In South Florida, everyone wants to get a head. But not just any head. A very famous human head--severed and snugged away in a cryonic container. A...
read full description
reviews
Dec 13, 2008
Ann
rated it: 
Like most such serially written books, Naked Came the Manatee starts out strong, but as it progresses, each previous writer is more and more likely to write the next one into a corner. In some such stories, the ending is a foregone conclusion, so the writers needn't struggle too much to assure that the assassination is foiled, the lovers are united, etc., but something that starts with an open ending, like this book, paradoxically creates more troubles for writers and readers. For example, Carl Hiassen
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 04, 2008
Catten
rated it: 
Once upon a time, 20 or so journalists at the Long Island newspaper Newsday, posed as a single writer named Penelope Ashe and wrote a really bad sex novel called Naked Came the Stranger.
In 1997, Dave Barry wrote the first chapter of Naked Came the Manatee and passed it to the right, in the tradition of that party game called Telephone. He thought he'd made up enough characters for all of the South Florida writers involved in the project. And like the first person in the Telephone cir More...
In 1997, Dave Barry wrote the first chapter of Naked Came the Manatee and passed it to the right, in the tradition of that party game called Telephone. He thought he'd made up enough characters for all of the South Florida writers involved in the project. And like the first person in the Telephone cir More...
Aug 01, 2011
Interesting concept: 13 different authors, each of whom penned a chapter, taking the story in their own direction. Dave Barry wrote the opening chapter, which had me in hysterics despite my best attempts to stifle my giggles so my 8 year old son, who was asleep next to me, wouldn't wake up. A manatee named Booger? Brilliant!
I'd never heard of the majority of the writers, so I had no idea what to expect. Each chapter had its own style, its own flavor, but they all worked together really wel More...
I'd never heard of the majority of the writers, so I had no idea what to expect. Each chapter had its own style, its own flavor, but they all worked together really wel More...
Sep 14, 2010
Andrew
rated it: 
The basic premise of this novel is that twelve Florida writers got together and wrote a chapter each. It was originally serialized in a magazine, so the way it worked was the first author wrote chapter one, which appeared in the magazine. With that to go on, the next author had to continue the story in chapter two. So on and so forth until Carl Hiaasen had to tie everything up at the end and make a coherent story out of it.
While Hiassen did write the best chapter (in my opinion), th More...
While Hiassen did write the best chapter (in my opinion), th More...
Mar 13, 2010
Richard
rated it:
Like the waters of Key Biscayne, in and near where much of the plot of this book occurs, this story is choppy. That's to be expected, given the novel consists of 13 chapters, no two written by the same author. Dave Barry kicks off the story, Carl Hiaasen finishes it, and the writers in between are all seasoned Floridian authors of varying renown. Some of the chapters are funnier than others, some better written, and a couple don't work at all. The approach makes for disjointed storytelling at be
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 31, 2009
Sheather
rated it:
The premise here -- that a bevy of great Florida authors would each write a chapter to create a fun Florida thriller -- just didn't really work in reality. The plot ended up too choppy and there were way too many characters to keep up with (probably because just about every writer had to introduce a new one instead of developing what they were given). I did like what the valuable and dangerous item, which everyone was fighting over, turned out to be. In that sense it was a very Florida book. I a
More...
May 06, 2011
Teddy
rated it:
I enjoyed this, but possibly for the wrong reasons. Watching the writers push each other into corners, temporarily resurrect characters they obviously had been looking forwards to playing with but who had been killed off, and generally make a mash-up of things was hilarious. I especially liked the chapter where someone who knows something about manatee biology took over and spat his or her dummy out about the liberties that had been previously taken, and had booga 'start acting like a proper m
More...
Jul 27, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
A great premise, but this book really foundered along the way. Each author tried to make it harder for the next one to continue the story, while planting what they thought were land mines along the way. It made for a jumbled mess, for me, and I didn't think it was very funny, either. Some of the authors were quite boring, and I read too many authors to mention.
It would have worked if Carl Hiaasen took the whole thing and wrote it himself. Yes, I am a HUGE fan of his writing. But this More...
It would have worked if Carl Hiaasen took the whole thing and wrote it himself. Yes, I am a HUGE fan of his writing. But this More...
Jul 08, 2008
Jordan
rated it:
Before reading this book, I didn’t have high hopes. I’ve read a lot of reviews beforehand that bashed this book. Well, after finishing it I must say that I am pleasantly surprised.
It’s by no means perfect. When you have that many authors each writing a chapter in the novel, there is bound to be some problems. Overall, though, it was enjoyable.
One of the problems is that between some of the chapters, there are time lapses so the reader has to figure out “Okay what happened More...
It’s by no means perfect. When you have that many authors each writing a chapter in the novel, there is bound to be some problems. Overall, though, it was enjoyable.
One of the problems is that between some of the chapters, there are time lapses so the reader has to figure out “Okay what happened More...
Apr 25, 2008
Kristen
rated it:
In case you didn't know, this book is actually written by several Florida authors, each contributing a chapter and taking the story where they so choose. I believe it was originally published in a magazine, with each author submitting the next installment of the story. The first is Dave Barry and the final is Carl Hiaasen with several other prime examples of Floridian writing genius in between.
This book covers the bases when it comes to Florida humor, taking place in Miami, we have More...
This book covers the bases when it comes to Florida humor, taking place in Miami, we have More...
Feb 20, 2008
Becky
rated it:
this book is absolutely preposterous, and i mean that in the best way possible. this is the novel equivalent of the experiment we did in my 10th grade english class where everybody wrote one sentence of a story on a piece of paper and then passed it to the person next to them to continue the story -- except here you've got well-known florida authors writing full chapters. you can't read this book expecting it to be the slightest bit coherent or sensical. it's pure fun, so just go along for the r
More...
Sep 05, 2010
Aleisha Z
rated it: 
with a name and primary author like that, of course i would pick it up at FYE's 90% off clearance sale! worth it! each chapter was written by a different author which added some interesting variety of flow to the characters in the book. It was a a murder/chase mystery set in FL with a manatee thrown in for good measure...ever since i lived in Florida.. and seen one and their obsession for them...you can't resist them either:)
Aug 10, 2010
Sally
rated it:
I loved this book! About a dozen mystery writers got together and each of them wrote a chapter of this book. It's not a compilation of short stories, it's an honest to God book - one story - that each author contributed a portion of the ongoing story. It was such fun to read. Some of them added humor, some added suspense, they just wrote in their own style but kept the storyline going.
It was such fun to read!!
It was such fun to read!!
Nov 13, 2009
Carmussel
rated it:
This book started out just great, but degenerated when the manatee was anthropomorphized, became a tool-user, etc. It didn't even feel like magical realism - just foolish. Up to that point, the team of South Florida writers did a pretty good job in co-writing a cohesive, clever story, with the usual cast of quirky characters that you'd expect from Carl Hiassen, Dave Elmore, etc. Anyway, even Carl couldn't pull it off by the last chapter.
Jan 21, 2010
Tony
rated it:
A team effort by a veritable who's who of South Florida's funkiest storytellers--including Elmore Leonard, Edna Buchanan, James H. Hall, John Dufresne, Paul Levine, and Dave Barry--"Naked Came the Manatee" is a hilarious and harrowing suspense thriller that could only take place in the dark underworld of the Sunshine State.
Jul 03, 2009
Yvensong
rated it:
A witty, enjoyable read, as long you understand that this was originally a serialization done in a magazine by 13 authors.
There were a few times, I felt that an author didn't take the time to fully read through the sections prior to his or her section, leaving for some odd plotting which subsequent authors had to try and fix.
There were a few times, I felt that an author didn't take the time to fully read through the sections prior to his or her section, leaving for some odd plotting which subsequent authors had to try and fix.
Dec 28, 2011
Cindy
rated it:
Thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining, fast-paced adventure set in South Florida. Zany characters and unexpected twists add to the appeal, plus the chapters each written by one of South Florida's best authors blend to make this a witty, appealing novel.
Mar 19, 2011
Karin
rated it:
This one was a little more jumbled up than Naked came the Phoenix,there were so many characters, I wrote them on a piece of paper to keep them apart.The book was fun because it's not so much the plot as seeing what the writers do with what's been done so far.Some of the transitions were really smooth with very little disruption,some were like a bucket of cold water in the face at 5 o'clock am.It's like a card game my grandchidren play; we draw a card and tell a story about the picture,and the ne
More...
Jan 01, 2012
Frederick
rated it:
A comedy set in South Florida starring a manatee named Booger. Each chapter is written by a different author. The best known authors are Carl Hiassen and Dave Barry. It has its moments, but is mostly disjointed and hard to follow.
Aug 05, 2011
Marli
rated it:
As is true with muliple authors contributing to a story, some parts are good and enjoyable and some are not worth the time to read. This is the case with this book. An overall enjoyable read even though some parts could have been better and some could have been cut completely.
Aug 05, 2011
Bruce
rated it:
This book was an interesting idea (13 chapters, each written in series by 13 different authors), but for me, it didn't work. It was clear that a few of the authors were up to the job (people like Dave Barry, Elmore Leonard, and Carl Hiaasen) but it was equally clear that a few of the others should never attempt to write anything more complex than a postcard.
Sep 14, 2009
Erika
rated it:
It was a good idea that flopped in my opinion. I love Hiaasen's fast paced wit...this book didn't have that. The overall plot seemed like him but the execution was lacking. I guess that's what happens when you have so many authors.
Apr 03, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
Great idea to have all these great writers each contribute a chapter for this book... But, it didn't quite work out. Still an interesting read -- but I don't know if I would recommend it.
Jul 11, 2011
Beth
rated it:
Each Miami author writes a different chapter, making it somewhat choppy, and there are continuity errors between chapters. But there are good writers contributing, and some funny scenes.
Mar 19, 2010
Jean
rated it:
What can I say- I live in Florida (Having migrated up from Dinner Key in Miami)and like most of the authors who were in on writing this book! It was a fun lite read.
Jul 29, 2010
Flynt
rated it:
Loads of fun to read. Dave Barry starts it off & another author is responsible for each chapter. Finally, Carl Hiaasen brings it all together at the end.
Oct 13, 2009
Joshua
rated it:
3.5 stars for this wildly uneven unique hodgepodge story that at times lacks story logic and continuity even within chapters but provides a riproaring tale in the vein of all the authors included!
Oct 06, 2008
Elaine
rated it:
Remember that game where you get a bunch of people together and one person starts a story then breaks off and the next person continues the story, and so on? Well this book is what happens when that bunch of people are all published authors. Just like those impromptu group stories, this story is a lot of fun, but suffers from characters that suddenly begin acting out of character, plot points that show up suddenly then just drift away, and even chapters that shift genres. Kudos to Carl Hiaase
More...
