Star Island

By Carl Hiaasen

Book Overview

From "the funniest important writer in America" comes a tale that is gleefully zany and incisively sharp (Miami Herald).
Meet 22-year-old Cherry Pye (n e Cheryl Bunterman), a pop star since she was fourteen-and about to attempt a comeback from her latest drug-and-alcohol disaster.

Now meet Cherry again: in the person of her "undercover stunt double," Ann DeLusia. Ann portrays Cherry whenever the singer is too "indisposed"-- meaning wasted -- to go out in public. And it is Ann-mistaken-for-Cherry who is kidnapped from a South Beach hotel by obsessed paparazzo Bang Abbott.

Now the challenge for Cherry's handlers ( ber-stage mother; horndog record producer; nipped, tucked, and Botoxed twin publicists; weed whacker-wielding bodyguard) is to rescue Ann while keeping her existence a secret from Cherry's public -- and from Cherry herself. The situation is more complicated than they know. Ann has had a bewitching encounter with Skink, the unhinged former governor of Florida living wild in a mangrove swamp, and now he's heading for Miami to find her . . .

Will Bang Abbott achieve his fantasy of a lucrative private photo session with Cherry Pye? Will Cherry sober up in time to lip-synch her way through her concert tour? Will Skink track down Ann DeLusia before Cherry's motley posse does? All will be revealed in this hilarious spin on life in the celebrity fast lane.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446556122
• ISBN13: 9780446556125
• Release Date: June 2011
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A Star of a Story

This author is always funny and always entertaining. This is quite possibly one of his best efforts. It is beyond funny. It is a hysterical, laugh-out-lead treat that mixes biting wit and a huge and richly detailed cast of characters with the recurring character of Skink, one of the most totally awesome fictional characters ever imagined. DO NOT MISS THIS!!

Star Island

Star Island is Carl Hiaaasen in true form. Both timely subject matter and his delicious, laugh out loud humor make this book a winner. I saw him interviewed on Imus In The Morning I couldn't wait to rush out and get it. It doesn't disappoint for the person looking for a good laugh or fans of Carl Hiaason.

Hiassen

Its like the calendar you just cant go wrong with any of carl's books. They make you laugh out loud and are a pleasure to read

summertime

Some of the other reviewers seems pretty hard on STAR ISLAND. No, it's not SICK PUPPY, but it's also not NATURE GIRL. Yes, Skink seems to be moving more slowly & is getting older, but aren't we all. It's summer; it's a wonderful Hiaasen novel. I laughed out loud twice. Enjoy!

superb satire of fame

Singer Cheryl Bunterman alias Cherry Pye began her career as a fifteen year old at Jailbait Records. Besides her lack of any talent, Cherry cannot stop her addictions for sex, drugs, and booze. Her singing career seems tanked. However, several people have a deep interest in Cherry's career remaining afloat. Her mother Janet Bunterman, her producer Maury Lykes and her double Ann DeLusia like the money. That is why Ann is seen about the town while Cherry is in rehab. Also interested in Cherry are developer Jackie Sebago and paparazzo Bang Abbott, as each sees money to be made from the crooner who cannot sing. Bang kidnaps Ann thinking she is Cherry by mistake while the former Florida governor Clinton "Skink" Tyree, who fell in love at first sight with Ann or is Ann as Cherry plans to rescue his darling. This is a superb satire that lampoons the celebrity frenzy that grips Americans. The story line rips the media for how easily they are suckered by spin doctors, and the tabloid reporters for stalking the famous even placing people in danger doing so while claming their First Amendment rights, and their readers for supporting the stalking. Also gutted is the celeb retinue and hanger-ons who are there when the money and fame are there, but vanish when the star novas. This is a winner as Carl Hiaasen leaves no prisoners in his version of "Fame". Harriet Klausner