This was a rather absurd and lighthearted adventure presented by Mr. Hiassen.

It centered around a semi-sentient manatee, an unexpected character that added a touch of whimsy to the story.

Also making an appearance was Fidel Castro, which brought an element of surprise and a unique backdrop to the narrative.

The story was further populated by the typical cast of south Florida weirdos. These characters, despite their oddities, had hearts of gold, adding a layer of warmth and charm to the otherwise outlandish tale.

Mr. Hiassen's vivid imagination and clever writing style made this romp a truly entertaining read, filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept the reader engaged from start to finish.

It was a story that combined humor, adventure, and a cast of unforgettable characters in a way that only Mr. Hiassen could.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and ridiculous romp that left a lasting impression on the reader.

Once upon a time, there was a rather unique literary experiment. At the Long Island newspaper Newsday, around 20 journalists came together and, under the guise of a single writer named Penelope Ashe, penned a truly terrible sex novel called Naked Came the Stranger.

Fast forward to 1997, and a similar concept was born. Dave Barry wrote the first chapter of Naked Came the Manatee and passed it along, following the tradition of the party game Telephone. He thought he had created enough characters for all the South Florida writers involved. But just like in the Telephone game, as soon as it left his hands, he lost control. The next in line was Les Standiford, who brought in his own character, John Deal. However, he had to figure out how to continue after a first chapter about a manatee named Booger living in Biscayne Bay.

Standiford then passed the story to Paul Levine, who also took the liberty of introducing his attorney character, Jake Lassiter. And so the story continued to be passed from one writer to another, with each adding their own characters and twists.

Edna Buchanan revived her crime reporter Britt Montero, and James W. Hall added a new character with his chapter titled "The Old Woman and the Sea." Carolina Hospital added a touch of the exotic, and Evelyn Mayerson, Tananarive Due, Brian Antoni, Vicki Hendricks, and John Dufresne all had their turns. Dufresne even wrote from inside Booger's head.

Finally, the story made its way to Elmore Leonard and then to Carl Hiaasen, who had the task of tying up all the loose ends in the final chapter. The Miami Herald's Tropic Magazine published a new chapter every week for 13 weeks. There was no preconceived plot, and while the result may not be a literary masterpiece, it's still an impressive accomplishment.

Some readers may complain about the disjointed plot, the clichés, and the difficulty in keeping track of the characters. But this is 13 writers having fun, not attempting to create the next War and Peace. The beauty of this not-a-real-novel is that it gives readers a chance to discover new authors. And at least the $205,000 Putnam Books paid for the novel was donated to charities.

So, what is the book about? Well, it's set in Coconut Grove, Florida, and involves a manatee named Booger, two bungling thieves, an old lady who swims naked with the manatee, a near-drowned man, and even Fidel Castro. It's a wild and crazy story that's best experienced by reading the book itself.

The experience I had wasn't as hilarious as I had initially expected it to be. Instead, it was just sort of "okay".

When I first anticipated this event or situation, I had built it up in my mind as something that would have me rolling on the floor with laughter. However, when it actually took place, it fell short of my expectations.

It wasn't that it was completely uninteresting or dull. There were some moments that had a hint of amusement, but they were not enough to make it a truly memorable and side-splitting experience.

In the end, I walked away feeling a bit disappointed that it didn't live up to the comical standards I had set for it. But at the same time, I also recognized that not everything can be as funny as we imagine it to be, and sometimes, an "okay" experience is better than nothing at all.

I have an intense love for this book.

Perhaps it is due to the fact that I hail from Miami and Dave Barry is among my absolute favorites!

However, I also sense that it is precisely the manner in which all the writers intertwined the story and brought to the fore everything that anyone from Miami has deeply ingrained in their lives.

All the shout outs from Hialeah, Matheson Hammocks, Crandon Park, all the causeways, South Beach, Opa Locka Airport, and the guayaberas!

Of course, Castro and then a Marielito mugging him on the beach was like the icing on the cake.

I adored every single aspect of it!!

It encompassed my entire childhood, my entire life, and then some irony and absurdity were added in for good measure.

If you are from Miami - do read this!

It will surely take you on a nostalgic journey and make you appreciate the unique charm and idiosyncrasies of this wonderful city.