Lucky You

De: Carl Hiaasen

Narrado por: George Newbern

Grange, Florida, is famous for its miracles - the weeping fiberglass Madonna, the Road-Stain Jesus, the stigmata man. And now it has JoLayne Lucks, unlikely winner of the state lottery.

Unfortunately, JoLayne's winning ticket isn't the only one. The other belongs to Bodean Gazzer and his raunchy sidekick, Chub, who believe they're entitled to the whole $28 million jackpot. And they need it quickly, to start their own underground militia before NATO troops invade America.

But JoLayne Lucks has her own plans for the Lotto money - an Eden-like forest in Grange must be saved from strip-malling. When Bode and Chub brutally assault her and steal her ticket, JoLayne vows to track them down, take it back - and get revenge.

The only one who can help is Tom Krome, a big-city investigative journalist now bitterly consigned to writing frothy features for a midsized central Florida newspaper. With a persuasive nudge from JoLayne, Krome is about to become part of a story that's bigger and more bizarre than anything he's ever covered.

Chasing two heavily armed psychopaths down the coast of Florida is reckless enough, but Tom's got other problems - the murderous attention of a jealous judge; an actress wife who turns fugitive to avoid divorce court; an editor who speaks in tongues; and Tom's own growing fondness for the future millionairess with whom he's risking his neck.

The pursuit takes them from the surreal streets of Grange to a buzzard-infested island deep in Florida Bay, where they finally catch up with the fledgling militia - Chub, Bode Gazzer, a newly recruited convenience-store clerk, and their baffled hostage, a Hooters waitress.

The climax explodes with the hilarious mayhem that is Carl Hiaasen's hallmark. Lucky You is his funniest, most deliriously gripping novel yet.

©2013 Carl Hiaasen (P)2013 Random House Audio

He just gets better

Carl Hiaasen never disappoints this is the fourth or fifth book of his that I’ve read and they just keep getting better

Classic Hiaasen

I really enjoyed this Florida adventure. His books are unique and enjoyable - and always fun. Recommend

Dated Sexism and Racusm

Sexism and racism used casually for laughs. I guess it was ok in the 90’s. Not so much now.

Lucky You <br />

I had read the paperback copy of this book and liked it, so when my husband and I went on a road trip last month, I knew this was a good story for trip.

Not Hiaasen's best work

If its your first go at Carl Hiaasen, try something else. Striptease or Skinny Dip, maybe.

His genius is making flawed characters lovable, so you end up rooting for them all the way.

There's none of that here. No redemption for the bumbling villain. Hero and heroine are unlovable. No real social comment. Racist bad guys and scamming zealots: too easy. I just didn't enjoy it.

He's one of my favorite audiobook pleasures, but Hiaasen missed the mark with this one.

Comical plot with biting social commentary

Entertaining but also enlightening about Florida ecology. The humerous but uncannily real characters help one to understand why our country is regressing.

Not my favorite Hiassen book

Im a long time fan, but this audio version bothered me. Actor’s voice was too flat. I wanted more expression, albeit deadpan… Still, not terrible.

Excellent book! Very worthwhile. Great ending.

Loved the story, the chase, the mystery, and the ending! All is right with the world, after all.

Good fun undermined by poor narration

Exploring the absurdity of life in Florida, and by extension life in the USA, Lucky You is a good example of how Hiassen can slyly play with America's self-obsession and self-regard. The danger is that we only see ourselves in the heros and heroines. In reality all the characters represent parts of us, whether acknowledged or not. We may aspire to be as noble as JoLayne, but in reality we are probably better represented by the Hooter waitress, Amber, who is trying to be decent, but who is also willingly making a lot of compromises to achieve a life of ease. Doing the honourable thing is not automatic

Lucky You is a good example of Carl Hiaasen's style, although Native Tongue is still my personal favourite. It is not perfect, but it will make you smile, perhaps laugh, and probably think. You may want to consider the print rather than audible version. The narration is amateurish. Eventually the affected world-weary tone begins to annoy and distract.

Fun Book and Great Narrator

It’s always fun to experience the new characters and their antics. It is especially enjoyable because I am a native Floridian and can relate to the towns.