Star Island

By: Carl Hiaasen

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A hilarious spin on life in the celebrity fast lane from “Florida’s most entertainingly indignant social critic” (New York Times Book Review) and the bestselling author of Squeeze Me.

Meet twenty-two-year-old Cherry Pye (née Cheryl Bunterman), a pop star since she was fourteen—and about to attempt a comeback from her latest drug-and-alcohol disaster.

Now meet Cherry again: in the person of her “undercover stunt double,” Ann DeLusia. Ann portrays Cherry whenever the singer is too “indisposed”—meaning wasted—to go out in public. And it is Ann-mistaken-for-Cherry who is kidnapped from a South Beach hotel by obsessed paparazzo Bang Abbott.

Now the challenge for Cherry’s handlers (über–stage mother; horndog record producer; nipped, tucked, and Botoxed twin publicists; weed whacker–wielding bodyguard) is to rescue Ann while keeping her existence a secret from Cherry’s public—and from Cherry herself.

The situation is more complicated than they know. Ann has had a bewitching encounter with Skink—the unhinged former governor of Florida living wild in a mangrove swamp—and now he’s heading for Miami to find her….

Will Bang Abbott achieve his fantasy of a lucrative private photo session with Cherry Pye? Will Cherry sober up in time to lip-synch her way through her concert tour? Will Skink track down Ann DeLusia before Cherry’s motley posse does?

©2010 Carl Hiaasen (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

“Carl Hiaasen [is] Florida’s most entertainingly indignant social critic... He presents us with Cherry Pye, a 22-year-old pop star whose every display of narcissistic excess will send a frisson of horrified delight up your spine... The outlandish events soar on the exuberance of Hiaasen’s manic style, a canny blend of lunatic farce and savage satire.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Fans of Carl Hiaasen will feel right at home when they plunge into Star Island. There’s the familiar collection of deliciously tawdry characters, each angling for a piece of the action in Florida... And there’s the fast-moving plot, and the writing that makes you laugh out loud... Hiaasen has turned out another gem. Readers of his previous novels can settle in for more wacky fun in the Florida sun.” (Associated Press)

“Hiaasen is at his gleeful best skewering the morally bankrupt. He has plenty to poke fun at here, from a reprehensible real-estate developer with an excruciating groin injury to twin publicists Botoxed within an inch of their lives. This is classic Hiaasen - demented, hilarious, and utterly over the top.” (Booklist, starred review)

Fun

Great wacky story, you know, Florida. Book was so good never wanted to stop. Will definitely get more.

Star Island

What a gas! Totally enjoyed this book. Hiaassen is brilliant - as always!

Stellar performance and read

Stephen Hoye is the best at Hiaasen.

The story may not be that original. Could be another tale from TMZ of another celeb on a crash course towards a tragic demise. However, no one beat Hiaasen for adding humor, Florida craziness, and unforgettable characters. Who can resist Skink!

Love these stories

Governor Tyree is wonderful character in these books. Keep writing them please! As a Florida resident, I can picture every setting. Thanks!!

what a fun ride,!

Carl Hiaasen has done it again & this narrator Stephen Hoye is GREAT! THANKS GUYS!!!

Wonderful audio book!

This is my second Carl Hiaasen audible book--the first was Skinny Dip. Star Island is first and foremost hysterically funny! I have found myself laughing out loud as I walk and listen to this book. I have thoroughly enjoyed Stephen Hoye's narration of this book. Although there are definitely some similar fixtures in both Skinny Dip and Star Island--Star Island is still a very unique and enjoyable book. I highly recommend this recording!

Another hit by Hiaasen

If you like Carl Hiaasen books you will like this. he continues on with a cast of Floridas unique individuals and expands into the music world. Stephen Hoye does an excellent job reading it as well. I really enjoyed this book and was sad to see it end but Ms. Cherry Pie well just listen to it...

If you like Carl Hiaasen...

...then you are going to like Star Island. I am very happy to see a few old friends on this new tale. I can't help chuckle at the timing of the release of Star Island coinciding with Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton's new troubles.

Not Hiaasen's Best

I REALLY enjoy Carl Hiaasen's sarcasm and wit. I've listened to most of his books and rarely get bored with them. I got bored with this one. Thank goodness Skink made an appearance, or it would have been intolerable. I just couldn't get into the main characters, and the South Beach setting got stale quickly. The plot started rattling around aimlessly, and the ending left much to be desired. I won't quit Carl, but I won't give this book a second listen...and I'm kinda glad that the first listen is finally over.

narrator ruined it

trademark Hiaasen style, with plenty of outrageous characters and writing that will elicit a laugh every few minutes, though not my favorite of his. The narrator was terrible and really made me not care of the book. He struggles with any accent that isn't New Jersey, so many characters get that, and he is particularly poor at female voices...in a book with abundant female characters.