Skinny Dip - Unique, Wacky, Drama-filled, and Often Way Too Ridiculous

My co-worker belongs to a book club, so I was lucky enough to score this book as a recommendation from her. She said it was a really fun book, and by the end of the day, having sat on my desk for a few hours, the book received several compliments from other co-workers who had either read Skinny Dip or another book by Carl Hiaasen. I was, by this point, really looking forward to reading it!

I read the hardcover version, which is a hearty 368 pages. The cover is bright and attractive. This book is written by Carl Hiaasen, who has written many others. All of his books have catchy names, and it seems like most people who have read one of his books have read more than one. I also learned that he reuses many of his characters or type of characters from book to book.


Plot Summary

The basic premise of the book is Chaz Perrone throwing his wife Joey off a cruise ship while celebrating their 2-year wedding anniversary. What he doesn’t know if that his wife survives the plunge – partly by clinging to a floating bale of Jamaican pot! As the book’s cover says, “Instead of rushing to the police and reporting her husband's crime, Joey decides to stay dead and (with Mick's help) screw with Chaz until he screws himself.”. Joey chooses not to reveal her survival as, well, a survival technique. For one, she knows it is unlikely that she can prove Chaz pushed her overboard. She also wants to know why he wanted to kill her.

Chaz, if you can’t tell from attempted murder, is a shady character – a marine scientist who supposedly works to save the Everglades. Instead, he illegally falsifies his water testing results to protect rich polluters. A failure in most areas of life, Chaz will do what it takes for success.

Joey, on the other hand, has quite a large inheritance – but it is not the reason Chaz attempts to kill her, another reason she is confused. Unlike Chaz, she truly believes in the protection of the Everglades and has a kind heart. Joey washes up on an island, naked and clutching a bale of Jamaican pot. She is found by Mick Stranahan, an ex cop. After surviving the attempt on her life, she does some investigative work, some tormenting of her husband (while unaware she is alive), and tries to gain some closure.


My Thoughts

This book really starts off with a bang. You can read Chapter 1 on Amazon.com, a great way to “test drive” a book before buying it. It is in the first chapter alone that Joey is thrown from the cruise ship. I knew right from that first chapter that this would be a pretty crazy book.

Hiaasen has a fast and entertaining style of writing. The story and plot kept my attention from the first pages, and how could it not? The pace stays pretty constant throughout the book, and has an element of suspense. Of course, the reader wants to know what Joey has up her sleeve, and what the outcome will be for both her and her husband.

It may seem, from the description of the book, that it is going to be a pretty dark story. However, the author has a good sense of humor. His characters aren’t too far over the edge (excuse the pun) but manage to be some pretty odd types. Chaz is pretty stupid, and it is with great enjoyment we get to watch him experience some torment from his wife and others, all as a result of his own actions. Joey, on the other hand is smart and beautiful, an interesting counterpart to her deceitful husband.

As wild as the book is, I enjoyed the use of the Everglades environmental issues offering some plot substance. It adds a sense of realism as well as a good dividing line amongst characters. I have heard that his other books also involve environmental issues, which I think brings a little something extra to the book.

Although some of the book is realistic, much of it is also very unrealistic. This was, often times, too unrealistic for me. The characters are really pushed to their limits, and so are the events that unfold. I’m not saying I wasn’t entertained, but the book did get ridiculous at times.

There are also some interesting sub-plots and peripheral characters in Skinny Dip. There is “Tool”, a big brute of a man who becomes involved in being a bodyguard for Chaz, but is much deeper of a character than anyone would anticipate. Ricca is another character (Chaz’ mistress), providing another element to the story. We also get to meet characters like Joey’s Australian brother, the tycoon behind the Everglades scam, and a detective who just can’t lay this case to rest. These characters fill smaller roles that support the main plot.

There is a fair amount of sexual content in this book. The style of the writing makes it obvious to me that the author is male. Someone likened this book to a soap opera, and I would have to agree, both in terms of sex and drama. There are so many little things happening all over the place, and at times felt like just a lot of random drama.

As for the ending, it is quite a journey to reach the conclusion of the book. I found it surprising but also satisfying. Towards the end of the book, I felt the plot begin to drag a little bit. I have no problems chewing through a book in a matter of hours, so maybe it was that so much had already gone into the story line, but the book seemed a bit long. There are so many bits and pieces to the plot, I think the longer the book got, the more fragmented it felt.


Overall

This book was quite entertaining and unique. Between the plot and characters, you have very unusual creation. The only downside seemed to be the lack of substance and over-the-top characters – however, I was otherwise entertained by the ridiculous nature of the plot.

I was both intrigued and humored by Hiaasen’s style of writing, and I look forward to reading another one of his books, although if they are all similar, I don’t think I would read them all. (Next on my list: “Hoot”, for the environmentalist in me. Although a teen’s book, it is about saving tiny owls!) Skinny Dip almost felt more like a movie than a book, but all said, it is a fun summer book and something different for a change. I give this book 3 stars.


Carl Hiaasen: http://www.carlhiaasen.com/