Originally drawn to the game by his father, Carl Hiaasen wisely quit golfing in 1973. But some ambitions refuse to die, and as the years–and ...
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Jul 11, 2008
H. Palmer
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I often read fairly frivolous books...just for pleasure...and sometimes those books offer more than simple pleasures. Carl Hiassen, one of the most insanely funny and intensely ecological writers we have, often give me more than simple pleasures in is novels.
It is unfortunate, then. to see him turn his immense talents into a book as poorly crafted and humorless as is The Downhill Lie. The only value I can see in this book might be to pad Mr. Hiassen's wallet. There are enough pe More...
It is unfortunate, then. to see him turn his immense talents into a book as poorly crafted and humorless as is The Downhill Lie. The only value I can see in this book might be to pad Mr. Hiassen's wallet. There are enough pe More...
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Sep 25, 2008
Michael
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Carl Hiassen is a very funny guy. If you don't believe me, just check out any of his abusrdly funny novels.
Turning his eye to the non-fiction realm, Hiassen looks at his taking up the game of golf again after a 32-year break. Hiassen's look at how the game can grow into an obsession is wonderfully witty, wryly observed and self-deprecating. The great part is that Hiassen doesn't take himself too seriously, allowing the reader to experience the highs and lows of trying to play the More...
Turning his eye to the non-fiction realm, Hiassen looks at his taking up the game of golf again after a 32-year break. Hiassen's look at how the game can grow into an obsession is wonderfully witty, wryly observed and self-deprecating. The great part is that Hiassen doesn't take himself too seriously, allowing the reader to experience the highs and lows of trying to play the More...
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Oct 11, 2011
Jonny99
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Short version: Hiaasen hits ball, ball doesn’t go in hole, Hiaasen feels bad about himself. Repeat for 244 pages.
Long Version: The short version above represents more accurate summarization than snarky criticism. ”A Downhill Lie grows out of a golf journal Hiaasen keeps during a roughly 18 month return to the activity of golf in which he details his deteriorating play, efforts to remedy it and the emotional toll it takes on him. The book lacks true literary merit – it isn’t particularly
Oct 06, 2010
Brad
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The humorist, journalist and crime novelist, Carl Hiassen, returned to golf in his early 50s after not playing for 30 years. This book chronicles his return. It is hilarious and it hit home hard for me. I recommend it to golfers.
Mostly, Hiassen describes his frustration at the difficulty of the game while he pokes fun at his own highly inflated expectations for how he will score on the course. He spices the narrative by including funny stories about his friends in golf, David Fehert More...
Mostly, Hiassen describes his frustration at the difficulty of the game while he pokes fun at his own highly inflated expectations for how he will score on the course. He spices the narrative by including funny stories about his friends in golf, David Fehert More...
Jan 12, 2012
Criss
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Background: I'm a big time golfer, but have had insane difficulty in learning the sport and playing well.
I don't know anything about Carl Hiaasen and his previous books. What I do know is this book speaks to anyone who's had a remote difficulty with the game. So many of his stories were practically my autobiography with the sport of golf, despite my 30 years of age difference between myself and the author. I laughed out loud more times than I can remember during this book.
T More...
I don't know anything about Carl Hiaasen and his previous books. What I do know is this book speaks to anyone who's had a remote difficulty with the game. So many of his stories were practically my autobiography with the sport of golf, despite my 30 years of age difference between myself and the author. I laughed out loud more times than I can remember during this book.
T More...
May 07, 2009
Ryan
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Nov 02, 2010
Gill
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The Downhill Lie
Will He Ever Feel Good About Golf?
One of the hardest things about golf is quitting for 30 years, than playing well when you’re 50. This is exactly what Carl Hiaasen did. We will follow his journey returning to golf, and let’s see what happens.
The Downhill Lie by Carl Hiaasen is a great memoir about this fantastic author’s golf life. In 2007, Carl Hiaasen’s journey with the game started in Florida. Mike Lupica, David Feherety, and Mark Leibo help Carl with his golf More...
Will He Ever Feel Good About Golf?
One of the hardest things about golf is quitting for 30 years, than playing well when you’re 50. This is exactly what Carl Hiaasen did. We will follow his journey returning to golf, and let’s see what happens.
The Downhill Lie by Carl Hiaasen is a great memoir about this fantastic author’s golf life. In 2007, Carl Hiaasen’s journey with the game started in Florida. Mike Lupica, David Feherety, and Mark Leibo help Carl with his golf More...
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Apr 30, 2010
Betsy
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This book is very different from Hiaasen's usual hilarious romps with quirky characters from Florida. The Downhill Lie is actually a journal, and documents Hiaasen's life as he takes up the sport of golf (a sport he really doesn't seem to enjoy) in middle age after not playing the game for decades.
I have no interest in golf whatsoever and a lot of the stroke by stroke descriptions of his golf games were lost on me. Still, Hiaasen can tell a good story, so his study of the game, analysis More...
I have no interest in golf whatsoever and a lot of the stroke by stroke descriptions of his golf games were lost on me. Still, Hiaasen can tell a good story, so his study of the game, analysis More...
Feb 13, 2011
Tom
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Maybe I'm missing the fun because I'm not a fan of golf - but this reads like a cleverly witty but mostly mundane blog. Being a fan of Hiaasen's fictional Florida, I decided to read this to see if his point of view of the "activity" (thank you George Carlin) of golf was truly worth my time to pursue.
Sure, there are some great stories in here (some involving using annoying animals as golf balls - take that PETA!) but as an entire work this book is wholly unremarkable. I stil More...
Sure, there are some great stories in here (some involving using annoying animals as golf balls - take that PETA!) but as an entire work this book is wholly unremarkable. I stil More...
Feb 09, 2011
Ryan
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My x-girlfriends mom, which already scares me because of my history, gave me this book but she said I would enjoy it. Carl Hiaasen is a Florida writer, and returns to the sport of golf after helplessly given up. A humorous story of a novelist whom isn't very good at golfing, but relates to anyone who sucks at golf. As a writer I learned how to document a progression of events through a diary type chapter style. This novel gave me many ideas on how I could improve his idea, and take it across
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Jun 17, 2009
Stephenphillips19
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If you are looking for a funny read to fill your spare time, this book will do the trick. There is not any kind of major plot to this book, other than to make you laugh...a lot. I found myself laughing almost every page of the book. It is a quick read, so if you dont feel like you have accomplished anything after reading it, at least you didnt waste too much time on it. If you want to understand this book you will need at least a beginners knowledge of golf, and a love for the sport. If you
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Nov 22, 2009
Ben
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Part two in my series of sports books about sports that I don't care for by authors who I like. Though I don't consider golf a sport, so I'm not sure I should include this one.
In the end, despite the fact that I enjoy Hiaasen's other works, I didn't really care for this one much. Part of it is because the book primarily deals with his trials and tribulations returning to golf. There's too much of him complaining about his bad play and the fact that he either doesn't improve or act More...
In the end, despite the fact that I enjoy Hiaasen's other works, I didn't really care for this one much. Part of it is because the book primarily deals with his trials and tribulations returning to golf. There's too much of him complaining about his bad play and the fact that he either doesn't improve or act More...
Jul 15, 2009
Rufus
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I have never read anything of Carl Hiaasen, but always wanted to. Since I am very interested in Golf (but don't play yet) and stumbled on this, it became my first read of his work.
I think its great. I can't compare it to his other works yet, but on its own its pretty funny. I love jargon laced descriptions of sporting events (Grishams "Bleachers" comes to mind here), so his accounts of his games and the tournament were great.
Even better were the times he either More...
I think its great. I can't compare it to his other works yet, but on its own its pretty funny. I love jargon laced descriptions of sporting events (Grishams "Bleachers" comes to mind here), so his accounts of his games and the tournament were great.
Even better were the times he either More...
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Aug 03, 2009
Toddevans
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Hiaasen is a fav of mine, and I like his kids books and adult books as well. He's a gifted storyteller.
As a hacker in his teens, he had given up golf until mid-life. This book is a diary of his efforts to exceed his best teen score, having wondered what it would be like to play the game again.
It's a fast read, and anyone who has ever attempted to play the game will chuckle and smiloe with each turn of the page.
I'm sending my copy to my brother first ( a good More...
As a hacker in his teens, he had given up golf until mid-life. This book is a diary of his efforts to exceed his best teen score, having wondered what it would be like to play the game again.
It's a fast read, and anyone who has ever attempted to play the game will chuckle and smiloe with each turn of the page.
I'm sending my copy to my brother first ( a good More...
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Aug 23, 2011
You have to read this book, if you have ever played golf or attempted it like me. Carl Hiaasen played when he was in his teens and he foolishly decides to pick it up again in his 50s. A good friend convinces him to keep a gold diary, which is the basis for this book.
It is a riot with typical Hiaasen humor and insanity. From frog golf, to turtle golf to ridding the world of a scourge or vermin, I laughed myself silly. He has a lot of technical golf stuff in this book to satisfy those who unde More...
It is a riot with typical Hiaasen humor and insanity. From frog golf, to turtle golf to ridding the world of a scourge or vermin, I laughed myself silly. He has a lot of technical golf stuff in this book to satisfy those who unde More...
Jun 23, 2009
John
rated it:
For the guy who doesn't golf much, tends to experience slicing, topping the ball, sand traps, putts that are too short (or too long) and smacking the chip shot a mile (when you are trying to loft it close softly to the pin), this book is a must read. Funny one-liners. Hiaasen captured the emotional whirlwind that only golf seems to provide - the highs and lows.
I enjoyed it... and it will help me to keep the game in perspective... ok - done, now I'm going to play a quick 9 holes.... More...
I enjoyed it... and it will help me to keep the game in perspective... ok - done, now I'm going to play a quick 9 holes.... More...
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Apr 17, 2009
Alan
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When I opened the book and counted how many of Hiaasen's books that I'd read before this book and thoroughly enjoyed (11 including the two young readers' books) I was reminded that his fiction was always a "sure thing". I'd be changing planes for instance, bookless, and needed something to take with me from an airport bookstore that was sure to entertain me. I could always count on one of Hiaasen's books to grab and hold my attention. I'm sorry that Downhill Lies wasn't such an adve
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Jan 20, 2009
David
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pretty funny book about author's year-and-a-half comeback, culminating in a two-person-teams local tournament, to golf in his mid-fifties after a hiatus of a couple decades. If, like me, you are not a golfer, you might find some of the diary entries a little repetitive (I bought a new putter someone recommended; I still 3-putted half the greens and shot 95.......).
However, there is a nice mix of reminiscing about playing with his Dad when he was younger, and enjoying his son's inter More...
However, there is a nice mix of reminiscing about playing with his Dad when he was younger, and enjoying his son's inter More...
Sep 08, 2008
Zach
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First off, I have to say that I love Hiaasen's novels. However, this is not a typical Hiaasen book. There are no idiot criminals or people being eaten or sexually violated by wild animals...but Hiaasen does still have his gift for analogies "Like linguini detonated on the screen" or "As comfortable as bowel cramps" or that "Tiger Woods' stare could cause a suicide bomber to wet himself" and there are interesting encounters with animals (using a driver to clear a y
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Nov 06, 2011
Frank
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One long autobiographical whine about how bad Hiaasen is at golf. He keeps notes on his game upon taking it up again after a 30-year hiatus, and his publisher convinces him to turn it into a book. It's so bad he even resorts to pasting in self-effacing email exchanges with his buddies about his exploits on the links.
Because it is Hiaasen, portions are actually entertaining. The book is more appealing to fellow golfers in a 'misery-loves-company' way. But non-golf-nuts should stick More...
Because it is Hiaasen, portions are actually entertaining. The book is more appealing to fellow golfers in a 'misery-loves-company' way. But non-golf-nuts should stick More...
May 19, 2008
Tim
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Novelist and newspaper columnist Carl Hiaasen stopped playing golf in his youth, only to return to it in middle age, thirty plus years later. This book chronicles his return as part diary and part memoir. Anyone familiar with his novels probably knows whats coming: caustic humor with the occasional screed against developers and politicians. Although this book is something of a one-trick pony, he keeps it light and occasionally touching, especially when talking about his father's affection for t
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Mar 06, 2011
Emily
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I'm not a golf fan, and had initially skipped this one, despite loving Hiaasen's other books for adults. But I heard him on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" and said that one thing described in the book was "an incident with some live rats and a 7-iron." That pretty much put it on my list! I set my expectations low and just hoped for some funny anecdotes, and that's pretty much what I got. It's not a deep book or one I'd actually buy, but it made me laugh...and did not at all make
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Aug 27, 2008
Deborah
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At first I was alarmed to learn that Carl Hiaasen had resumed the 'ruinous sport,' and I wondered how he might approach the subject. After all, the golf course would present a common ground for Hiaasen and those whom he brutally ridicules in his novels: soulless real estate developers, eco-unfriendly tourists and retirees, and Wall Street Journal-reading types.
To my surprise, the book is amusing and--at times--even touching. It isn't Hiaasen at his funniest (the 'touching' parts du More...
To my surprise, the book is amusing and--at times--even touching. It isn't Hiaasen at his funniest (the 'touching' parts du More...
Mar 28, 2009
Marybeth
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I don't play golf; I don't even understand golf. I admit, I read this book because I was trapped in an airport & it has a bright green cover (coincidentally, this is how I first discover Hiassen's Lucky You. Yes, the packaging works).
But I do love some people who play golf, some of the time (some of the time they play, some of the time I love them). I thought this might help. It did.
But I do love some people who play golf, some of the time (some of the time they play, some of the time I love them). I thought this might help. It did.
Feb 22, 2011
Doug
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A humorous The Old Man and the Sea for golfers. I should be more entertained by his amusing anecdotes, but it's hard to muster sympathy for a 50-year old guy who, after taking the game after 30 years, already has a lower handicap than me after 6 months. Cry me a river.
Apr 08, 2009
Karen
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Sometimes this felt more like a book about writing a book—so many mentions of his editor and the deadline and research. I wondered if he'd have golfed at all if not for having this book deal. Also, the political and pop culture references were intrusive. I did like that he answered the objections he anticipated readers would have to some of the things he did.
Dec 02, 2010
Debby
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I don't golf, never have golfed, don't intend to golf. This book certainly didn't incite me to try, and though some of the specifics flew by me, most of it is completely accessible to the golf newbie/non. Would make a great present for Dustin's g-pa, except the (completely appropriate and non gratuitous) use of 'bumblefuck' and the like.
Aug 14, 2011
Lghamilton
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There were some laugh-out-loud lines here. Particularly funny were Hiasson's purchase of the Q-Link and some pills touted to "calm the mind" on the golf course, and the fact that there are alligators on his home course. More tedious were the blow-by-blow descriptions of EVERY round of golf leading up to the Member-Guest tourney.
Nov 30, 2008
Kelly
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Ok, I probably liked this one a lot for all the wrong reasons. I took up golf again this year after a long layoff, just like Carl. I related well to many of his misadventures. Beyond that, Carl just knows how to tell a story. He's very conversational and funny. This was a light, quick, fun read.
Jun 26, 2009
Entertaining book on getting back in the game later in life. Strange that he never learns to have fun with strangers on the course. I thought it was something that would be resolved as the book continued, but he runs scared when someone new sees his swing. Perhpas that takes courage to admit as well.
