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)

Thoroughly enjoyable!

This book had me laughing practically every minute of listening. Hiassen's characters, as usual, are over the top. A roadkill-eating ex-governor, a hitman/mortgage broker with a weed whacker for a prothesis, and a Lindsay Lohan style airhead who lip syncs her hit records, just to name a few. I found the interaction between Chemo and Cherry Pye to be especially funny: he jolts her with a cattle prod whenever she uses any words he finds annoying, such as "totally" and "awesome." Stephen Hoye, the reader, does an excellent job with the various voices, especially Janet Bunterman, the airhead's enabling mother. Yes, he does mispronounce some of the place names (Mo-have rather than Mo-havee), but I completely disagree with those critics who complain about Hoye's narration.

Funny and engaging

When I picked this up the ratings weren't spectacular. But as I am a big Hiaasen fan, I wanted to give it a go anyway. I was far from disappointed. In fact I rank this one right alongside Skinny Dip and Double Whammy.

The author's trademark sardonic humor shines from the beginning to the very end, where a very funny epilogue ties everything up nicely. Skink also makes a zany appearance and that alone was worth the credit.

As far as Stephen Hoye is concerned, he delivers a perfect performance doing justice to nuances of every single character.

Bottom line is, get this book. You won't be disappointed and the credit will be well spent.

He hasn't lost his touch

Typical Hiaasen. If you're a fan, you'll not be disappointed and if you're new to this author, you're in for a treat. Well read. Only bad thing is that I now have to wait for the next appearance of "the Captain".

in your face Lindsay Lohan

My husband & I listened to this while on a cross Canada trip after lisening t an interview with Carl Hiaasen. Cherry was a perfect Lindsay Lohan type; great story

***** Hiaasen still a hoot.

I have only listened to about an hours worth so far, but have found myself laughing out loud a number of times. Hiaasen's off the wall descriptions of people and places are still hilareous. Especially to those of us who have lived in Florida for many years.

Star Island

Homeless, one-eyed, former governor of Florida rampages through South Beach to rescue a celebrity look-a-like from an obsessed paparazzo. If that wasn't enough, Hiaasen throws in a one-armed bodyguard with a weed whacker for a prosthesis. Great stuff, highly recommended.

Great Read

The reader’s performance makes or breaks the recording. Hoye took some daring risks with his different voices and it really paid off. Now it’s 5:00 am because I had to finish it.

A strange peep into celebrity

I love Carl Hiassen. I have listened to his stories over and over because I like to. I now live in Florida myself. The satire describes a truth. This story includes Skink in his sixties.

Narrator complaints are right on!!!

I did not think that a Carl Hiaasen book could be ruined by poor narration. I was wrong. This guy gives NO inflection of the different characters in the book. I finished reading it a few days ago and cannot really even tell anyone what it was about. I think I will get the book at the library and read it. Please, fire this narrator and bring back George Wilson who is one of the best narrators out there.

YUK!

I will remember to look at the narrator before buying. Did not realize not George Wilson, and this guy is about as emotional as a stoic. Might be a good book, but who knows with this poor narration.