It's trashy yet smart. It's that unique combination of being trashy smart. It's like smart trash. Picture, for instance, Playboy having a PhD in the swamps of Florida.

The story is highly entertaining, moving at a lightning pace and also having an environmental conscience. It tells the tale of a journalist who finds himself working in the publicity department of a second-rate amusement park. He gets caught in the crossfire between his corrupt bosses and the environmentalists who are striving to save the land.

Moreover, his girlfriend is a phone sex worker, so whenever he calls her, we get regular insights into her trade. Of course, it all has a bit of an adolescent feel to it. But nevertheless, it's still fun. I would have preferred for the female characters to have been a bit more than just playboy fantasies (this includes the gun-toting grandma). But I guess you can't have everything, especially considering this was written in the 80s. It's a bit like reading a funny action movie. You overlook the one-dimensional characters because the explosions, metaphorically speaking, are so cool.

All in all, it's a light-hearted and enjoyable read that has its flaws but still manages to keep you engaged from start to finish.

This was an incredibly fun ride.

I have always been drawn to the environmental messages in Hiaasen's work. What sets them apart is the realistic way in which they are presented. It's not just about the cliched idea of hugging and saving endangered species. Instead, there's an element of poking fun at those who are ostensibly on the same side. For example, showing an environmentally friendly organization as being a little off its rocker at times.

The character arc of the main character, Joe, was also quite engaging. He had a relationship with a woman who put her foot down and refused to tolerate his nonsense any longer. Joe moped around for a while, but thankfully, the story didn't drag on with the typical "and then he wins her back" narrative. It was refreshing to see a relationship end in a book without either party being overly bitter. Instead, they could support each other's work while acknowledging that they simply didn't want to be together.

The plot itself was truly interesting. It centered around a theme park owner with ties to organized crime. The corrupt security he hired, along with the一连串 of awful accidents and crimes associated with the theme park, made for an entertaining read. However, reading about Pedro was quite upsetting. His extreme use of steroids and other substances on his body was truly revolting.

On a positive note, a lot of the details about Florida tourists, land developers, and golf courses were great. And the heartwarming relationship that developed between Molly and her hired goons was a pleasant surprise.

Hiaasen's off-kilter, wacky sense of humor was on full display in this book. However, a content warning for violence is in order. I did feel a bit queasy when a baddie met his demise by being assaulted by an amorous dolphin. The girlfriend's transformation of her phone fantasy job into an actual erotic poetry gig was also quite amusing. The idea of endangered species being entirely fabricated for government grants was absurd yet thought-provoking. And of course, every appearance by Skink was classic Hiaasen.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read that combined humor, social commentary, and an engaging plot.

I have a certain admiration for the manner in which Hiaasen is capable of crafting entirely absurd characters.

He places them in utterly crazy situations, yet manages to make them somewhat believable.

However, there is an exception, and that is Skink.

I mean, seriously, an honest Florida politician?

There is a boundary to what can be considered believable.

Hiaasen's skill in creating these outlandish characters and scenarios is truly remarkable.

It's as if he has a unique ability to take the most far-fetched ideas and bring them to life in a way that engages the reader.

But when it comes to Skink, it just seems a bit too much of a stretch.

Maybe it's because the idea of an honest politician in Florida is so contrary to what we typically expect.

Nonetheless, Hiaasen's work is still highly entertaining and值得一读.

If you haven't delved into the works of Carl Hiaasen yet, it's high time you came and discovered what all the excitement is about. I am an ardent devotee of his writing, and "Native Tongue" is one of the main reasons for my admiration.

The story is set in an animal theme park located in Florida. Just like in all of Hiaasen's books, the characters are a diverse lot, encompassing thugs, ecoterrorists, and all-round good guys. Hiaasen has an uncanny ability to craft a story that appears lighthearted on the surface but has a profound and powerful message hidden beneath. Reading a Hiaasen book once a year can work wonders for your well-being. It might even be so effective that you could potentially stop relying on anti-depressants or using food as a form of self-medication.

Some of my other favorite books by him include "Stormy Weather," "Skin Tight," and "Skinny Dip." Each one offers a unique and engaging narrative that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

"Native Tongue" by Carl Hiaasen, published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1991, falls into the Mystery/Thriller/Comedy category.

The story centers around the Amazing Kingdom of Thrills, a would-be Disneyland run by Francis X. Kingsbury, an ex-convict in the Witness Protection Program. To boost his theme park's popularity, Kingsbury claims to be safeguarding the endangered blue-tongued voles, the last two on earth.

However, the voles are stolen by two inept criminals hired by an elderly lady who quickly asserts her dominance by wounding one of them. It is later discovered that the voles may not actually be endangered, and there may have been a blue-tongued vole after all.

Joe Winder is hired as the public relations man for the Amazing Kingdom. He becomes suspicious of the park and its owner. The plot thickens when the park's security chief becomes addicted to steroids and former Florida governor, known as Skink, who lives on road kill, attempts to protect the environment. Meanwhile, Kingsbury is planning to bulldoze Key Largo to build condos and golf courses.

This wild ride brings to light some of the problems facing Florida and the environment. The mystery/comedy is very similar to the books written by Tim Dorsey, so if you're a fan of his, you're sure to love Carl Hiaasen.

Carl Hiaasen has once again turned his attention to Florida, this time shining a light on the dirty yet entertaining world of amusement parks.

I initially didn't realize that "Skinny Dip" was part of the "Skink" series. Skink makes a cameo appearance in that book, but his identity isn't immediately clear. At least, it wasn't to me.

In "Native Tongue," Skink has a more prominent role in the story, although he isn't what I would consider a main character. Can Florida itself be considered a main character? It doesn't really matter.

So, who is Skink exactly? He's a former governor of Florida who was known for being incorruptible and an environmentalist. However, he resigned when he couldn't achieve his goals and went off the grid. Now, he lives in the swamps and fights for the environment as an eco-terrorist. He's also a bit crazy.

The story follows a reporter named Joe Winder, who has a checkered past. He's hired to do PR for a second-rate theme park. When the theft of two endangered rodents leads to a murder that's made to look like a suicide by the park's scientist in charge of breeding the animals, Joe's reporter instincts kick in. He teams up with Robbie the Racoon, the woman inside the park's mascot, to solve the case. Along the way, he receives unexpected help from Skink, his ex-bodyguard (now a state trooper), an old lady who runs an environmental group of rich senior citizens, and her two beleaguered henchmen.

Together, this diverse group attempts to take down a sleazy developer and save a portion of the Everglades from being turned into another golf course.

If you're a fan of Hiaasen's work, I think you'll enjoy "Native Tongue." Even if you haven't read his books before, this one might make you think twice about visiting a theme park in Florida.

Hiaasen is my all-time favorite author, who specializes in the fascinating "South Florida Whacko Crime" genre movement. You might be surprised to learn that there are more stories in this genre than you'd initially think. His tales are filled with crazy and engaging plots. Generally, the heroes in his stories are hard-drinking, stoner environmentalists, while the "villains" take on various incarnations of the infamous Crazy Florida Man. Hiaasen has been a highly popular columnist for the Miami Herald for a very long time. He possesses Dave Barry's unique sense of humor, combined with Elmore Leonard's excellent sense of plotting and dialog. His works are truly wicked fun to read. Among all his books, "Native Tongue" was one of the first ones I had the pleasure of reading, and thus, it holds a special place in my heart and is definitely a favorite of mine.

More silliness, more fun! This simple phrase holds a world of possibilities. It implies that by embracing the lighter side of life, we can discover a wealth of enjoyment. When we allow ourselves to be silly, we break free from the constraints of seriousness and inhibitions. It's a time to let loose, be spontaneous, and have a great time.

Whether it's engaging in goofy antics with friends, telling silly jokes, or participating in absurd activities, the result is always the same - a sense of joy and laughter. Silliness has the power to bring people together, create memories, and brighten even the dullest of days.

So, why not embrace the silliness and add a little more fun to your life? Again, 3.5, let's go on a journey of lightheartedness and see where it takes us. Who knows what wonderful and hilarious experiences await?

It's better plot-wise than the first Skink book. I mean, if there is any plot, at some points it's just one zany thing after another. It's fun to read, but extremely difficult to figure out the motivations of anyone, be it good or bad. If I don't want to really think, this book is fine. But his heart is in the right place, Skink's as well as Hiaasen's, as long as you're not a poor unendangered pit viper. If you are, you might slowly get roasted and eaten.

On the plus side, Skink didn't kill any puppies. And that was because there was a distinct lack of them in this book, rather than any sober restraint on Skink's part.

So, for what it's worth, this is the plot. It starts with the thievery of two adorable blue-tongued mango voles from a Disney knockoff called Amazing Kingdom of Thrills by some bum thieves who don't even know the count of what they've stolen (the last two in the world), and who think it's a great idea to lose the things before they can be handed over to the person who contracted them, specifically by throwing the little critters into unsuspecting convertibles. They're promptly killed. The voles, not the thieves, but it's a near thing even for the thieves. Molly McNamara is one tough retired dame, and she retains their services to make the world a worse place for the owner of the amusement park, one Francis Kingsbury. She knows Skink. Who has left Harney county for reasons unknown and is now loafing around Key Largo with a panther collar. Also for unknown reasons.

A man named Joe Winder writes press releases for the amusement parks, but after the theft of the voles and a suspicious death of the scientist/vet by ingestion into Wally the Whale (the whale died also), he decides enough is enough and joins Skink, Molly McNamara, the thieves and a curvy young lady who joins them for the heck of it in making mayhem. Joe does it by stealing letterheads and writing official sounding press releases such as snakes in the park or staff infected by whatever it is. All hell breaks lose though, because Kingsbury is just that kind of shithead.

It's kind of hilarious if you don't think about it. Skink lets off steam by shooting at parked cars, for example. They're environmentalists, these people, but they're not exactly very hinged, for the lack of a better word. I mean, Skink walks around eating roadkill for reasons best known to himself, lives with several hundreds of dead tree derivatives (books), and refuses to surrender the panther collar, making the rangers follow the thing from pillar to post in fuel burning helicopters or cars. Then there's a burning of the amusement park at the end that can't have been too good for the environment, but it's done anyway. The idea is to stop Florida land developers and they do, in this book, but honestly, if all people see are the $ figures in front of their eyes, someone bigger than Kingsbury would buy the waterfront land. It's nice to know that in books the villains have been thwarted, but it's kind of sad when balanced against what's happening in the world.

On a side note, I listened to this book on audio. The narrator was identified as George Wilson, who I'd heard previously in Double Whammy, but I wouldn't have known it if I hadn't been told. His Skink sounds very different, and not in a good way. He's also rather terrible at female voices to be honest. His Jim Tile is great, but sadly, Jim Tile isn't in this book much.

A typical Hiassen novel is a masterpiece filled with the unique weirdness of Florida that he portrays so vividly and skillfully. It is always an extremely enjoyable read. What makes his works stand out is that he has an amazing ability to tell similar types of stories over and over again, yet still manage to keep them fresh and engaging. There is a certain charm and allure in his writing that keeps readers coming back for more. Whether it's the eccentric characters, the wild and wacky plots, or the beautiful descriptions of the Florida landscape, Hiassen's novels have it all. He has truly mastered the art of storytelling and continues to produce some of the most entertaining and unforgettable books in the literary world.

Carl Hiaasen indeed presents a strikingly vivid portrayal of Florida. This is the third book of his that I have perused, and the second within the Skink series. Very similar to "Squeeze Me" (Skink #8), this work appears to adhere to a general paradigm of good versus evil. However, as the story progresses, the line between good and evil becomes somewhat blurred. The main characters find themselves compelled to undertake crazy crimes or acts in order to safeguard what they cherish: nature and the Florida they hold dear in their memories.

Moreover, it features a group of idiotic thieves, much like in "Squeeze Me". Hiaasen truly excels in creating such characters. It is a zany book that simultaneously contains these remarkable descriptions of nature and nostalgia. He manages to evoke the inner child and the rebellious side within all of us. The next book of his that I am inclined to read is "Skinny Dip".

I am eager to explore how Hiaasen will once again transport me into the unique world of Florida through his engaging storytelling and vivid characterizations.

Carl Hiaasen is still actively engaged in writing, and his works remain extremely interesting. In fact, I have learned a great deal about public relations through his books.

The protagonist in the second book of the series bears a striking resemblance to that of the first. It's an ex-reporter with a somewhat checkered past pitted against an ex-PR guy also with a checkered past.

One thing I've noticed in this series is the recurring theme of animals. As an animal lover, this is a huge plus for me. It adds an extra layer of charm and interest to the stories.

Moreover, did I mention that this series is set in Miami? The vibrant and diverse backdrop of Miami provides a rich and colorful setting for the characters and their adventures. It gives the books a unique flavor and makes them even more engaging to read.

Overall, Carl Hiaasen's writing continues to captivate me, and I look forward to reading more of his works in the future.