Native Tongue
2 journalers for this copy...
Library Journal:
Imagine you're driving a rented Chrysler LeBaron convertible to the perfect family vacation at the Amazing Kingdom of Thrills when a rat is tossed into your car by a passing pickup. The rodent in question is not a rat, but a rare blue-tongued mango vole just liberated from the Kingdom by the militant Wildlife Rescue Corps. Welcome to the world of Native Tongue , where dedicated (if somewhat demented) environmentalists battle sleazy real estate developers in the Florida Keys. Hiaasen reminds one of Harry Crews in his depiction of a South full of eccentric people involved in crazy schemes. It is a measure of the writer's talent that no matter how bizarre the situation, it is believable. Late in the book a character laments his predicament as "an irresistible convergence of violence, mayhem and mortality!" If he had added nonstop hilarity, he would have had a perfect description of this book. Highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/91.
- Dan Bogey, Clearfield Cty. P.L. Federation, Curwensville, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Imagine you're driving a rented Chrysler LeBaron convertible to the perfect family vacation at the Amazing Kingdom of Thrills when a rat is tossed into your car by a passing pickup. The rodent in question is not a rat, but a rare blue-tongued mango vole just liberated from the Kingdom by the militant Wildlife Rescue Corps. Welcome to the world of Native Tongue , where dedicated (if somewhat demented) environmentalists battle sleazy real estate developers in the Florida Keys. Hiaasen reminds one of Harry Crews in his depiction of a South full of eccentric people involved in crazy schemes. It is a measure of the writer's talent that no matter how bizarre the situation, it is believable. Late in the book a character laments his predicament as "an irresistible convergence of violence, mayhem and mortality!" If he had added nonstop hilarity, he would have had a perfect description of this book. Highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/91.
- Dan Bogey, Clearfield Cty. P.L. Federation, Curwensville, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Offered on bookrelay in the "Wacky Literature" Relay, 'cause Hiaasen definitely qualifies as wacky!
Accepted by leverlass. I'll get this read and in the mail asap.
Accepted by leverlass. I'll get this read and in the mail asap.
Typical Hiaasen. Very funny, and yet topical. Real shame about the blue tongued mango voles.
Will be mailing this book to leverlass in the morning.
Will be mailing this book to leverlass in the morning.
I picked up this book when I went home this weekend. Thanks so much for sending it to me! I will be reading it soon as part of my 2005 Alphabet Challenge.
Another great Hiaasen read, although a bit murky and unrealistic in places. I've also started noticing a bit of a formula for the books he writes; journalist or former journalist gets involved in a dangerous story, loses girlfriend or has lost girlfriend, hooks up with secondary and largely unnoticed female character halfway through the book, then redeems his journalistic self by novel's end. I've also noticed that the oddball neutral characters who have the misfortune to hang out with the villians tend to die in odd ways (for example, being shot by a monkey, or blown up while golfing, or beheaded by an airboat propeller). Still, it was an engaging, page-turning read, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
This is reserved for rebeccalyr's release relay, and will be set free into the wild this Wednesday! :]
This is reserved for rebeccalyr's release relay, and will be set free into the wild this Wednesday! :]
