Flush

I outdid myself at Kino yesterday, again. Self control seems to e a concept that evaporates every time I step into that bookstore. I spotted Carl Hiaasen’s new book, Flush, and just had to get it even though I know they’ll most likely make it the Gem of the Month for October and I’d have missed my 20% discount.

I also picked up Avi’s Crispin: The Cross of Lead and Laurie Halse Anderson’s Catalyst. I almost added The Second Summer of The Sisterhood (Ann Brashares) to my collection but I figured since I only borrowed the first book, I’d need to buy that too to add to the collection. So, that was a no-go.

After I paid, I scooted around the cashier and customer service counter to take a look at the picture books. While they were wrapping up my books, I wanted to see if they still had Emily Gravett’s Wolves. Unfortunately for me (fortunately for my wallet), they didn’t.

I don’t know what it is, but there is just something about books that is so appealing, so comforting. It doesn’t matter that I really don’t have enough space or that my library is getting way to big, I just cannot stifle or control the urge to buy myself new books. This urge is compounded by my love of children’s books and young adult fiction. YA fiction is clear and precise, with no pretense at being more than it should be. I can read a sentence and get the point. I don’t have to sit and think after every few sentences about what the author really wanted to say and what he/she wanted to convey in their writing. It’s there; it’s clear; it’s to the point. After a decade of reading and collecting children’s books, my tolerance for highbrow literary works have slid and hit a nadir. I can no longer read modern or contemporary literature without feeling the slightest tinge of impatience. What the hell does the author want to say? Why couldn’t he/she have written it without beating around the bush or saying it in less words? Adult literary fiction does not seem to be able to capture my attention for more than a few chapters. Must be my juvenile mind. The simpler the sentence structures, the better impact and the longer it stays with me.

Carl Hiaasen’s Flush makes for delightful reading with an environmental twist. It follows in the vein of Hoot, this time, instead of burrowing owls, Hiaasen puts illegal dumping into the limelight. An unscrupulous casino boat owner is dumping effluents and gunk into the waters of Florida Key and it’s up to Noah and his sister, Abbey, to save the day.

It’s refreshing to read children’s fiction with an environmental twist, all the more so with Hiaasen’s refreshing writing and quirky characters. I loved Hoot so much I must have read it three times and am planning to read it again. When I saw the bug-eyed fish on the cover of the book, and the bold colours on it, I really couldn’t resist. It just about shouted out “Buy me! Buuuuy meeee!!”. So I did lah.

I am looking forward to swimming through the book. I like it so much I even brought it to work with me. You never know when you could be stuck in a situation where a good book would come in handy.