Basket Case Kindle Edition

I really dig Hiaasen's stories. Some are better than others, though. Some of them feel like he dialed it in and just followed his same basic formula, and others are really original. I was skeptical of Basket Case when I first started reading it, and I wouldn't say that it rises quite to the same level as Skin Tight or Stormy Weather, but it turned out to be a real treat. You should also take time to check out the backstory of the song. Recommended to Hiaasen fans!

Hiassen's targets in this one are familiar in general and specific. The author delights in whacking venal, greedy, shallow, stupid and generally evil people. He has found a lot of these folks in his home state of Florida. In "Basket Case", the general types are personified as a rock singer (female) of limited talent and endless ambition and a greedy newspaper mogul. His protagonist is a newspaper reporter who has bucked the boss and been demoted for his effrontery--a character who will be familiar to Hiaasen followers.While the inevitable comeuppance for the bad guys shows up on time, the wild--bizarre even punishments--are not inflicted in this novel. Overall though, it has the usual wit and fast pace that characterize most of the author's wonderful books, and is a very funny read.

Carl Hiaasen never disappoints. Basket Case is another in his series of fictional high jinks of the rascals of South Florida and the down-and-out hero who catches them in the end. You get to like the main character whose paper is bought out by money-grubbing entitled rich and who is put into a dark corner of the paper on the obituary desk when he dares speak his mind. Hmm, is Carl writing from what he knows?Basket Case has a cast of odd characters with hearts of gold and bad guys who are easy to spot, but Hiaasen has a few tricks up his sleeve that makes the ending a surprise.

The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because he hasn't written his best book yet. I've been reading Carl Hiaasen for a while now and I always go away feeling a little better knowing that twisted mind is out there writing. He's angry and cynical and sometimes vicious but like Hunter S. Thompson his anger is intelligent and accurate...and he etches the absurdity of it all with biting humour. The world is full of wonderfully weird and demented people...south Florida more than most (the climate maybe). Hiaasen is kind to the unfortunately stupid...relentlessly poisonous to the venal...and happily murderous to those who more than deserve it. Pity he hasn't adopted a single protagonist for all of his books...because they're almost always the same guy with different names. Basket Case isn't a great book...It's fun and if you can't read the whole thing in under a week...you need to change your medication. One shouldn't analyze these books too deeply I think...he's a good, smooth, fast, writer...just dig it and enjoy the odd chuckle.

Hiaasen is witty and funny, in his own distinctive way, unique. But I really can't take more than one of his novels per month, or maybe per quarter. Though I wish I could write this review in his style. Still he is definitively the poet laureate of Florida. His images define Florida for me (I'm a Californian).For all his sarcasm, he really loves the place, and in his best books, he describes so well the Everglades and the keys, those gorgeous Eastern sunrises over the ocean, the irreplaceable beauty that he sees being destroyed by the stupidity and greed of humankind. In this book he takes on a different villain, the sharks who are destroying the newspapers. Certainly he has a good point here, but I prefer his nature novels. My husband requests that I include in my review his enthusiasm for listening to Hiaasen's books on Audible. He's the one who got me started, and now I can't stop!

A well known publisher/editor once said, "the purpose of a newspaper is to make money." In the case of the "Union-Register," the newspaper has been acquired by a large corporation that treats its chain of newspapers like it treats its chain of fast food restaurants. The newspaper is now being managed by corporate suits whose attention is on the bottom line rather than the local news. Jack Tagger, a staff writer on the paper, finds himself demoted to writing obits after irritating the corporation's chief executive.Writing an obituary gives new direction to Tagger's career after the deceased, James Bradley Stomarti, is indentified as the musician Jimmy Stoma, well known by Tagger's generation. Digging into Stoma's death raises questions. Stoma's widow, Cleo Rio, does not seem unhappy about his sudden demise, and is using the death as PR for her own career. Tagger links up with Stoma's sister and others to carry out his own investigation. Things can be deadly as other people are attacked and/or killed, and homes are ransacked. Someone is looking for something.Cleo Rio claims Stoma was producing her new CD, but there is some mystery about just what Stoma was producing. There is unpublished music involved, and a question about who owns what. People are maneuvering for control if they can find the music.Meanwhile, back at the newspaper, there is a separate power struggle. Foreign corporations are trying to take control. The newspaper's previous owner has a large block of corporate stock which is key to the issue. Tagger finds himself in the middle of both power struggles and, in the meantime, is obsessed with finding out what happened to his own father.This is one of those novels that the reader gets involved in, and it will keep you up late to get to the end. Just when it looks like a black hat will walk away whole, there is a surprising twist in the tale.

Hiaasen’s off best in his off-beat view of Florida and Floridians is on display and n this book.From the first page to you the last Hiaasen’ sincerity and love of the off beat and looniest people beams like an 80 foot neon sign. If you’ve not read Hiaasen start with Basket Case and you’ll be hooked.

Hiaasen's books make you feel good, bad things do happen, but only to the right people and only in the funniest ways. The female characters are strong and give as good as they get. Our hero is an everyman doing his best against difficult odds, you know it'll turn out OK, but it's not easy. Dead rock stars, frozen lizards and multiple beatings, what's not to love?

This is only the second book I have read by this author. The first one I read 'Stormy Weather' was brilliant. Fast moving, funny, complicated, interesting and that is why I bought another. I found 'Basket Case' to be funny but a bit long winded. Characters were good but not a huge amount happened. I have bought 'Native Tongue' so not given up...

Bought for someone else they liked the book would definitely recommend to others

As usual, Hiaasen provides a humorous and unexpected read during hot summer evenings. Classic.

Excellent and funny!