Grange, Florida is famous for its miracles: the Weeping Fiberglass Madonna, the Road Stain Jesus--and JoLayne Lucks, recent winner of the state's $...
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Aug 23, 2008
Collette
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Rarely have I found an author that has made me laugh out loud so many times in one book. Hiaasen has done that for me in the books of his I have read. I love his wit and dry humor.
This is a great story about two lottery ticket winners in Florida. One is a young black woman that works in a vet's office and loves animals (keeps an aquarium full of 45 baby turtles that she saved) and the other is a redneck, white supremacist that doesn't feel like sharing the $28 mil., especially with a " More...
This is a great story about two lottery ticket winners in Florida. One is a young black woman that works in a vet's office and loves animals (keeps an aquarium full of 45 baby turtles that she saved) and the other is a redneck, white supremacist that doesn't feel like sharing the $28 mil., especially with a " More...
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May 29, 2011
Jerry
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True to a friend's billing as “irreverent, but funny”
We always enjoy “discovering” a new author, and when a friend lent us “Lucky You”, with the comment “irreverent, but funny”, we dove into it with pleasurable anticipation. It’s odd when you set out not even knowing a book’s genre, but the novel soon enough revealed itself to be sheer humor, with just enough of a light mystery to create a little suspense along the way. The plot was fairly original – two dumb, petty criminals n More...
We always enjoy “discovering” a new author, and when a friend lent us “Lucky You”, with the comment “irreverent, but funny”, we dove into it with pleasurable anticipation. It’s odd when you set out not even knowing a book’s genre, but the novel soon enough revealed itself to be sheer humor, with just enough of a light mystery to create a little suspense along the way. The plot was fairly original – two dumb, petty criminals n More...
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Dec 16, 2009
Kevin
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I was thinking about Carl Hiassen/Elmore Leonard books, trying to remember which ones I'd read...it's proven challenging. The story descriptions don't help much because, let's face it, the plots are all primarily the same--some sort of mystery set in Florida involving a hard-luck hero and a zany cast of secondary characters, with just enough plot twists to keep you turning the pages. Don't get me wrong, these are great books for what they are--fun summer reading. If you're looking for complex
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Mar 14, 2011
bookczuk
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The perfect read for when you want to be entertained, but not think too much. Hiassen snagged me from the get-go with his usual blend of insane characters. I always look for the basic "Every Man" who is usually a reporter (check), someone passionate about the environment (check), a possible love interest for EveryMan (check), an ex-love for EveryMan (check and check), bad guy(s) who have some good in them (check), bad guys that are beyond redemption (check, check, check) and should be
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Dec 27, 2011
Doug
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JoLayne Lucks wins the lottery when the stakes are at 28-million. So do Chub and Bode, a pair of washed white-supremacist wannabes. The fact that JoLayne is black is not why they want to steal from her, but it helps. No, they want to form an Army to fight off the UN's imminent invasion. After taking her ticket, JoLayne gets Tom Krome, a cynical and mostly wasted reporter, to help her track them down. Eventually, a a Hooters waitress, a surly gas-station clerk, Tom's supervisor, a crack ATF agent
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Nov 26, 2011
Chandler
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What fun it would be to spend one day in Carol Hiaasen's brain!!! Where he comes up with his characters and the situations they put themselves in just makes my heart smile. His equation for a great book is Einstein-inspired.
JoLayne Lucks, a black veterinary assistant has won the big lotto--14 million dollars! With her winnings, she is going to buy swampland that is being courted by a money launderer to purchase, raze and build a strip mall on...
The other winners in the lot More...
JoLayne Lucks, a black veterinary assistant has won the big lotto--14 million dollars! With her winnings, she is going to buy swampland that is being courted by a money launderer to purchase, raze and build a strip mall on...
The other winners in the lot More...
Jul 25, 2011
Wendy
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JoLayne Lucks lives in Grange, Florida, a town famous for its so-called miracles (the weeping fiberglass Madonna that cries "real" tears scented with Charlie perfume and the famous Road-Stain Jesus). Now there's Lady Luck, for JoLayne has just won the Florida Lotto and plans to save a rare piece of Florida wildlife from being bulldozed into another useless strip mall. Problem: there's a second winner to split the $28 million jackpot. Bodean Gazzer and his sidekick, known only as Chub,
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May 03, 2011
Valerie
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This is a book that I would not have probably ever read, but the library chose this book for book discussion this month. Nevertheless, it was a good read. It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down...even when I was 25 pages from the end. But, it was a book that kept me intrigued throughout and I wan't to see how it ended.
The story is about JoLayne Lucks who wins the lottery in Grange, Florida (a pilgrimage town filled with wacky born-again christians who make money off fake relics More...
The story is about JoLayne Lucks who wins the lottery in Grange, Florida (a pilgrimage town filled with wacky born-again christians who make money off fake relics More...
Jan 25, 2011
Casey
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This was another book club selection. It was selected as a light read to follow "Tortilla Curtain" by T.C. Boyle. "Lucky You" follows two people/groups that win the lottery: a black woman (Jolayne Lucks) and two white bigots. The two men find Jolayne and take her winning ticket from her so they can have the whole jackpot. There wasn't a whole lot to discuss in the club. The book isn't very deep and doesn't pose too many questions. Some of my fellow book clubbers found i
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Nov 24, 2009
Jeff
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Lucky You traces the adventures of two Florida rednecks who win the lottery and, upon discovering that they have to split the jackpot with another winner, decide to try to steal the other winning ticket. What follows is a romp involving Hooters chicks, Jesus-shaped oil stains on highways, misadventures with the wildlife of the Florida Keys and shady real estate deals.
I spent a decade living in Florida. I spent most of that time operating businesses such as telemarketing companies a More...
I spent a decade living in Florida. I spent most of that time operating businesses such as telemarketing companies a More...
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Jan 01, 2012
Frederick
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I listened to this on cassette, read by George Wilson. He does a great job with the novel.Typical Carl Hiaasen fiction. This one is the story of a woman in a small town in Florida named JoLayne Lucks. She purchases the winning ticket in the Florida lottery and is entitled to $14 Million. Unfortunately, the same thing happens to two white supremacist losers from Miami. They need her ticket to make $28 Million, so they go to steal it. Most of the book describes JoLayne's quest to get her winning t
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Jul 28, 2011
JoJo
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I have never read Hiaasen before. I find his style of writing to be difficult to get used to, but overall enjoyable. His way of telling a story leaves much to fate and even more to chance, but it is wonderful to see him slowly thread the strings of his seemingly disorganized world into one amazingly strange tapestry.
Hiaasen transports you into the minds of his characters, and despite their sometimes odious and malicious thought and deeds, you cannot help but feel connected to them in some way. More...
Hiaasen transports you into the minds of his characters, and despite their sometimes odious and malicious thought and deeds, you cannot help but feel connected to them in some way. More...
Jan 06, 2009
Janelle
rated it:
Carl Hiaasen's works are usually very funny, intelligent, witty, creative, with a happy ending. What could you want more from an entertaining lite read? The imaginative characters, the adventure, the great use of irony and sarcasm, he keeps you guessing how things could possibly all work out for the best, and they do in his books which I like. I always find good qualities to admire in his heros, and can easily despise the villians, cheering when they meet their demise...in whatever creative f
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Jun 03, 2011
Jeremy
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What a fabulous book. Two lottery tickets share the jackpot. One is owned by JoLayne, a vetanarian nurse in Grange, the other by a "red neck" in the wilds (both South Florida). The red neck wants both tickets and so sets out to acquire JoLaynes ticket (one way or another - well one way only actually). Meanwhile, newspaper man Tom Krome is sent to cover the JoLayne story but he catapultes himself into a crazy race around Florida with JoLayne trying to find Bo and Chub (the red necks) an
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May 25, 2009
John
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I was looking for something light to read on a series of trips in May, and pulled this off the shelves at my father-in-law's house. I'd never read Hiaasen before, but figured that if a family member and Dave Barry both recommended him, he'd be worth a shot. The story follows a burnt-out reporter and a lottery winner as they try to recover the latter's winning lottery ticket, which has been stolen by comically dumb white supremacists. It's all reasonably amusing but overly long, with at least t
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Jul 09, 2011
Perry
rated it:
Down on her heels JoLayne Lucks wins one half of the Miami state lottery, the other half is won by a couple of cretinous, white supremacist rednecks. A simple set-up for a slapstick knock-around if ever there was one, with Hiaasen obliging in that sweet, sarcastic way of his.
Similar to Elmore Leonard in sharing the same seedy Florida locations and the same seedy inhabitants of America's 'Sunshine State', Hiaasen differs in that he paints his rogues gallery with a broad brush approach, More...
Similar to Elmore Leonard in sharing the same seedy Florida locations and the same seedy inhabitants of America's 'Sunshine State', Hiaasen differs in that he paints his rogues gallery with a broad brush approach, More...
Sep 12, 2010
Lynne
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This was supposed to be a comedy thriller but didn't really think it was either. I didn't find it particularly funny and it wasn't an 'edge of your seat' book either. It dragged a little in parts and there were a few characters who's names sounded similar and it got a bit confusing as it jumped around a little bit. The story is about a black woman - Jolayne - who wins $14 million in the state lottery. Another man - Bode and his friend Chub also have the same numbers. They're white supremisc
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Jun 23, 2010
Stephanie
rated it:
Cool .
This is a brilliant comedy and crime fiction by the master of crime . It was fizzing with surreal escapades and the politics of a life in Florida's wetlands . Exploring the dangers of ignorant bigots and their insulting comeuppance , bringing all the sordid prejudices and primitive beliefs of everyday people to a social system that thrives on only one principal dollar is king and Hiaasen is king of comedy .Outrageous brilliant and bordering on hysteria read it and roar with lau More...
This is a brilliant comedy and crime fiction by the master of crime . It was fizzing with surreal escapades and the politics of a life in Florida's wetlands . Exploring the dangers of ignorant bigots and their insulting comeuppance , bringing all the sordid prejudices and primitive beliefs of everyday people to a social system that thrives on only one principal dollar is king and Hiaasen is king of comedy .Outrageous brilliant and bordering on hysteria read it and roar with lau More...
Feb 01, 2010
Alan
rated it:
After an unsuccessful slog through most of An Incident at the Fingerpost, I'm going with Mr. Hiaasen for my next read.
And I wasn't sorry. This relatively early (1997) one from Mr. Hiaasen delivered with everything I have come to enjoy from his work. Quirky characters, lots of action, pointed commentary leavened with an ultimately hopeful view that the good guys can win at least every once in a while. Tom Krome and JoLayne Lucks make an appealing hero/heroine team and the luckless/bra More...
And I wasn't sorry. This relatively early (1997) one from Mr. Hiaasen delivered with everything I have come to enjoy from his work. Quirky characters, lots of action, pointed commentary leavened with an ultimately hopeful view that the good guys can win at least every once in a while. Tom Krome and JoLayne Lucks make an appealing hero/heroine team and the luckless/bra More...
Dec 30, 2008
Rose
rated it:
When one of two winning lottery tickets ends up in the hands of a pair of hillbillies (Bodean & Chub) hell bent on finding the second ticket and claiming the whole prize as their own, a dangerous and wacky series of events is set into motion. After attacking the second winner (JoLayne) and stealing her ticket, the back-country pals think they've got things made. What they didn't count on was JoLayne being equally hell bent on exacting revenge on her attackers and reclaiming her share of the pr
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Aug 04, 2011
Terry
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I think that Carl Hiaasen is one of the most interesting modern writers tells a good story, theres a moral, and he addresses environmental issues in his work of fiction. While Ive enjoyed everything Ive read by him, this one wasnt one of my favorites. I think it was something about the pacing. Usually, I cant put his books down until Ive finished reading; or at least couldnt wait to get back to the story. This one I could. Had the usual wacky characters, a really interesting plot (
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Oct 31, 2009
Chip
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Pretty good overall, but there was room for a more 'surprise' ending. From Chapter 3 on I could see where the relationship between the two main characters was going (absolutely no suspense) and yawned to find in the end that I was right. I suppose it was the southern boy in the author, or some archaic notion of novelty which compelled him to stick with the obvious ending instead of creating a surprise one - whatever his thinking, interracial relationships are no longer appropriate for shock va
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Sep 30, 2009
Davis
rated it:
If you're looking for sheer entertainment that is filled with laughs, this is the book for you. Ilove Carl Hiaasen's brand of humor! As is the case with my own series of books, literature it is not. What it will do is to provide you with a deliciously zany cast of characters involved in delightfully entertaining situations.
I am a confirmed Hiaasen fan, having read at least six of his novels. This book, as is the case with all of those I have read, is consistent in its refreshing qual More...
I am a confirmed Hiaasen fan, having read at least six of his novels. This book, as is the case with all of those I have read, is consistent in its refreshing qual More...
Sep 21, 2008
Srimav
rated it:
This book borders on ridiculous which makes it funny. It has so many inappropriate things happen with his white trash characters that you honestly laugh out loud on occasion.
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Jan 21, 2011
Nancy
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What a fun read! Hiaasen is able to present his reader wonderfully improbable characters that are both believeable and kookie. His choice of descriptive words makes this a stimulating and hillarious romp thru' the Florida Everglades. His bad-guys are discustingly awful, and the three main characters like old friends. The action is constant, the dialogue witty, and there is a laugh on every page. It was a great read and a story with an ending that was logical as well as satisfying. His boo
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Dec 23, 2009
Mark
rated it:
A quick read with great pacing and fascinating characters. It grabbed me and hooked me from the start. All the now familiar settings and situations in Hiaasen's South Florida were like old friends I hadn't seen for awhile. A great read with one quibble. Is it wrong to be annoyed by the multiple POV shifts within a single section? First we're in one character's head and then another, and sometimes a third. I am always reminded of the author's newspaper background when I read his stuff, which some
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Mar 25, 2009
Shireen
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This is my favorite of all of Hiassen's books. It is absolutely, laugh out loud hilarious! It starts off with this young African-American woman who has just won the $18 million Florida lottery but has to split the proceeds with a man who wants to form his own white supremacy militia. Hiassen captures the idiocy of such fools like this racist man as he tries to get away with stealing our heroine's lottery ticket. I've read this book many times, whenever I need a good laugh. My 17 year old da
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Feb 16, 2009
Magda
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Environmentally oriented as usual, this novel gives a taste of John Grisham's The Pelican Brief, but moves far away from there as one lottery winner, accompanied by a newspaper reporter, of course, chases down the two men who beat her up to steal her lottery ticket. The weird interludes with the "miraculous" town involving a self-inflicted stigmata, a Jesus in transmission fluid (or is it oil?), and a Madonna who weeps perfumed tears (except when the machinery breaks), and which is la
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Mar 29, 2009
Debbie
rated it:
JoLayne Lucks is one of two winning lottery tickets holders and plans to use the money to rescue the turtles of Simmons Wood by buying the land.
Unfortunately, the other winner, incredibly stupid white supremacist Bodean Gazzer, attacks her and steals her ticket. Gazzer and his equally stupid sidekick, Chub, plan to use the money to fund their white supremacist organization, the White Rebel Brotherhood.
JoLayne, joined by newspaper reporter Tom Krome, sets out to retri More...
Unfortunately, the other winner, incredibly stupid white supremacist Bodean Gazzer, attacks her and steals her ticket. Gazzer and his equally stupid sidekick, Chub, plan to use the money to fund their white supremacist organization, the White Rebel Brotherhood.
JoLayne, joined by newspaper reporter Tom Krome, sets out to retri More...
Jun 15, 2011
Manugw
rated it:
MERELY HILARIOUS
Carl Hiaasen is a writer who likes to portray employing a great sense of humor vivid characters and tipical actions deeply embedded in the American culture, the poor lucky...girl, the medium class journalist, the corrupt judge, the redneck racists, the tricks to make quick and easy money
Do not expect more than gags in the dialogue and funny situations from this story
Good book for summer vacations particularly if you are from Florida and enjoying the sunsh More...
Carl Hiaasen is a writer who likes to portray employing a great sense of humor vivid characters and tipical actions deeply embedded in the American culture, the poor lucky...girl, the medium class journalist, the corrupt judge, the redneck racists, the tricks to make quick and easy money
Do not expect more than gags in the dialogue and funny situations from this story
Good book for summer vacations particularly if you are from Florida and enjoying the sunsh More...
