new Tim Dorsey -- Nuclear Jellyfish

this.is.not.here@evpl — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:48:00 GMT

If you are tired of the same old stuff and really want something wild and funny to listen to I have to recommend Tim Dorsey. I've read most of his books and they are all funny but they also translate beautifully into the spoken word. A native of Florida, Tim Dorsey writes about a character named Serge Storms who is tagged as a lovable serial killer. This is of course a contradiction in terms if there ever ever was one. The reader uses a voice like Joe Peschi in My Cousin Vinnie.

Serge A. Storms, the main character is a walking encyclopedia of Florida historical trivia. Serge is fond of conducting Florida Night Tours and on one he mentions the fact that The Beatles stayed at the famous Deuville Hotel in Miami Beach when they did the Ed Sullivan show in the 60's. A little later he points up to a window from which they were reported to have waved to the fans below. His sexual prowess is legendary and he usually has no less than 3 or 4 adoring females following him. He has an opinion on pretty much every subject and will begin to espouse at the drop of a hat. His letters to the editor of the Florida newspaper are filled with expletives but also describe his discomfort with the sudden omission of Bridge next to the Crossword Puzzle. "It's reassuring to see the little hearts and clubs as they provide a reassuring cultural anchor in these troubled times." Prepare to laugh out loud as you listen to these books. Serge always has a plan of sorts and it usually includes punishing someone bad. Of course that "punishment" normally results in the bad someone's demise but only by accident. In fact for the most part Serge seems more like a hero than a villain. His sidekick Coleman is portrayed with a Keanu Reeves-like drugged out spacey voice. Coleman is always in a state of perpetual intoxication either from alcohol, drugs, or both and never really seems to know where he is, how he got there or what he's doing. They both carry on wonderful stream of consciousness conversations with each other and sometimes just with themselves.

For years I have been recommending Tim Dorsey to patrons who want kind of a mystery but funny like Carl Hiaasen. In fact I have patrons that have come running up to me to share the exciting news that Tim Dorsey has written a new book and they can't wait to read it. The titles are clever, colorful and a little twisted. Hurricane Punch, Cadillac Beach, Torpedo Juice, Stingray Shuffle, Triggerfish Twist, Orange Crush, Hammerhead Ranch Motel, and Florida Roadkill are a few of the titles available. And of course the new one not yet available, Nuclear Jellyfish I guarantee once you hear Oliver Wyman give voice to Tim Dorsey's Serge and Coleman and all the other cast of characters you'll be hooked.

Other Dorsey titles are read by George Wilson but I'm not sure how they sound. And of course you can still read them and just hear the voices in your head.

Books Blog : mysteries, funny

new Tim Dorsey -- Nuclear Jellyfish