Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen is a comedic novel set in Florida, revolving around JoLayne Lucks, a lottery winner who dreams of saving land from developers. However, her plans are thwarted when two felons, including a white supremacist, try to steal her winning ticket. With the help of quirky characters like a reporter and a Federal agent, JoLayne sets out on a wild adventure to retrieve what is rightfully hers. The book is filled with zany characters, absurd situations, and a witty writing style that keeps the reader entertained and enlightened about the state of Florida.

Characters:

The characters are a mix of flawed individuals, with the protagonists displaying resilience and depth against a backdrop of absurd and incompetent villains.

Writing/Prose:

The prose showcases an engaging blend of humor and satire, reflecting on the absurdities of the characters and their circumstances.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on the comical misadventures surrounding lottery winnings in Florida, where absurdity and satire intersect with serious themes.

Setting:

The setting is quintessentially Florida, accentuating the novel's humor through its peculiar local culture and climate.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast and engaging, although there are moments where it may feel stretched due to various subplots.

The significance of her Lotto numbers was this: each represented an age at which she had jettisoned a burdensome man. At 17 it was Rick the Pontiac mechanic. At 19 it was Rick’s brother, Robert. At 22...

Notes:

The novel 'Lucky You' is set in Florida and revolves around two lottery winners, JoLayne Lucks and two white supremacists, Bode and Chubb.

JoLayne is a black woman who works as a vet and plans to use her winnings to preserve land for turtles.

Bode and Chubb are portrayed as incompetent and paranoid racists who want all the lottery money for their militia.

Hiaasen uses humor and satire to comment on issues like racism, crime, and environmental conservation.

The book includes bizarre characters, such as a man who drills stigmata into his palms for donations and a community known for its miraculous sights.

JoLayne teams up with a disillusioned journalist, Tom Krome, in her quest to retrieve her stolen lottery ticket.

The story features quirky Florida settings, including a town known for religious miracles and con artists.

Hiaasen is known for his witty writing style, fast-paced storytelling, and memorable characters.

A notable element of the plot is the absurdity of the villains, who are incredibly inept yet dangerous.

'Hiaasen's novels are often escapist fun rather than heavy literature, offering a comedic take on real-life issues.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include violence, profanity, themes of racism, and possible dark humor related to crime.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance present, particularly through the relationship between JoLayne and Tom, which plays a part in the narrative.

From The Publisher:

Grange, Florida, is, famous for its miracles-the weeping fiberglass Madonna, the Road-Stain Jesus, the stigmata man. And now it has JoLayne Lucks, unlikely winner of the state lottery. Unfortunately, JoLayne's winning ticket isn't the only one. The other belongs to Bodean Gazzer and his raunchy sidekick, Chub, who want the whole $28 million jackpot to start their own underground militia.

But JoLayne Lucks has her own plans for the Lotto money, and when Bode and Chub brutally assault her and steal her ticket, she vows to track them down, take it back-and get revenge. The only one who can help is Tom Krome, a big-city investigative journalist now writing frothy features for a mid-sized newspaper. He is about to become part of a story that's bigger and more bizarre than anything he's ever covered. Chasing two heavily armed psychopaths is reckless enough, but Tom's got other problems-including his fugitive wife and his own growing fondness for the future millionairess with whom he's risking his neck.

The pursuit takes them to a buzzard-infested island deep in Florida Bay, where they finally catch up with the fledgling militia-and their baffled hostage, a Hooters waitress. The climax explodes with the hilarious mayhem that is Carl Hiaasen's hallmark. Lucky You is his funniest, most deliriously gripping novel yet.

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About the Author:

CARL HIAASEN was born and raised in Florida. He is the author of fourteen previous novels, including the best sellers Bad Monkey, Lucky You, Nature Girl, Razor Girl, Sick Puppy, Skinny Dip, and Star Island, as well as six best-selling children's books, Hoot, Flush, Scat,…

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Lucky You

Carl Hiaasen