- Paperback: 248 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (Jun 16 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312316151
- ISBN-13: 978-0312316150
- Product Dimensions: 22.3 x 13.2 x 1.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 249 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #837,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
He's probably not the spokesperson the South Florida tourism council had in mind, but his new collection of 40 brisk, witty essays proves that poet and crime novelist James W. Hall (Blackwater Sound) is one of the region's biggest and most thoughtful boosters. Hot Damn!: Alligators in the Casino, Nude Women in the Grass, How Seashells Changed the Course of History, and Other Dispatches from Paradise includes pieces on television, heat waves, hurricanes and, of course, the writing life, all set against the backdrop of his beloved adopted state. Hall confesses a deep-seated envy of Florida natives; traces the epidemiology of suburban sprawl in "Disney Virus"; and recounts his wife's violent carjacking.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
In his introduction, Hall mystery writer (e.g., Buzz Cut), poet, and college professor declares that "essays are about as sexy as donkeys." Blaming college composition courses for the form's status, Hall goes on to explain how he came to have a "three-year love affair" with the essay after a newspaper editor asked him to write a weekly column. The resulting collection is flawless. Hall writes about how he first came to Florida or as the locals call it, "Paradise," with a new Ph.D. and no job prospects. Rather than settle for a teaching job somewhere else, he worked as a landscaper until a suitable position came along. Hall wryly comments on the idea that although he's lived in Florida for over 30 years, he'll never be considered "native." The essays cover a wide range of topics, including Florida's culture and climate, what constitutes community, vacationing in your back yard, the writing life, marriage, and American culture. "Letter to My Father" beautifully blends Hall's poetic sensibilities with a discussion of what can remain unsaid between men. Highly recommended. Pam Kingsbury, Florence, AL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
Every time I see that bumper sticker-Florida Native-a ripple of envy and irritation flutters in my chest. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
Every time I see that bumper sticker-Florida Native-a ripple of envy and irritation flutters in my chest. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Poet, Crime novelist and Essayest,
By
This review is from: Hot Damn!: Alligators in the Casino, Nude Women in the Grass, How Seashells Changed the Course of History, and Other Dispatches from Paradise (Hardcover)
This man can write. He can write fiction and he can write about Florida. These 39 essays are the superb refections of an interesting mind at work, at play and once, afraid for someone he loves. If you remember and liked John Kennedy's statement about how close the chemistry of our blood is to sea water then you will love Hall's "We swim in the amniotic fluids of our earth, as we swam so long ago like blind fish in the womb." (From Touchy Feely)I like his crime novels. But if you like Florida, particularly the Florida Keys, or evocative writing, or walking with an exceptionlly observant mind through interesting times, then you will appreciate this book of essays.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just a wonderful change of pace.,
By nobizinfla "nobizinfla" (Windermere, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Hot Damn!: Alligators in the Casino, Nude Women in the Grass, How Seashells Changed the Course of History, and Other Dispatches from Paradise (Hardcover)
Mid-afternoon yesterday UPS brought me my latest Amazon order.On top was Dr. Hall's "Hot Damn!" I devoured it in two sessions. These thirty-nine essays are insightful, poignant, thoughtful, humorous, heartfelt and a joy to read. The compositions are such a delight that I will now go back and savor a couple of them daily. Each one is most relatable on a multitude of levels. You do not have to be Floridian to enjoy these essays---but if you are, many strike a most responsive chord. Seldom do I stray from the mystery/thriller genre, but like "Seabiscuit," "Hot Damn!" reads like a novel. "The Hardy Boys" chapter alone is worth the price of admission. This is exhilerating writing that makes you feel good. Do not miss it. Hot Damn!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews) 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just a wonderful change of pace.,
By nobizinfla "nobizinfla" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Damn!: Alligators in the Casino, Nude Women in the Grass, How Seashells Changed the Course of History, and Other Dispatches from Paradise (Hardcover)
Mid-afternoon yesterday UPS brought me my latest Amazon order.On top was Dr. Hall's "Hot Damn!" I devoured it in two sessions. These thirty-nine essays are insightful, poignant, thoughtful, humorous, heartfelt and a joy to read. The compositions are such a delight that I will now go back and savor a couple of them daily. Each one is most relatable on a multitude of levels. You do not have to be Floridian to enjoy these essays---but if you are, many strike a most responsive chord. Seldom do I stray from the mystery/thriller genre, but like "Seabiscuit," "Hot Damn!" reads like a novel. "The Hardy Boys" chapter alone is worth the price of admission. This is exhilerating writing that makes you feel good. Do not miss it. Hot Damn! 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Poet, Crime novelist and Essayest,
By John Harrison - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Damn!: Alligators in the Casino, Nude Women in the Grass, How Seashells Changed the Course of History, and Other Dispatches from Paradise (Hardcover)
This man can write. He can write fiction and he can write about Florida. These 39 essays are the superb refections of an interesting mind at work, at play and once, afraid for someone he loves. If you remember and liked John Kennedy's statement about how close the chemistry of our blood is to sea water then you will love Hall's "We swim in the amniotic fluids of our earth, as we swam so long ago like blind fish in the womb." (From Touchy Feely)I like his crime novels. But if you like Florida, particularly the Florida Keys, or evocative writing, or walking with an exceptionlly observant mind through interesting times, then you will appreciate this book of essays.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice leisurely pace,
By Watson McFestus "Watson McFestus" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Damn!: Alligators in the Casino, Nude Women in the Grass, How Seashells Changed the Course of History, and Other Dispatches from Paradise (Paperback)
As per the intro the author says these are a collection of several years worth of essays he wrote for the Miami Herald and Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. They are enjoyable and provoking -running the gamut from outrage to tender reflections. My favorites were the ones on addiction to TV news and the boat trip out to the strange redneck island past Sanibel-Captiva Islands. To paraphrase John D. MacDonald - some Good Old Stuff.
|
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Entertainment > Humour > Essays
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Essays
- Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Criticism & Theory
- Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > United States
- Books > Literature & Fiction > United States > History & Criticism
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
