Sick Puppy serves as my initiation into the world of Carl Hiaasen. My girlfriend thought he would be an excellent author to introduce me to the essence of Florida. I'll likely give his works another chance, although I found this particular book to have a diminishing appeal. It begins as a gratifying read. Twilly Spree, a maladjusted and overgrown trust fund kid, gets to fulfill a popular revenge fantasy. He spots a litterbug on the Florida highway and resolves to invest as much time and energy as possible to teach the litterbug a lesson. Twilly has had past "anger management" issues, to the extent that he spent some time in the so-called Rubber Room. Coincidentally, this litterbug, Palmer Stoat, turns out to be one of his greatest antagonists. Stoat is a graduate of the Universal School of Archetypes with summa cum laude honors in Lobbying, and his current pursuit involves the despoiling of one of the few untouched islands off the Florida coast.

Environmentalism is, of course, one of Hiaasen's major passions, and he showcases a wealth of knowledge about why the state of American development today is as corrupt and outrageous as it is. However, once the novel progresses beyond the initial game of petty and humorous strikes and retaliations and broadens its scope to a battle over whether the despoiling of the said island will succeed, the revenge fantasy becomes both too good to be true and overly long in its execution. Worse still, Hiaasen's characters tend to flaunt their outrageousness, and certain jokes that might have worked in passing - such as a survivalist ex-Governor, a hitman who listens to tapes of absurdly tragic 911 calls, and a developer with a Barbie fetish that leads him to dangerous games with Eastern European models and plastic surgery - grow tiresome once we spend more than a few scenes with the same characters and their same quirks. Nevertheless, the sheer number of characters, some of whom switch allegiances, creates a certain amount of suspense in the plotting and pleasure in anticipating what happens next. The book simply isn't as "sick" as it thinks it is.

Fun, easy read!

This article is not only a source of entertainment but also a breeze to get through. It offers a light-hearted and enjoyable experience for the readers. The language used is simple and straightforward, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences.

Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or simply want to kill some time, this article is the perfect choice. It presents interesting topics and ideas in a way that doesn't require a lot of mental effort.

You can simply relax, sit back, and let the words flow over you. The engaging content will keep you hooked from start to finish, and before you know it, you'll have completed the read and walked away with a smile on your face.

So, if you're in need of a fun and easy read, look no further than this article. It's sure to brighten up your day and provide you with some much-needed entertainment.

I came across this book as a "Random Act of Nancy." This was the term my then-teenaged girls used to describe the media packages that would mysteriously show up from Amazon.com. When I first got the book, I was immediately drawn to it. I felt that it was not only funny but also managed to convey an important environmental message without being overly preachy. The story moves along at a brisk pace, filled with a cast of quirky characters that are surprisingly believable. Each character has their own unique personality and backstory, which adds depth and richness to the overall narrative. Unfortunately, my copy of the book was lost as it quickly went viral among my teens and their friends. They couldn't get enough of it and passed it around like wildfire. Despite the loss of my copy, I'm still glad that the book was able to bring so much joy and entertainment to my daughters and their friends.

4.5 STARS

It's often truly a tiresome thing when writers present you with stories that have an overly clear message regarding any particular issue. And for the most part, I make an effort to stay away from them.

However, Carl Hiaasen is an outstanding writer blessed with a sharp sense of wit. It's obvious that he has a deep love for Florida and despises what it has transformed into. I've read a sufficient amount of his work to be confident in making that assertion. But the remarkable thing is that his stories are so entertaining that you can enjoy them regardless of whether you have any concern about the issue at hand or not.

In certain aspects, he is similar to a history professor who holds a firm philosophy about the perils of modern society. Yet, the manner in which he narrates the stories manages to keep you engaged and laughing right until the very end.

I particularly relished this novel. The only factor that prevents me from awarding it five stars is the fact that it potentially could have been a little more concise.

As usual, Mr. Hiaasen is penning about a peculiar set of south Florida characters, with the focus being on Miami, Homestead, and the Keys.

If it weren't so uproariously funny, this could potentially be a melancholy and didactic narrative regarding the ruination of Florida and all the avarice that has led to the overdevelopment of a delicate ecosystem. However, it's not - like the majority of his works, it's about zany events, recounted in a lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek style. Nevertheless, it still offers a thought-provoking peek into the underlying tragedy that I firmly believe he discerns in the vanishing of a more charming, quaint, southern US lifestyle.

Undoubtedly, this sort of lifestyle has been fading away from Florida for the past hundred years and more. But if I may digress for a moment, I was extremely fortunate to have lived in Homestead in the early 70s. Back then, it was a rather small town, graced with splendid weather and populated by an array of colorful characters and drifters. I was employed by an elderly gentleman, Virgil Lyons, who was 84 at the time. I was engaged in rebuilding his house, using nothing but hand tools (at which he was a virtuoso, having apprenticed as a carpenter since the age of 13) in anticipation of the day when his wife would be able to come home from the hospital. He paid the crew punctually each week, down to the last penny, in brown paper packets filled with cash. I also had the opportunity to attend a magical open-air Ike & Tina Turner concert in Miami. I walked to the beach in Coconut Grove, passing through black neighborhoods, where families were sitting on their porches in the early evening. I worked in a dark, sweaty marmalade factory along with the other day laborers, hauling sticky 100-pound burlap sacks of dried oranges and peels in the midst of swarms of flies. But even then, three young men in their late teens who lived with us in a communal house in Homestead were working on constructing artificial islands off Miami. I suspect that if these places still exist, I wouldn't recognize any of them now, just as I'm certain that long-time Floridians have a difficult time recognizing the developed, seedy tourist trap that is the Key West of the new millennium.

Perhaps my time in Florida is the reason why I have such a profound love for Florida mystery novels, with their private detectives, bone fishermen, real estate scams, and captivating characters. Carl Hiaasen's portrayal of this despoiled place, despite his comical tone, is one of the most captivating that I'm familiar with. I'm currently on a new Carl Hiaasen reading spree!

Another rip-snorting adventure from Hiaasen!

What a crazy mix of characters he has created in this story.

I happened to come across this particular installment, which is the 4th in the series.

After reading it, I realized that it's time for me to go back to the very beginning and experience the whole series from the start.

Hiaasen's writing is so engaging and full of energy that it keeps you hooked from the very first page.

The characters are vivid and unique, each with their own quirks and personalities.

It's like being on a wild ride through a fictional world that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

I can't wait to see what other adventures and surprises await me as I delve into the earlier books of this series.

Overall, this was a great read that has left me eager for more of Hiaasen's work.

This text seems to be quite interesting. It might be about something that was read for class but ended up being really enjoyable. It even elicited a lot of chuckles, which means it made people laugh a lot. And there were hijinks abound, which implies that there were a lot of mischievous or playful activities going on.

Maybe it was a funny story or a humorous piece of literature that the students were assigned to read. The fact that it made them laugh and had all these hijinks probably made the learning experience more engaging and fun.

It's always great when something that is supposed to be for educational purposes turns out to be so entertaining. It shows that learning doesn't have to be boring and that there can be a lot of enjoyment and laughter involved.

Overall, this text gives the impression of a lively and enjoyable classroom experience where the students not only learned but also had a great time.

This was, without a doubt, not my favorite Carl Hiaasen novel.

Twilly, the main character, comes across as a spoiled rich brat. He seems to think that it is okay to destroy things whenever he doesn't like them. What's worse, he shows no sign of growth or change by the end of the book.

The "big game hunting" scenes in the story made me feel physically ill. There was just too much death and violence. It was really quite disturbing.

The only character in the book who was even remotely likable was Desie. However, she was just a minor character and seemed more like window dressing than a fully developed character.

I really had to force myself to finish reading this book. If this had been the first Hiaasen novel I had ever read, I would have been completely turned off and never read another one. Fortunately, I have read other books by him that were much better.

Sick Puppy is my first encounter with Hiaasen's works, and I'm quite certain that I'll explore more of his books in the future. Sick Puppy, as I suspect, represents the typical essence of most of his novels: an engaging conflict pitting truly despicable villains against one or more eccentric yet heroic individuals.

The characters in this book are unashamed caricatures, possessing just enough similarity to real people to maintain my interest.

In Sick Puppy, one of the malevolent characters is a lobbyist who is handsomely paid to pave the way for wealthy individuals who aim to amass even more wealth by exploiting politicians to swindle the public and devastate the environment. Additionally, he has a penchant for shooting domesticated captive animals in game farms. The other antagonist desires the government to construct a bridge from the Florida mainland to a pristine island, which he intends to develop into golf courses and condominiums. Moreover, he has a rather peculiar fetish for Barbie dolls.

One of the good guys takes it upon himself to physically confront those who litter. The other is a hermit who resides in a swamp after resigning from the governorship due to all the unethical and corrupt practices he was expected to facilitate.

The situations that these highly improbable characters create are equally far-fetched, yet they remain thoroughly entertaining nonetheless.

A familiar topic in Hiaasen's books, Sick Puppy, also focuses on Florida's environment. The story kicks off with a thrilling highway chase. The book's "hero" simply can't tolerate people who thoughtlessly dump trash out of their vehicles. Additionally, we see endangered animals being hunted, with their horns being used for Chinese miracle erection powder. There's also the issue of condos and golf courses being developed at an alarming rate. This is Skink #4.

"Are you a manhunter?" the person asks.

"More like a shit scraper," the visitor replies, "and I'm starting with you."

"Look, I'll tell you the whole story, everything, but first let me towel off and put on some clothes. Please," pleads the other.

"Nope. You stay right there. In my experience, men who are buck naked and scared out of their wits tend to be more forthcoming. They tend to have better memories. So let's hear your sad doggy story," demands the visitor.

This dialogue sets the stage for a tense and exciting encounter that will surely keep readers on the edge of their seats as they explore the complex issues surrounding Florida's environment and the characters who are involved in this drama.

If you're a nature lover and you haven't read any Carl Hiaasen books, Shame On You.

Sick Puppy is not a book with characters a reader falls in love with in the traditional sense. Instead, it is a book where the principle of things holds greater significance.

The book has it all. There's an eccentric millionaire who detests littering. His bored and attractive wife finds herself falling in love with her husband's nemesis. There's also an island that is in desperate need of saving, and a crazy ex-governor who makes appearances in most of Hiaasen's books.

Of course, in terms of plot, there is much, much more. There are surprises at every turn and interesting character development that keeps the reader engaged. I loved the feel of a gang of saviours who break away from their everyday problems and embark on a journey of self-discovery, realizing what truly matters to them. It's not the kind of stuff that us ordinary folk would typically find ourselves doing, but it makes for a captivating and entertaining read.

The book focuses on the furious antics of a millionaire eco-terrorist named Twilly. He tails a litterbug who throws trash out of his car on the highway. The litterbug, Stoat, is in fact a corrupt lobbyist arranging deals for corrupt politicians and real estate moguls. When Twilly kidnaps Stoat's black labrador (the sick puppy of the title) and later Stoat's wife Desie, the chaos commences. A multi-million-dollar real estate deal is put in jeopardy, involving various thugs of the big players like the state governor and the real estate magnate. The outcome is as mindless as a Duke Of Hazzards episode, yet it's far more enjoyable.

Carl Hiaasen writes in short segments, frequently using foreseeable dialogue and cliched descriptions. However, overall, the writing doesn't detract from the wacky experience. Oh, and the climax near the end of the novel is a perfectly crazy conclusion for a crazy adventure.

Read this book if you're sick or bored, or traveling, or on the beach. But not if you're seeking intellectual stimulation.

Originally posted on my blog:
http://lionel.valdellon.com/?p=391