THIS NATURE GIRL'S NOT IMPRESSED

GRN STAFF SUMMER BOOK REVIEW

A Joint Review of Nature Girl (a novel by Carl Hiaasen)

We are big fans of Carl Hiaasen and took up this book thinking it would be fun reading with an environmental message. I, Cyn, have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed. There is an environmental message of sorts – that far too many people who come to Florida simply don’t see the beauty of Florida’s coastal environment.

Joe guesses that the theme of the book played off the idea that some folks, no matter how hard others try to show them, just don’t get it. Florida is nothing to them but a quick buck, the next deal, or the chance to strike it rich. The land of sunshine sells and sells, but we all know what the cost of turning landscape into product has been.

However, most of the book is a story about a bi-polar woman, a greedy philandering telemarketer, and the former mistress of a famous killer who kayak the Ten Thousand Islands while being followed by an obsessed sexual harasser and alienated Seminole. The story line is essentially one of revenge and mayhem and the environmental message was subtle and easily missed.

With that said, perhaps Carl Hiassen will someday be successful in convince America that Florida is such a deranged, wild, and serially dangerous place that they should retire in Tennessee and vacation out west. These characters certainly advanced his case in that regard.

I have to say that I was disappointed. Although entertaining, it did not live up to my expectations.

Cyn Sarthou & Joe Murphy

Cyn Sarthou is GRN's Executive Director & Joe Murphy is GRN's Florida Program Coordinator