Orange Crush

By: Tim Dorsey

Narrated by: George Wilson

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Praising Tim Dorsey’s tongue-in-cheek humor, the Miami Herald wrote, “Nobody, but nobody, writes like this guy.” Here Florida politics take the main stage in a rollicking satire that proves Dorsey’s at the top of his game. When a traumatic experience forever changes Florida gubernatorial race candidate Marlon Conrad’s life, he hits the road in a Winnebago to find the “real” Florida. But his odyssey is plagued with would-be assassins and cutthroat journalists.

©2001 Tim Dorsey (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Cracked me up

Starts out slow setting up all the characters then picks up and plows full steam ahead for the rest of the book.

This one has a single story line!

Easier to follow and less grisly than some in the series, but the same dark humor. Much enjoyed!

Storms Warning

Here is my Storms warning: if you're looking for the next volume in Tim Dorsey's Serge Storms series, this is not it, despite it being labeled as the third entry. Serge, the lovable sociopath with an encyclopedic knowledge of Florida and an unwavering moral compass, does figure in as a side character, but he is not the main character of Orange Crush. This is especially important for readers of the first two Serge Storms books, Florida Roadkill and Hammerhead Hotel, because that story line is ongoing -- entry #5, Stingray Shuffle, is the conclusion to that trilogy.

Nevertheless, you might be pleasantly surprised (as I was) to find that Orange Crush protagonist Marlon Conrad is a capable stand-in for Serge in the moral compass department. Marlon is not deranged like Serge, just naive, despite being governor of Florida. But he regains his political sanity in a remarkable sequence set in war-torn Kosovo and proceeds through the rest of the book as if he is a sane version of Serge setting things right (minus the Rube Goldberg vigilante killings that are Serge's stock in trade, here left for another character to commit).

So overall, I heartily recommend Orange Crush to both Dorsey fans and newbies. Fans, don't worry about Serge not being all there. Newbies, getting a dose of Dorsey without the shock of off-the-wall Serge Storms is a nice way into his world. But fans and newbies alike will enjoy this send-up of politics, written a year after Florida botched the presidential election of 2000. Sure, a lot of the satire is easy-pickings, low-hanging fruit. But Dorsey does a nice job of skewering all points on the compass, moral or not, going to the well-worn but tried-and-true territory of looking at the system from the point of view of a jaded politician having come to his senses (a la Carl Hiaasen's Skink, also a rogue Florida governor).

Funny as a sum bitch

This is my 2nd listen and after a slow start it’s still as funny as I remember I found myself laughing laughing out loud
Almost through the entire book

Funniest one yet

What made the experience of listening to Orange Crush the most enjoyable?

Of the first three, this one struck me as the funniest one yet. Several times I had to stop driving and pull over because I was laughting too hard to drive. It may not strike everyone the same way, but it hit my sense of humor.

What other book might you compare Orange Crush to and why?

Not exactly sure why, but Christopher Moore's LAMB or FOOL are my comparison. Very off beat sense of humor.

Which scene was your favorite?

The political canditates in the RAW wrestling match and the rich bastard who becomes a professional sports team owner.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed hard, Dorsey has taken everyday events and showed how funny they are. And of course, there's Serge, the insane genious killer and his nonstop trivia of everything Florida.

Any additional comments?

Not necessary, but adds continuity to start the "Serge A Storms" series of books in the order they were written, This is # 3

Funny

A lot like a Carl Hiasson novel. Once you got comfortable with the characters is was pretty funny. Look forward to reading more in the series.

A Humorous look At The Underbelly of Politics

What did you love best about Orange Crush?

The dramatic turn of the candidate. It was unexpected

What was most disappointing about Tim Dorsey’s story?

I almost got lost in the story after it moved from the opening pages to the deployment. It got a little boring and probably could have been better demonstrated there. The last part was very interesting and funny but some of the incidents made it less than believable.

Did George Wilson do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

I think George did an adequate job- nothing award-winning. He didn't "live" the characters like others I have heard.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely not. If I hadn't broken it up I might not have gotten through it.

Any additional comments?

I am going to listen to other Dorsey books, because I have been told that others are more enjoyable than this one.

Serge Under Cover

Tim, creative and witty as ever. I enjoy how he brings my Florida to life in satire.

not my favorite.....waited for Serge

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The. commentary on politics should be read alound before every session

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

HoHum!d

Any additional comments?

I will still look forward to another adventure....but I will first be certain that Serge is front and center

Shallow One Dimensional Characters

I enjoyed Hammerhead Ranch Motel. This was nowhere as good.

Almost shut it off with 5 hours left to go.

This will be my last Tim Dorsey novel.