concerns a father's despair for his son, a notoriously inept hunter. The father resolves to give up trying to teach his son the more subtle hunting techniques, particularly after the son mistakes a bald eagle for some less illegal bird and blows his father's left ear off. The son is captivated by the hurricane, for it has turned loose hundreds of cattle and other farm animals into a land formerly devoid of animals worth hunting. Unfortunately, he mistakes a Cape Buffalo from the wild animal farm for a cow....

A wild, hysterical romp through society's peccadilloes.

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FearlockS

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

3.7 stars. This is a very strange crime fiction indeed. It teeters on the verge of being ridiculous, yet there are some truly very funny moments that manage to surprise and amuse. The author has a unique style that keeps the reader engaged, even when the plot takes some rather unexpected turns. I find myself intrigued by this author and definitely want to read more from him if I happen to come across his books somewhere. There is something about his writing that makes me curious to see what other stories he has to tell. Whether it's the absurdity of the situations or the humorous dialogue, there is no denying that this book has left an impression on me. I look forward to the possibility of exploring more of this author's work in the future.

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Stormy Weather

carl hiaasen

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