Naked Came the Manatee

by John Dufresne, James W. Hall, Paul Levine, et al.

Book Overview

A story of suspense written serially by thirteen of Florida's most talented writers--including Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen, and Elmore Leonard--features a riot in Coconut Grove, an appearance by Fidel... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399141928
• ISBN13: 9780399141928
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 201 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Read this for pure enjoyment, not literary merit!

Imagine a book in which Dave Barry writes the first chapter, then twelve other very authors skilled authors have to write a chapter. Each author has to pick up the plot where the previous author left off. "Naked Came the Manatee" is hilarious, and it's the type of humorous thriller that could only take place in a state where the electric chair is named "Old Sparky."It's quirky, it's funny, and it's hilarious. Don't take it to bed to read if you have a significant other, because you'll just keep them up with your laughter.This book is funny - read it because you want to be entertained, and you won't be disappointed!

Distilled characters + banana politics + sea cow = Mad Romp

Do you read for sheer pleasure as I do? If yes, then get this book. Outstanding writers banded together to produce uniquely Florida flavored escapeism. After a short while you can smell the jungle growth, salt air, Cuban coffee, and hot streets of this tropical asylum. The characters could only exist in that humid overgrown place. The politics are an odd marriage of Miami/Havanna. The manatee is unusually thoughtful and an activist. The love interests pay dues to senior citizens.Its a fun ride through swamps, newspapers, mansions, swamp shacks, and assorted bad guys. The good guys have that Key West attitude of "If you don't like the way I live then don't watch and don't participate." Give yourself a wonderful treat, sit back, make a snack and go to it.

A great book by a collection of great authors

If you like mystery, drama, suspense, and humor you will get it in this book. 13 authors with 13 differtent styles join talents for this books

Great fun in the sun!

What a wild romp! One literary gumshoe is introduced, the next chapter he wins the lottery and is written out of the plot! The fictional sleuths of several famous mystery writers duel with each other to unravel the secrets of Castro's head(s). The sole constant character is the oft-maligned Manatee - he of small brain and nicknamed Booger. The amazingly smooth flow of the plot through thirteen different writers made this book a delight to read, although it was too short. Obviously, in the manner of Carl Hiassen and Dave Barry, the humor dances on every page. The continuity between chapters, which must have required each individual writer to read and reread each previous chapter in order to match details, never loses the thread. It was a treat to relish each author's style, get to know in some small manner, that writer's favorite detective, and yet follow the ever-lingering Booger as he floats through the plot. This is a book for summer vacation: read it on the beach and wait for Booger to show up!

A fun introduction to many south Florida writers

I bought this book because I am a big fan of James W. Hall (who does a chapter), and a growing fan of Carl Hiassen and Dave Barry. The book was a hoot, with the fun the writers were having evident on every page and with every plot twist. I was surprised at the relatively smooth style transitions given the variety of authors. I found it an excellent introduction to other very good south Florida writers who I was unfamiliar with. Enjo