Over the long holiday weekend, I decided to get as much of my last-minute summer reading in as I possibly could. By the time I sat down to write this review, the promise of an early fall cool front quickly diminished. It seems like the brutal Texas heat is going to be sticking around for a while. I browsed my bookshelf for that perfect book to satisfy my need for one more summer read, and quickly landed on Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen. I really got a kick out of his book Bad Monkey, so I felt his Florida-based mix of humor and mystery would more than meet my expectations.Honey Santana is on a mission. While sitting down for dinner with her son, the house phone rang. Her son urged her to ignore it, but Honey is completely over these calls interrupting their family meals. She is not going to take this annoyance lying down. Honey picks up the phone and gives the caller a piece of her mind. What she didn't expect was the man on the other end to verbally fight back. He calls her words no professional telemarketer should use, let alone any other respectful person. Honey quickly reaches out to the man's manager and relays her disgust at the hateful language that he used. For most people, that would be the end of the situation, but Honey is not most people. Honey wants revenge.
Boyd Shreave is pretty much a failure at everything. The miserable man couldn't even hold down his job as a telemarketer. He let his pride get the better of him and committed the fatal sin of mouthing off to a potential customer. At least he still has Eugenia, his former co-worker, and current mistress. Boyd is ready to leave his wife and start a new life, but Eugenia does not feel the same. With the convenience of the couple working together gone, she sees little reason to continue their relationship. When Boyd comes to her with a once in a lifetime opportunity to vacation in Florida and canoe through the wetlands, Eugenia decides to extend their romance, at least for the weekend. What could possibly go wrong?
Nature Girl has all the makings of a perfect summer read. Hiaasen mixes satire, crime, and compelling characters into a story that you won't want to stop reading. Shifting perspectives between each character allows for variety and adds a tinge of suspense that balances the more humorous premise. It also clues in the reader to every motivation of the characters, so we know what is happening before some of the other cast does. All of the threads in this book converge in a satisfying conclusion that teeters precariously close to the edge of absurdity. It is all in good fun though, and that's really all I want from my summer reading. Nature Girl was a perfect way to spend the last bits of the summer holiday.
For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 40)
I have only read YA books by Hiaasen, but I think it's amazing the number of books he has written and the variety of his work. I am laughing just thinking about a revenge plot against a telemarketer.
ReplyDeleteIt was very fun, if a bit crazy haha.
DeleteI never would have expected a plot like that from the cover! Sounds like a crazy ride.
ReplyDeleteHiaasen is known for some pretty quirky plots, but I agree that this cover doesn't really reveal too much about what is inside.
DeleteOhh, that sounds really good. Glad to hear you liked it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice change of pace from the darker stuff I've been reading lately.
DeleteI can't handle Hiaasen - his books are too zany and absurd for me. I'm glad you enjoyed this one, though!
ReplyDeleteWe've had brutal heat in Arizona as well. It's been overcast and cooler over the last couple days, but it won't last. We'll be in triple digits again soon :(
Ugh, I'm just ready for fall hahaha.
DeleteWhat a quirky, unusual sounding story! I'm wondering how Honey and Boyd cross paths again.
ReplyDeleteWe were geared for some pretty terrible heat here, but the smoke cover from all the fires lowered the temps quick a bit. Smells like a dang BBQ outside most days, but at least we're not in the triple digits, right? Gotta try and look on the bright side when most of your state is burning! Stay cook, Ethan! :)
Absolutely. I guess that's the one good thing about all these fires. Hope you and your family are staying safe!
Delete*cool not cook, lol
ReplyDeleteHappens to the best of us haha
DeleteThis sounds like such a fun and interesting read! I'll add it to my TBR because you made me curious by saying Honey wants revenge....
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a fun one!
DeleteThis sounds like it could be hysterical, I’ve never read any books by Hiassen but I think this will go on my list!
ReplyDeleteI always find myself laughing at the characters and situations in his books.
DeleteI read a couple by Hiaasen many years ago (early 2000's, I think?) and they were fun but overall not really my thing. But I can definitely see them being fitting for a summer read. Now if we could just move on past the summer heat!
ReplyDeleteI'm 100% with you on that. Bring on the fall weather!!!
DeleteWe were in the 90's and about to tumble into fall and then got covered in smoke instead, so all my fall decorating dreams have gone bust.
ReplyDeleteI've downloaded a few Christmas type reads so I guess I'm just skipping over seasons. lol
Karen @ For What It's Worth
Bring on the Christmas season!
DeleteOkay, I Am impressed the author makes all these different threads come together. It sounds like a quirky, different read
ReplyDeleteIt was quite the balancing act, but Hiaasen is always a pro at that approach!
DeleteThis sounds so out there, but it also seems like a fun read at the same time. Glad you liked this one!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Fun, quirky, and very different!
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