Half-way through the first essay in Sunshine State, “BFF,” I started to think “Is Sarah Gerard making this up?” Did all that sex, drugs, alcohol, heavy smoking actually happen? More bizarre behavior shows up in “Mother-Father God” where Gerard explains the religious upbringing she endured. My favorite essay in this collection is “Going Diamond” where Sarah’s mother and father get caught up in selling Amway products in cult-like fashion. “The Mayor of Williams Park” is a tragic story of a homeless man. “Sunshine State” is about birds. “Rabbit” is another tragic story, this time about Gerard’s grandmother’s declining health. I wasn’t moved by these essays. I felt like Sarah Gerard was putting on performances instead of exploring topics. And I found the Sunshine State to be a dark and dreary place. GRADE: C
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
BFF 1
Mother-Father God 17
Going Diamond 73
Records 123
The Mayor of Williams Park 173
Sunshine State 225
Rabbit 281
Before: An Inventory 297
Acknowledgments 307
Bibliography 309
Endnotes 327
Too bad, because there is so much juicy material coming out of Florida, like this story.
Jeff, Florida seems to attract a certain “element.”
I must admit, I tried “BFF” and it turned me off going on with the rest of the book. Give me Dave Barry or Carl Hiaasen any day.
Jeff, Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen capture the surreal lifestyles in Florida.
As always, it’s not the story but the way the writer tells it that is important. I’ll give this book a hard pass, but let us keep in mind that the cult of Amway is what blessed America with Eric Prince and Betsy du Vos—neither of whom seem to understand that their vast wealth is derived from a pyramid scheme that brainwashes people like Gerard’s parents.
I have an uncle who was (operative word) a lawyer, before going to jail (twice!) and being disbarred. (I’ll tell you elsewhere – Son of Sam was involved). The man has always been a slimeball, and one of his many cons was “Amway salesman.”
Deb, you’re right about pyramid schemes like Amway. We know some people who lost their nest eggs “investing” in Amway.
From the cover, I’d have guessed the essays were about nature…all those animals. Too bad it’s about sleazy crap instead.
Rick, after reading SUNSHINE STATE: ESSAYS I would never want to live in Florida.
Don’t tell that to Jackie, who gets closer to it every year.
Jeff, I avoid heat and bugs and goofy people. That rules Florida out for me.
I like visting there every spring to catch some spring training games and track down books on my want list. Wouldn’t want to live there for sure. I had this book on my want list, but now will remove it. I do like much of the Florida crime fiction, e.g., Randy Wayne White, Tom Corcoran, Jonathan King, James Hall. Ther is an excellent mystery store in Delray Beach called Murder by the Beach.
Kent, I like James Hall’s mysteries. I’ll have to dig one up and read it. I have a friend who has read all of Randy Wayne White’s books. I’ve only read one.
She reminds me of Margot Kidder!
Florida freckles where Northwest Territories doesn’t. I did wonder if the publishers were hoping to sell the book in part on her aspect.