Written in the 80s, this story takes place in Miami. The main character is a Private Investigator. It's tempting to simply say, "Nuff said," but that doesn't fully capture it. Carl Hiassen has a truly unique writing style that is rich in witty dialogue. In fact, now that I think about it, it's quite similar to Raymond Chandler's. Just based on the dialogue alone, I have a strong feeling that this work would translate very well into a theater production. However, that's not all. Carl Hiaasen's descriptions of both the characters and the setting are incredibly colorful and stimulating. I absolutely love the vocabulary he uses, and I even learned some new words, especially since I read this on my Kindle.

In a few parts of the story, my suspension of disbelief wasn't quite there. Due to that flaw, my actual rating is 4.5 stars. But this concern is really just something I noted as I was reading and didn't really dwell on while reading most of the pages of the book. I decided to read Tourist Season because I had recently read Back to Blood, and after that, I wanted to build on my newly acquired knowledge of Miami and the surrounding metropolitan area. I vaguely remembered a 60 Minutes interview of a Florida author who, at the time, sounded really cool. I looked up the interview, figured out it was Carl Hiassen, and chose this book. I was not disappointed, to say the least. In a few parts of the book, I even wondered if Tom Wolfe might not have used Tourist Season as inspiration.

My first encounter with Hiaasen was truly a remarkable experience.

As I delved into his work, I was instantly transported back to the vibrant and colorful 80s.

The story was like a gentle breeze, flowing smoothly and captivating my attention from start to finish.

It was not only highly entertaining but also filled with engaging characters and unexpected plot twists.

Listening to it at 2.0 speed was a great choice as it added an extra layer of excitement and kept me on the edge of my seat.

I found myself completely immersed in the world that Hiaasen had created, eagerly following every turn of the story.

This initial foray into his work has left me with a deep appreciation for his writing style and a desire to explore more of his books.

I can't wait to see where my next adventure with Hiaasen will take me.

This particular piece may not possess the same level of polish and refinement as some of his subsequent creations.

However, it remains an enjoyable and quick read that can easily capture the attention of the reader.

Despite its lack of the more sophisticated qualities found in his later works, it has its own charm and appeal.

The story unfolds at a brisk pace, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.

It offers a lighthearted and entertaining experience, perfect for those moments when one is looking for a quick escape into a fictional world.

Although it may not be considered a masterpiece in the same vein as his more renowned works, it still has its place and can provide a source of enjoyment for many.

Overall, it is a testament to the author's talent that even in this earlier work, he is able to create a story that is both engaging and entertaining.

Wish you could have 3.5, good not great.

This simple statement holds a certain charm and perhaps a touch of modesty. It implies that while aiming for something better, there is an acceptance of a level that is merely good.

In a world where everyone seems to be striving for perfection and greatness, the idea of being content with 3.5 is quite refreshing. It doesn't mean settling for mediocrity but rather finding satisfaction in a level that is above average yet not extraordinary.

Maybe it's a reminder that not everything has to be outstanding all the time. Sometimes, being good is enough. It allows for a more balanced and less pressured approach to life.

We can still work towards improvement and growth, but without the constant stress of always having to be the best. So, here's to hoping that you can indeed have 3.5, a place where you can find contentment and joy in the good that life has to offer.

The book had some really funny parts that made me laugh out loud.

It was a quick read, which was great for my busy schedule.

I'm currently on the fence about whether to give this author a higher rating or not.

Before I make a final decision, I will definitely try some other works by this author.

I want to see if the author can maintain the same level of humor and entertainment in other books.

Based on this initial read, I have high hopes for the author's other works.

I'm looking forward to exploring more of this author's writing and seeing what else they have to offer.

Overall, this book was an enjoyable read, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for this author.

DNF

People who view the world through the lens of stereotypes are, in a sense, mentally lazy. They choose to simplify the complex and diverse world around them into pre-conceived notions and generalizations, rather than taking the time and effort to truly understand and appreciate the individuality and uniqueness of each situation and person.

However, those who write people as stereotypes are even lazier. By reducing characters to one-dimensional clichés, they fail to capture the full range of human emotions, experiences, and motivations. This not only makes for dull and uninteresting writing, but it also perpetuates harmful and inaccurate stereotypes that can have real-world consequences.

In order to break free from the cycle of stereotyping, we must all make a conscious effort to be more open-minded and empathetic. We should strive to see the world and the people in it for who they truly are, rather than relying on lazy generalizations and assumptions. Only then can we hope to create a more inclusive and understanding society.

I have to say that I was truly disappointed with this book. I had such high hopes after loving the first book I read by Hiassen. But unfortunately, this one just didn't live up to my expectations. It completely lacks the charm and humor that made the previous one so enjoyable. In fact, I despise all the characters except for one. The entire premise of the book seems so far-fetched that it's almost impossible to get into. Even with the ability to suspend reality, I still couldn't make myself enjoy reading it. I forced myself to plow halfway through the book before finally giving up as a lost cause. Now, I just wish I could somehow forget about this book and get back the precious time that I wasted on it. Don't waste your time.

I really enjoyed this book written by an author who was new to me.

From the moment I started reading, I found it extremely difficult to put the book down.

The story was so engaging and full of twists and turns that I simply couldn't predict how it would end.

As it turned out, the ending was completely unexpected and took me by surprise.

After reading this book, I have become a big fan of Carl's writing.

I am definitely looking forward to reading more of his books in the future.

I believe that each of his works will offer a unique and exciting reading experience.

Carl has a talent for creating vivid characters and developing captivating storylines that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.

I always find myself a little disconcerted by Carl Hiaasen books because he truly confounds me.

I never have a clue where he is taking his story. The tone of his books, in particular, leaves me wondering for the first 50 or so pages: is this supposed to be funny? A satire? A detective genre? Serious and sad? A thriller? Or just a quick beach read?

Tourist Season struck me in the same way as other books by CH. Bad things happen not only to innocent people but also to characters who are clearly meant to be booed whenever they appear.

Since most of the folks who show up in the author's novels are true-to-life oddballs and genuine psychopathic monsters, I actually sense that the books have some basis in reality. So many street people and criminals are really as bizarre as the characters depicted in this book and in most of the other books this author has penned. Truly.

Although having so many idiosyncratic people in one story is unusual, except perhaps in satires and comedies. But the events, in this case caused by a group of "terrorists" with various motives - repulsed by environment degradation, wanting to free Cuba, hating white people - teaming up to murder tourists and create fear so Florida can be restored to a natural, barely inhabited state when everyone moves away because of the murders, are described so horrifically that I can't quite feel the funny or the satire.

It includes the typical motives behind business promotions and community holiday events, as you might expect in a beach read. People, both good and bad, are fleshed out fairly realistically, if a bit exaggerated, mostly for comic effects and quick identifications, but yet some of them are truly tragic in a literary novel sense.

My problem, as with some of the other CH novels I've read, lies with the tone. It's satiric one moment, then fun, then plain horrific and sad, then a character study. Sometimes it's a serious book for a while. It's definitely entertaining for the most part. But I can't tell if it's all just for fun, or if the author actually cares about something.

There is a lack of focus sometimes in the plot, which is unusual for a genre or a beach read, and so many of the characters also seem to lack intellectual and emotional focus, which I think is on purpose, because that's how people are in real life. At the same time, the action is revealing character moral attitudes more like a literary novel.

There's no question that CH finds even the bad guys reasonable in their obscene activities or madness on some level, even while showing that they are obviously crazy or damaging. By the end, things conclude, but not with a clear point or a meaningful ending spelled out either implicitly or explicitly. Things happen in a helter-skelter manner, and then it's the last page, more like a True Crime non-fiction. Watching the fictional oddballs behave so strangely in the book (yet at the same time I know recognizable real counterparts can be found in the news on CNN) seems to be the point.

If Anne Rule was mashed up with Southern Gothic and mixed with Tosh.O, you'd get a CH novel. Is it good? I THINK so. I always feel this way when I finish a Carl Hiaasen book.

Growing up in South Florida, one becomes acutely aware of the unwritten rules that govern life here. Some are blatantly obvious, like "Thou shalt own at least one Jimmy Buffett album." Others are learned through hard-earned experience, such as "Thou shalt add thirty minutes of drive time to any location during Snow Bird season." However, one of my absolute favorites, which I only discovered about five years ago, is this:

"Carl Hiaasen understands our screwed up state, and thou shalt read his novels for insight."

I was first introduced to Carl's works through word of mouth. His name popped up during a local book signing in my town. When I mentioned that I had never read one of his novels, the response from someone was "you're kidding!" Intrigued, I bought a copy of "Skinny Dip" and, thoroughly satisfied, made the decision to read the entire Carl Hiaasen collection.

"Tourist Season" is by far my favorite. The charm of this work lies in the snapshot it provides of Florida during the recent past. Just as talking to anyone from Chicago, Illinois after they've watched "The Blues Brothers" will reveal how different that place was then and how magically unique, "Tourist Season" captures South Florida in the eighties. References to things that were the norm at the time, like cassette players in Cadillacs, help to paint a vivid, neon-lit image of the Sunshine State from the "before time."

The story sets the tone for all future Carl Hiaasen novels. It features twisted (to the point of humorous) deaths, intertwined with mystery and wit, all while serving as a conscious reminder of the less than flattering aspects of Florida's local history. The book reads like a great film, but based on the translation of "Striptease" to celluloid, I kind of hope they leave this one alone. It's a great introduction to Carl Hiaasen's view of Florida and a solid choice for reading at the beach.

I have an intense love for Carl Hiaasen. No one can phrase things quite as uniquely as he does, and no one can create such delightfully warped villains (and heroes) like him. Although many authors attempt to do so, and some even come close.

This, being his very first novel, has a truly nifty idea at its core. It's an idea that's almost too good to disclose in a synopsis, but the title sort of gives it away. (Tourist Season - think about it.) However, as clever as the idea is, and as warped as the villain in this novel is, I kind of felt that the whole thing got a bit out of hand for Hiaasen in a way that his other books that I've read over the years never did. Don't misunderstand me; I did enjoy it. The sarcasm and the anger that I adore in his work are present in full force, and the wonderful turns of phrase are also there. But again, there was just something here that didn't quite click with me overall. Maybe it was the motivation of the cracked columnist, or maybe it was his one-dimensionality, but I never really warmed up to his righteous anger and indignation the way I usually do with "the bad guys" in Hiaasen's other works. Also, the hero of the book is rather a general character, now that I think about it.

That being said, it is still worth a look. I actually think this would be a perfect starting point for people who have never read his work before. It gives a good sense of his point of view, his wonderful sense of anything-goes wackiness, and his usual use of extreme environment protection as a plot device. However, all of these things have been put to much better use in his later books. So maybe it wouldn't be such a good starter book after all? Whatever the case may be, he's still my single favorite contemporary writer out there, and as such, I'll say that anything he attaches his name to is worth reading. But perhaps it's important to understand that this was his first book.

“Tourist Season” by Carl Hiaasen is an exciting thriller that combines elements of murder, suspense, foul language, and unjustifiably gruesome acts. The author's deep knowledge of Florida or extensive research is evident throughout the story. The novel is extremely descriptive, sometimes to the point of excess, but this attention to detail makes the story more believable.

The leader of Las Noches de Diciembre, Skip Whiley, is a crazy journalist who has gone mad. His actions keep the reader guessing about his next move and the reason for his apparent berserk behavior. Just when it seems that the evil man has lost control of his terrorist group and is about to face the consequences of his actions, the reader feels a strange sense of sadness for him and his cause.

I believe that one of the hallmarks of a great novel is an unexpected ending, and “Tourist Season” definitely meets this criterion. The ending is both surprising and satisfying, leaving the reader with a sense of awe and admiration for the author's skill. Overall, this is a super novel that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.