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| Nature Girl | 
| Manufacturer: Knopf
Category: EBooks
List Price: $9.95
Buy New: $7.96
You Save: $1.99 (20%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  149 reviews
Sales Rank: 5102
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
ASIN: B000MAH7OU
Publication Date: November 14, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 funny and engaging, but not much of substance December 17, 2007
In "Nature Girl", Hiaasen gives us a well-plotted tale of revenge against telemarketers, using his trademark cast of completely off-the-wall and over-the-top characters. Like his other work, it's funny and engaging; sadly, this example of his work is also rather devoide of substance. It's an excellent way to spend a few hours, but I don't think that it will exactly stick in your memory the way that many of his other books will.
Who's in our cast of characters? Let's start by listing the single normal person in the book: Fry, the 12-year-old son of the protagonist. Then there's everyone else. Our protagonist is Honey, a divorced mother of one who is more than a little unhinged and doesn't deal well with a perceived lack of common courtesy. Her ex-husband, a convicted drug runner, protects her in every way that he can. The hapless telemarketer who calls and sends Honey off the deep end is Boyd. Boyd is married to Lily, who has hired a private investigator named Dealey to gather evidence that Boyd is having an affair. An affair he is having with his co-worker Genie. There's the half-Seminole Sammy, the death spirit of a drunk tourist, the rather dippy college girl who forces Sammy to take her hostage, and a few religious nutjobs to round out the cast.
The plot is inventive and full of small moments that make you laugh. But for as much as I enjoyed the book, there wasn't very much substance behind it. I'm sure that I'll have forgotten that I read this book in a few weeks. This isn't meant to be a complaint. It's perfectly okay for a book to be the literary equivalent of cotton candy, and that's what I wanted when I picked up this book in an airport bookshop.
Hiaasen is always fun December 14, 2007
Hiaasen is a predictable entertaining read, and he doesn't disappoint here. I read this in one day. The usual crazy plot, over the edge characters, and the environmental message underneath.
 ALWAYS THE SAME December 11, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Hiaasen's work is the exact same book, over and over again, only with different names for the characters and slightly different scenarios. I missed the traditional opening scene of a young couple on their honeymoon, or some other such humorous story opener. It was left out of this book for some reason. If you like the work, then you won't be disappointed. ....because it is exactly the same as all the other books, minus the funny opener.
Is everyone in FL nuts? December 9, 2007
This one never had me. Just too many wackos. And to what end? Other Hiasson books had a general theme, but to spend a whole book over a telemarketing call seems wasted. Maybe next time just get a do not call number.
Good, but not great November 28, 2007
I am a big fan of Carl Hiaasen, and this is his latest novel.
Like all of his novels, this one is set in Florida and has, of course, the authors commentary on Floridian environmental issues, rampant real estate development, and quirky characters. The main character of Nature Girl is Honey Santana. She is somewhat "passionate" in her beliefs. Some would probably use a stronger word to describe it. She was once married and has a 12 year-old boy from the union. Her ex-husband is still active in the raising of their son, and does his best to keep her out of trouble. And trouble is what happens when a Texan telemarketer calls her during dinner one evening. He hasn't been having a very good day (or a very good life, for that matter) and tees off on her. Honey takes it upon herself to get him, and his mistress, to Florida for a little talk about his attitude. Add in to this mix, Honey's ex-boss, a lecherous, vile individual, a half-Seminole Indian looking for some peace and quiet, a very attractive co-ed, and some religious fanatics, and you have a "normal" Hiaasen novel.
I don't think that this is Hiaasen's best novel, it seemed to be missing his biting commentary on Florida, its environment, and citizens. Other than Piejack, Honey's stalker ex-boss, there really wasn't a "bad" character in the novel. Sure, we all wish that we could torment a telemarketer, and Boyd Shreave makes an easy target, it seemed too "contrived." Especially with the current "Do Not Call" lists and caller ID. The other problem I had with this book was the sheer number of characters packed into 320 pages. At one point, there is so much going on, that I had to re-read some passages so that I understood who was doing what to whom and why. But it did have its moments, as I found myself laughing out loud several times. Honey, her son, her ex-husband, and Sammy Tigertail (the half Seminole) were all very good characters, and very well developed.
It pains me to say that this isn't Hiaasen's best novel, it seemed as though he lost some of his edge and focus. I just wish that this one was on par with Skinny Dip, his prior novel.
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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